The Canadian country music tradition of taking over Budweiser Stage continued on Saturday night in Toronto when Dean Brody and Dallas Smith brought their friends to the amphitheatre by the lake for a great night of music.
For the third year in a row, Brody came to the Bud Stage, but this time things were bigger than ever. The co-headlining stop with Smith on their Friends Don't Let Friends Tour Alone run also included Chad Brownlee, MacKenzie Porter, CCMA Album of the Year winners The Reklaws, and emerging American star Jimmie Allen. In past years we've had surprise guests, and while we didn't get any surprises on Saturday night, there was so much talent and so much action, that it didn't feel like anything was missing. The dynamics of such a long list of artists could have been confusing and disjointed, but it wasn't. Everything moved smoothly and with the energy needed to keep thousands of country fans involved and invested all night long.
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The show started with The Reklaws on the big stage. Jenna and Stuart Walker came out and opened with energy and excitement. It was a big moment for the country music siblings, getting on the Bud Stage for the first time in a career that continues to be best described as exploding. They've topped the charts, been featured on TSN, headlined their own tour, and played some great stages. But on Saturday they got to cross something big off of their to-do list as they smiled and danced and sang all over the stage.
We've been fortunate to follow The Reklaws over the last few years as they've grown as artists, embraced opportunities, and become one of the most celebrated young acts in Canadian country music. And we aren't alone. We watched as fans sang along to Hometown Kids, Feels Like That (the duo's first #1 single at Canadian country radio), and Long Live The Night to close out their brief set. It was great to see, and next time we're sure they'll get even more space and time to show the fans what they can do on the big stage.
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Next on the big stage, and the hands-down winner for best dressed of the night, was Jimmie Allen. The small-town singer from Delaware brought flash, dance, and swag with his country music, and Toronto was into it. Allen was all-in during his seven-song set. With tracks from his breakout album, Mercury Lane, plus a couple of bonuses that we loved, there was a lot to write home about from this set.
Note: We would like to extend our best wishes and love to Jimmie Allen and his family as they mourn the loss of his father. Jimmie made the trip to play in Toronto just a couple of days after his daddy passed, and we know that it had to have been weighing heavy on his heart.
Allen played his #1 hit Best Shot. He played his current radio single, Make Me Want To. He threw in County Lines to start the set and Underdogs to end it. But when Jimmie Allen grabbed his guitar and started singing Shallow, he had everyone's attention. And when he went into an upper register that we didn't know he had, we were floored, impressed, blown away, and then some. This is the second time we've seen Jimmie Allen live ( Boots & Hearts 2018) and we very much hope we get to see him again soon.
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Now, this is where things got big and exciting and special. Dean Brody and Dallas Smith and both of their bands (10 musicians combined) came out on the stage together to kick off their co-headlining set. There were loud cheers and a buzz at the amphitheatre that only comes in big moments. Brody and Smith started the set with duet versions of If It Gets You Where You Wanna Go, Undone, Somebody Somewhere, and Love Would Be Enough. It was cool to see the two big Canadian stars trade verses on each other's songs and made for a great start to the second half of the night.
After the mini-set of duets, Smith and his band left the stage and Dean Brody and the Brodeo broke into an eleven song run. The Toronto crowd was treated to (and sang along with) newer material and old favourites with Bush Party, Whiskey In A Tea Cup, Black Sheep, and of course, Canadian Girls all getting the fans worked up in the best way. As a songwriter, Dean Brody is in the upper echelon of the genre. As a performer, he takes those songs and connects them to the crowd with enthusiasm and genuine joy.
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Dean Brody's set ended with the introduction of one of Canada's next emerging stars, MacKenzie Porter. As Bounty started playing and Dean started singing, it made perfect sense for Porter to come down the steps and sing the part that Lindi Ortega recorded on the #1 single. The pair sounded fantastic together, the crowd welcomed MacKenzie with a nice cheer, and the show just kept on rolling.
After Bounty, Dean Brody exited the stage and MacKenzie Porter stayed. The Alberta native (and star of Travelers) introduced herself and played her latest single, These Days for Toronto. We wish that she had the chance to play another song before she split, maybe her own #1 single, About You. But the opportunity for her to get on the big stage in front of thousands of Canadian country music fans is one that she deserves and can only help her as she takes the next steps in her music career.
What came next was a little bit of a surprise because we didn't get a duet or natural segue. But none of that mattered because when Chad Brownlee appeared and started singing, the crowd got loud with welcoming cheers and excitement to see him. Like Porter, the BC native's time on stage was short, but we did get to sing along with him as he sang When The Lights Go Down and his first career #1 single, Forever's Gotta Start Somewhere.
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As Chad enters a new chapter in his career with the release of his EP Back In The Game, a new label, and an eye on new opportunities, he continues to be the artist that Canadian country fans have loved for a decade. He is no longer the guy that traded his skates for a stage. Chad Brownlee is a fixture on the Canadian country music scene, a top-tier male artist, and we can't wait to see what else is coming from him in the future.
After Brownlee went back-to-back, the 2019 CCMA Entertainer of the Year, Dallas Smith came back out to the stage and showed everyone exactly why he took that trophy home with him.
Smith and the band played 12 songs in their set, inviting MacKenzie Porter to come back out to duet on One Drink Ago. They rolled through #1 singles Drop, Wastin' Gas, Sky Stays This Blue, Autograph, Side Effects, and Rhinestone World. They played favourites like Lifted and One Little Kiss and Tippin' Point. And through it all, Dallas moved around the stage. The crowd sang loud and with enthusiasm. And the Budweiser Stage turned into Smith's house.
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Two years ago Dallas Smith was Dean Brody's surprise guest and sang Undone with him and then played Somebody Somewhere to huge cheers. This year, the cheers were just as loud, and Dallas Smith took full advantage of his entire time on the Budweiser Stage. It was awesome to see the superstar singer get that opportunity and make the most of it.
After Smith wrapped his set with Side Effects, we got to the encore as the co-headlining friends were wheeled out with the Friends Bar.
Dean and Dallas again took turns singing and sharing songs. They started with Brody's Time and then Smith playing the Default classic, Wasting My Time before welcoming MacKenzie Porter and Chad Brownlee back out to sing Friends Don't Let Friends Drink Alone with them.
With time winding down on Saturday night Dean Brody and Dallas Smith had two songs left. The night closed on Smith's Cheap Seats and then Brody's Bring Down The House - and it was perfect. It was loud and happy and there was as much energy at the end of the encore as there was at the start of the show.
September 21 was the last Saturday of summer 2019, and at Budweiser Stage in Toronto, thousands of country music fans had the perfect end to the season with Dean Brody, Dallas Smith, Chad Brownlee, MacKenzie Porter, The Reklaws, Jimmie Allen and the Friends Don't Let Friends Tour Alone.
Friends Don't Let Friends Tour Alone, Toronto Setlists
The Reklaws
Jimmie Allen
Dallas Smith and Dean Brody
with Chad Brownlee and MacKenzie Porter