Live music made its way back to Ontario in a big way this past weekend, as the first-ever HarmoniaFest took over the Italian Cultural Centre of Milton's grounds Saturday night.
The brainchild of 2020 Country Music Association of Ontario Female Artist of the Year nominee Nicole Rayy, it was an evening showcasing some of the best female artists the province has to offer, with Suzi Kory, Mackenzie Leigh Meyer, Bree Taylor, Alessia Cohle and Leah Daniels rounding out the bill.
And for anyone still doubting the power of women in country music, rest assured this crew rocked the stage from start till finish - and fans couldn't get enough.
Suzi Kory and Mackenzie Leigh Meyer kicked off the show and treated to the crowd to some acoustic sounds, with Bree Taylor not far behind.
And then we got into the sets from Alessia Cohle, Nicole Rayy, and Leah Daniels. Keep reading for photos and more.
As the sun went down, a few storm clouds made an appearance, but that wasn't enough to stop Alessia Cohle from cranking up the volume.
After starting things off with How Bad, Two Steps Ahead and Talk to Me, the songstress paid homage to some diverse inherited musical taste (thanks to her father) with a foot-stomping cover of Dusty Springfield's Son of a Preacher Man.
Alessia has continued to put her own stamp on country music, releasing her latest offering Tell You just last year - a song she penned with acclaimed artist Jason Blaine. It was that same track that helped round out her set, followed by Carrie Underwood's Smoke Break.
Alessia Cohle, HarmoniaFest 2020 Setlist
Next up was Nicole Rayy, and while the skies may have cleared up some, she brought the thunder - first with a pair of her own tracks, Let's Fall in Love, and Bad Habit, before breaking into Kasey Musgraves' Blowing Smoke alongside the Aerosmith classic Sweet Emotion.
The night's entire line-up joined Rayy onstage for All Women (with the exception of Daniels, who was otherwise engaged - don't ask), a moment the singer/songwriter said she had worked towards since the song's inception.
From there the tracks came fast and hard, warranting a chorus of honks and headlight blinks from the car-bound crowd.
Rayy's current release, Broken Boys, fell just shy of the end of the set, followed up with Put the Gun Down, and Don't.
Nicole Rayy, HarmoniaFest 2020 Setlist
Lastly, Leah Daniels kicked things off in her set with her 2018 EP title track, The Story, before taking fans on a trademark high-energy ride to close out the night.
The most well-known name of the night's lineup, Daniels continues to show everyone who sees her why she's a fan favourite and how well she fits into a lineup like HarmoniaFest put together in 2020.
From Whitney Houston's I Want to Dance with Somebody to Alanis Morrisette's You Oughta Know, to a 90s medley packed with throwback hits, Daniels is an entertainer through and through. Add in her own releases like Together, First, and her Top 20 single, Go Back, and she put together a great set to wrap up a wonderful night of women in country music.
Leah Daniels, HarmoniaFest 2020 Setlist
