Lindsay Ell charms crowd at Overflow Brewing Co. as Nashville comes North to Ottawa

One could argue that, although a music city, Ottawa isn’t much of a country music city. The crowds that descended on Overflow Brewing Co. last night for the latest in a string of country music events hosted by Ottawa’s newest, and hottest, live entertainment venue might beg to differ.

Last night Country 101.1 brought Nashville North to Ottawa with one of Canada’s most popular exports in recent years, Lindsay Ell and a new comer who is starting to make a name for himself in this business Andrew Hyatt.

Hyatt a country crooner from Sudbury, Ontario and 2018 CMAO Rising Star and SiriusXM Top of the Country winner kicked things off with a short set featuring some of his biggest hits and the stories that came with them from the emotional ballad, “She Ain’t You” off his debut album Iron and Ashes to his latest single “Didn’t Know Me”. Entertainment Tonight has named him one to watch and if you were in the audience last night it became crystal clear why. Since signing with 604 Records early in 2018 Hyatt has been busy with the release of his debut album Iron and Ashes followed by two back to back EPs Cain and Able. No question you’ll be seeing more of Andrew in the coming months. Something tells me he’s just gearing up to hit the road big time so I would not be surprised if we see him come through with a tour in the next 8-12 months.

The star of the night was a young lady who at the age of 18 toured across Canada with Buddy Guy…let that sink in for a minute. While most of us were just trying to get through high school this young woman was already a touring musician. And it would be another 10 years after that before she would officially release her own music. That artist is none-other than Lindsay Ell.

Let me tell you something, when it comes to Canadian country music we are so lucky to have many incredibly talented female artists on the scene today. Out of every single Canadian artist, female or male the most underrated, in our country, of them all is Lindsay Ell. Discovered by Randy Bachman only 15 years ago Ell work with Bachman who produced and co-wrote her 2006 debut album Consider This...Ell was 16 at the time and co-wrote most of the 11 songs on the album. It would be another 5 years before, at the age of 21, country music set it’s hook and took over her soul for good. Ell would move to Nashville from Calgary and, almost, immediately sign with US based label Stoney Creek Records. A year later “Trippin’ on Us”, her official debut single, was released and debuted as the most added song for country music radio in both Canada and the United States with over 50 first week adds.

Fans would have to wait another 4 years before her debut EP Worth the Wait would be released in 2017 and worth the wait it was. Since 2017 Ell has toured and shared the stage with Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and Sugarland. Not bad for a Canadian kid from Alberta.

Ell took to the stage around 9 and the next hour was filled with her biggest hits from “Trippin’ On Us” all the way to her 2017 smash #1 hit “Criminal” with a bit of rock, a bit of blues and a whole lot of some of the best guitar you’ll ever see and hear performed live. She topped off the night with the song you’re hearing in heavy rotation right now on country radio. The song she recorded with country superstar Brantley Gilbert: “What Happens In A Small Town” off Gilbert’s latest album Fire and Brimstone.

If anyone needs an example of why women in music need and deserve more attention take a look at Lindsay Ell. She played a bar last night…she toured with Buddy Guy at the age of 18 and can easily go toe to toe on guitar with guys like Brad Paisley and Keith Urban but yet 6 years after her debut single turned heads she still isn’t getting near the recognition she deserves. I mean yes I love being able to enjoy a Lindsay Ell show in an intimate setting like Overflow but man this girl deserves so much more.

The good news is there’s hope. Women like Amanda Kingsland at Country 101.1 are standing up saying it’s time, it’s time for women to get recognized for their contribution to the musical landscape. Will things change? I for one and cautiously optimistic, with an incredible crop of super talented women just coming into their prime I believe that it’s just a matter of time before the scales tip and women will take their place at the top of the charts once again!

Until then we’ll keep enjoying them in small intimate settings because everyone else doesn’t know what they’re missing!

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