ttc map

Subway map reimagines the TTC as a musical journey

The Lonely Vagabond knows Toronto. The guy's been writing about the city's music scene anonymously for years, heading to show after show (and slipping bands pithy, heartfelt notes about their sets on social media afterward) but never, ever making his presence known in the bar. He's probably seen every band in Toronto at least once. Every band. (Your basement no-wave act? The only two people who have seen you play are your cat and the Lonely Vagabond.)

His latest project: Turning the TTC into a musical journey via his reinvented subway map (not unlike our series of bar, cafe, restaurant, and cheap eats maps). Imagining a subway train that played melodies from Toronto bands instead of that tri-tone chime, he assigned a tune by a Toronto act or band to every station in the system. Old faves like Neil Young and the Rheostatics appear next to Feist, Fucked Up, PUP and Hooded Fang. Yorkdale (curiously) gets "Echo Beach", while Kennedy (hilariously) is "Be My Yoko Ono".

How'd he make his picks? "For some I chose the most well known or popular song by the band. Others I chose a song that fit the subway theme, and for some, I chose a song that had some connection to the subway station," he says. "For example, I gave 'Rise Up' by The Parachute Club King Station because in the video, they're all dancing and parading down King Street. "Romantic Traffic" by The Spoons gets Yonge/Bloor because that's what I considered the busiest subway station."

Obviously, we can all agree that this is the sort of idea Toronto needs (LV for mayor).

You can check out the full map here or by clicking the map below.

ttc mapDo you agree with his picks? What songs would you give each station?

Lead photo by

Lonely Vagabond


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