Argonotes
| Company type | Volunteer musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music / Sports entertainment |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Founder | Steve Hayman |
| Defunct | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
Area served | Toronto and other Canadian cities (Hamilton, Montreal) |
| Products | Musical performances at sporting events and local festivals |
Number of employees | Over 50 musicians (on game days) |
Argonotes, recognized as the unofficial musical ensemble of the Toronto Argonauts, operated entirely through volunteer efforts to provide high-quality musical performances and foster a classic football ambiance during Argonauts' home fixtures. Typically comprising over 50 musicians on game days, Argonotes stood as the largest musical group affiliated with the CFL.
Outside of match days, the band actively supported both the Argonauts and the city of Toronto throughout the year by taking part in various local events. These included games featuring the Leafs, Raptors, and Marlies, along with fan-oriented festivals.
On occasion, Argonotes traveled to represent Toronto at events held in other cities such as Hamilton and Montreal, performing at notable occasions like the 2009 Labour Day Classic and playoff contests.
The group ceased operations during the 2017 CFL season following reported disagreements with the Argonauts organization.
Band history
Argonotes emerged as the successor to earlier marching bands connected to the Argonauts, which had disbanded by the 1970s. Established in 1995 by Steve Hayman, the band primarily recruited members from local university bands including those at Waterloo, Queen's, Western, UofT, WLU, and McGill. The membership spanned from recent graduates to musicians with playing experience dating back to the 1950s.
- Significant achievements in Argonotes' initial ten years
- 1996 – Undertook inaugural road trip to Hamilton for Grey Cup Festival.
- 1998 – Made first playoff game appearance in Montreal.
- 1999 – Expanded performances beyond Leafs games.
- 2000 – Temporarily acted as Hamilton Tiger-Cats Band, named "Orchestra Wee-Wee," for Ticats Grey Cup Ring dinner.
- 2001 – Participated in Grey Cup celebrations held in Montreal.
- 2002 – Served as official band for World Beer Games.
- 2004 – Triumphed over Roughriders Pep Band in sonic competition at Grey Cup in Ottawa.
- 2007 – Played during CFL Grey Cup weekend hosted in Toronto.
- Prominent engagements
- 100th Grey Cup Festival Kickoff (2011)
- Breakfast Television (Citytv Toronto)
Repertoire
Among the songs most frequently performed by Argonotes were:
Fight songs
The band specialized in energizing pep band numbers favored in sports settings, placing special emphasis on Canadian musicians. Nautical-themed tunes such as Anchors Aweigh and Row, Row, Row Your Boat were also staples of their setlist.
Their classic fight song, popular during the 1950s and 1960s and revived in recent years, was Go Argos Go:
Go Toronto Argos go go go
Pull together fight the foe foe foe
Scoring touchdowns for the blue on blue
The Argos will win for you
Full of fight and courage you can't stop
They pile up the points until they reach the top
Pull together till the Grey Cup's won
Go Argos go go go
Another traditional anthem is Argos Rule the CFL, penned by Tony Daniels and Damon Papadopoulos of Talk 640 Radio shortly before Argonotes was formed:
The Alouettes, Lions and the Blue Bombers
Tiger-Cats, Eskimoes and Stampeders
The Roughriders and no other Rough Riders
But the Argos Rule the CFL
T! O! R! O! N! T! O!
A! R! G! O! N!A!U!T!S!