George Canyon sells out Nashville…

I was excited to be able to Photograph and review George Canyon at Nashville North in a place called Norval, just outside Georgetown Ontario. You’re probably wondering why I am pin pointing this on a map. It’s easy, I grew up in Mississauga and Nashville North was the only county bar around for ever. Heck they didn’t even have an enclosed mall in Georgetown when I first started to go to Nashville North. So when you get a top Canadian Country star like George Canyon It’s a big deal. It showed last night when I asked if this was a sell-out, I got a hell Yeah!!!!

So George’s Tour is called Jekyll & Nothing to Hide tour.   It started February 5^th in Calgary, and that’s the same day Canyon’s CD released ,  “I Got This” dropped to ITunes and retailers.

For me I always like to know who is opening for a headliner, so I am thinking to myself someone HUGH, because after all, is The George Canyon!!  Google him and see how many awards he’s been nominated for and how many he won, you will say WOW! Canyon is one of a few Canadian artists that went overseas to play for our Canadian Troops. To me he’s like the Don Cherry of Canadian Country music.

So who is opening for George at Nashville North? I get the answer, two local artists named Matt Morson and Vanessa Marie Carter, two artists that I never even heard of before.   Artists that wasn’t even on my radar until the other night.  Let me assure you, keep these two names on the front burner as they’re going to be playing the airs waves sooner than later.

As we all know George is all about giving back, His management team Invictus Entertainment Group   have been working with host venues to select opening local acts. Jekyll & Nothing to Hide tour will see nearly 40 tour dates from coast to coast, providing many young artists with the opportunity to open their fan base for this multi Juno and Canadian Country Music Award winner.  George said those Canadian artists who are lucky enough to tour like he does, need to pay it forward and help out the young generation.

For me there have been many artists and bands that I got to photograph as a rising star.  One country artist that stands out is Kira Isabella; I met Kira at a local radio station booth at a home show no one was around when she was just starting her career. George does it right, brings them up on stage to do a little set, great for exposure and builds their fan base.  He understands how hard it is to become an artist these days.

Matt Morson is a 23yr old rising country star that started singing and writing at an early age. Morson’s two latest tracks are Wanted Man and Girl on the Bar, with any luck we will get to hear a new EP from him soon.   Matt told me his biggest influences are the likes of Merle Haggard, George Jones Loretta Lynn and Hank Williams. He said he has a true Passion for music , If time allowed he could just lay around listening to multiple genres and drift away into his own private little world.

Vanessa Marie Carter a native of Oakville. Vanessa a singer song writer that finished her first EP in 2015 co-wrote it with some of Nashville’s best writers. Vanessa opened up for Kira Isabella in 2014, Brett Kissel 2015, and the Band Perry at Lucknow Music in the Fields 2015, a festival that Soundcheck Entertainment will be covering this summer. A little birdie told me we may have something to give away for this festival. Visit our website often for more details.   If you missed this rising star performance she has a few shows in Guelph Ontario this April.

Well! I normally don’t do the review in reverse; in this case it’s fitting. What I heard after the show was, Amazing! Worth every penny! George Canyon is an Awesome Entertainer! And it’s unlike any concert I ever been too! George was there to have a good time, you can tell that. Wrangler one of the sponsors for Jekyll & Nothing to Hide tour brought tons of swag to hand out. Canyon signed this sponsor deal with Wrangler this past January.  George did ask everyone to take a picture of their swag and post it on social media #Wrangler. I know it’s is all about the new album, but was this going to be a show without the story of “Betty Buns” not this time. I won’t give it away but I will say this, Betty is George’s Mother-in-Law.

As of March 15th, George was in the top four of these following categories, Canadian Single air play in Canada, Canadian single sales in Canada, Canadian Albums sales in Canada. We can’t forget  All Country Artists ,George is at position nine in the top ten for Canadian and International single air play list with I Got This.

George is a very talented, humble man who is patriotic to his country and tells all of his fans that he is Canadian!  He calls himself a Christian man, and a family man, having just celebrated his 21ST wedding anniversary this year!  His values are noticed in his music.  His concerts are for the young and the old as he sings music for all ages!  George makes the audience feel like they are part of his extended family, welcoming his fans and thanking them for attending his shows!  His fans were entertained by jokes and personal stories that George had told, leaving the audience feeling like they just spent the evening with “One Good Friend!”

Ray Williams / @RayWilliams