Terra Lightfoot and the Sheepdogs Rock and Roll in Ottawa

Live event starved fans in Ottawa were treated to some foot-stompin’ rock and roll on Saturday night at the Drive-in Experience held at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa.

As the temperature dipped to level warranting a frost advisory in the Nation’s capital city, live music enthusiasts put on their tuques and headed to Kanata. There they piled into their truck beds and wrapped themselves in blankets and were rewarded with some amazing Canadian talent. Let’s face it, we’re all trying to make the best of this whole situation and the fact that the show sold out is very telling. Although we all miss being side by side and up close enough to catch a guitar pick, the fans, the artists and the organizers seemed genuinely happy to be coming together for this event. The artists found their groove on stage, and the fans could be heard hooting and hollering (and honking of course) throughout the night. Hamilton-based Terra Lightfoot started things off on a solid note sharing her gritty and powerful vocal abilities and breaking in to a few incredible guitar riffs. The Sheepdogs drummer Sam Corbett joined her towards the end of her set and gave her sound the extra depth that raised the bar even higher.

Once the honking died down and after a brief intermission where some fans could be seen putting on their masks for a quick dash to the restrooms, headliners The Sheepdogs took the stage. The Saskatoon natives make sure to represent by flaunting the Saskatchewan flag  drapped over keys player Shamus Currie’s kit. In case you’ve been living under a Canadian rock, the Sheepdogs first formed in 2004 and were the first unsigned band to make the cover of Rolling Stone. They’ve since gone on to  multi-platinum album sales and no less than four Juno awards. Frontman Ewan Currie has described the band’s guitar-driven blues-rock style as “pure, simple, good-time music” and we agree wholeheartedly.

The Drive-in experience must have been a big change for the band given that they have performed at a number of large festivals including South by Southwest, Coachella, Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza. They genuinely seemed to be enjoying their time on stage and with each other. I wonder if Ryan Gullen and Jimmy Bowskill bought those jackets on a joint shopping spree or just share the same great taste in fringe. Either way, the look works, and matches their soulful sound that has hints of southern rock undertones.

The Sheepdogs show was the latest in a series of live music events to be held at this venue by local promoters DNA Presents, including The Trews and Big Wreck. Next up on the bill will be CCMA award winner, BC native, and Canadian country music heartthrob Dean Brody on the 27th of September. As of the writing of this review tickets are still on sale, but you better pick them up quickly as that show could easily sell out as well. They are available on Ticketmaster.

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