Category Archives: Music

Tenille Townes blows the roof off of the Winspear Centre in Edmonton last night with a stellar performance.

Jess Sevier / Photographer: Elliott Deseure / @ Lee’s Palace

On Thursday February the 26th, Lee’s Palace brought the next generation of country music artists to the stage! It was a great night to be out on the town to enjoy some great talent with some good company. Headlining the event was Jess Sevier, playing for her hometown she brought the fire to the stage. Jess has been making waves with over 1 million streams, a fast growing following and music making the radio all over. Playing Confetti & See You There, even some Shania Twain but the most impressive cover was Summer Of 69 by Bryan Adams. Sevier and her band really looked the part of country music, but most importantly they could play, and the crowd was loving it. Keep up-to-date in Jess through her Instagram @JessicaSevier !

Josh Taerk / Photographer: Elliott Deseure / @ Lee’s Palace

Second act of the evening was Josh Taerk and his band! Josh at such a young age has accomplished more than most dream to in a lifetime. Like who has John Oates sing back up in their music, that’s pretty impressive. Already a world traveller with his music, he has big dreams that are happening everyday. A song that stuck out was one go his hits Here’s To Change, powerful lyrics and words to live by. Making his way through the crowd to talk to everyone before the show started, complete strangers turning them into friends, class act.

Lauren Carson / Photographer: Elliott Deseure / @ Lee’s Palace

Lauren Carson started the night like a good sunrise, pure enjoyment. Learning from listening to her speak we found out she and her band all went to Queens University, I think it’s clear that they were doing a lot more than studying as her and her band were in complete synch with one another. She has a mature voice and a soft presence while she commands the stage, something most cannot do. Keep up to date on all her work on her Instagram @LaurenCarsonMusic !

The Dead South wrapped up their brief Canadian tour with a killer two-hour show in Edmonton. If this is an indication of what’s to come for the 2023 concert year, we are off to a great start. The bar has been set very high.

An early winter storm might have been raging outside the doors of Ottawa’s Bronson Centre, but inside it was dark, sweaty and loud – all in a good way, because celebrated singer turned actor-producer Hugh Dillon was in the house with fellow Headstones members for the first of two O-town shows on the Flight Risk tour!

Back in 2019 Kane Brown came to Ottawa to headline at RBC Bluesfest, at the time I was skeptical as to whether, or not, Brown would be able to hold his own in a headlining set as he was still relatively new to the country music scene. Not only did he prove that he could when I saw him a month later at Boots and Hearts opening for Jason Aldean it was clear that Kane was best experienced in a headliner role.

When you hear the iconic Canadian band The Headstones… what do you think? Do you think “Oh, just another rock band creating noise?” or are you like me who thinks “This is the Tragically Hip of punk rock!”. (Coincidentally, Hugh Dillon grew up playing hockey with Paul Langlois; future guitarist of the Tragically Hip).

Last Saturday evening, Serena Ryder finished off the Ontario leg of her tour at Kingston’s Grand Theatre and she was a huge hit!

William Prince is on the tail end of a cross Canada tour and stopped in Edmonton on November 30 and played before a standing room only crowd at the McDougall United Church.

Swedish melodic death metal band Amon Amarth roared into the Andrew J Brady Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio to entertain the multitude of heathens excited to see their show Sunday night.

Our neighbours to the south weren’t the only ones giving thanks on the third Thursday of November. In Ottawa, music lovers celebrated the much-awaited return of Arkells to the stage at TD Place Arena for their Blink Once/Blink Twice tour. And what a party it was!