Dean Brody goes Boom Boom Boom at the Drive-in Experience in Ottawa

Dean Brody and opening act Sacha brought a country flair to the vehicular bush party that is the Drive-in Experience in Ottawa on Sunday night.

So far Ottawa live music lovers have been treated to shows from some of the best bands Canada has to offer including the Sheepdogs, The Trews, and Big Wreck as well as EDM legend DeadMau5. Sunday night at Wesley Clover Parks in the west end of the city was a reminder that country music is also alive and kickin’. We were naturally curious to see how country acts, known for interacting with the crowd on very personal level, would fare without their audience being up close and personal at their feet. From the honking and the smiles we saw, we would say that they were still able to make a connection to the crowd despite the drawbacks of the new format.

Up first to bat was Montreal native and up and coming country star Sacha. She waltzed onto stage in a sequin top and sunglasses given that the sun had not yet set. When we asked why this was such an early set time, organizers mentioned that Dean Brody didn’t want to miss the CCMA Music Award broadcast that was scheduled for that night. As the sun continued to dip to her left and the lights brightened, Sacha let loose with up-tempo energetic tunes that had everyone dancing in their bucket seats. The highlight of her performance was undoubtedly her rendition of the hit Cheers! in which she playfully beckons everyday folks to raise your glass and say it with her “if you came here to dance”. After a short intermission, and lots of anticipation from the plaid-clad audience, Dean Brody walked on stage. The car horns were put through their paces as he broke into some of his biggest hits including top-selling 2017 Canadian hit of the year Bush Party. Fans could be seen swaying and signing along as they enjoyed the show from their trunks or tailgates. The highlight of the show for many was when he lit the place up with his new song Bucket List, a little tune about finding happiness in cold beer in a bucket of ice. This rang especially true as it seemed to us that he, the organizers and the stage crew gave concert fans a few hours of happiness in a world otherwise full of bad news and uncertainty.

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