‘I’ll never forget it’: Fredericton musicians sing final ballad for iconic downtown music shop

Tony’s Music Box in Fredericton got a musical send-off over the weekend.

For decades if you needed something music related, be it as small as a guitar pick or as grand as a piano, there was only one place Fredericton musicians would go.

For five decades Tony’s Music Box provided the instruments to fuel the songs of hundreds of artists not just in New Brunswick’s capital, but across the Maritimes.

But late in 2025 the downtown music shop announced they would be shutting their doors for good after 50 years in business due to a wide range of reasons. The news had musicians across the Maritimes, especially those in Fredericton, feeling the blues.

Knowing the impact Tony’s Music Box has had on so many people, friend of the store Norm Couturier had an idea. Why not gather some of Fredericton’s most talented artists who called Tony’s their second home together for a tribute concert to honour owner Michael George, his late father Tony, and the entire family that made the music shop such a special place in the hearts of many musicians.

“Tony’s over 50 years created a massive warmth and love in the community by just being exemplary in everything they did,” says Couturier. “We had enough performers, speakers and people wanting to be part of this to do two nights.”

In front of a sold-out Fredericton Playhouse crowd, musician after musician graced the stage for well over two hours to serenade the family sitting front row that got their music careers in tune.

One of those many performers was Peter Hicks. He was 13-years-old the first time he walked in Tony’s with his father to pick up an amp after joining a band in junior high school.

“You can’t go in there any given day without running into musicians that you know or musicians that you respect and want to know,” says Hicks, noting how much he will miss that experience. “It’s always been a community hub.”

Steve Waylon is another musician who got his musical start after walking into the doors of Tony’s.

He recalls a time he visited the store when he was 15-year-olds with a $120 cheque hoping to get some music supplies. With the help of store founder Tony George, the two went around the shop grabbing all the gear for a new drum kit.

The total cost of it all Waylon reckons was probably around $600.

He told Tony he couldn’t afford it, and the store owner simply asked how much Waylon had.

“I reached in my pocket and pulled out the cheque for $120, and I thought I was big until that,” Waylon shares. “He looks at it and says, ‘about enough,’ and I walked out of the store with all that stuff. I am not the only one with a story like that.”

Coming from the small town of Chipman, N.B., Waylon says the impact Tony’s Music Box had on him can’t be measured.

“I got to see, touch, and reach out to all those people all these years in music because of him and because of them.”

Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogers was also on hand for the event to present Michael George with the Arts Achievement Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement and excellence as it relates to contributing to the city’s arts scene.

“Fredericton is Fredericton because for the five decades that you have been on that corner,” says Rogers. “Showing us off to the world to every musician that comes to our town.”

For George the entire night was the honour of a lifetime, and says finding the works to express the overwhelming love and support over the past few months hasn’t been easy.

While he says every customer was important to him, he never truly understood just how much the reach of his father’s music shop had on the people of Fredericton.

“That’s going to resonate within me forever, I’ll never forget it,” says George on the tribute concert.

“I love all you guys,” George says as his final message to all the musicians that made Tony’s Music Box a part of their musical journey. “It’s been my honor to serve you, and to be part of your musical journey. God bless you all.”

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