With the holiday season in full swing, Jess Moskaluke brought all of the Christmas feels to Toronto's Harbourfront Centre on Tuesday night.
The three-time Canadian Country Music Association Female Artist of the Year brought a collection of Christmas classics, fan favourites, big hits, and surprise guests to the stage. And in the beautiful theatre setting, she also brought both her talent and small town charm to the big city show. The venue was a perfect fit for Moskaluke, and the evening was perfectly-timed to showcase her brand new album, A Small Town Christmas.
Related: Jess Moskaluke Celebrates The Season With A Small Town Christmas
As she stood at centre stage in the sparkliest dress of the year, Jess Moskaluke presided over an evening of country, Christmas, and festive cheer in an intimate performance that we were all fortunate to have witnessed.
Moskaluke's newest label-mate, TJ Miller opened the show with a five-song acoustic set that served as his introduction to the Toronto audience.
The B.C. native showed off his songwriting and singing for the crowd, earning applause for each song and capturing the attention of the Harbourfront Centre. We know that the plan is for Miller to release new music in the second half of 2019, and with performances like Tuesday night, we have no doubt that Canadian country fans will be ready for him.
Related: MDM Recordings Introduces TJ Miller
TJ Miller Setlist, December 11, 2018 - Harbourfront Centre
My Kinda Girl // Like I Said I Would // I Know Jack // Stay // Love Ain't Done You Wrong
As Jess Moskaluke and her band took the stage at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre, the Toronto audience greeted them with the first of what would be many rounds of applause during their set. Throughout her 19 song show, the Saskatchewan singer shared tracks from A Small Town Christmas, Past The Past, Kiss Me Quiet, and Light Up The Night.
The theatre setting created an attentive, appreciative atmosphere for the show, and allowed for Jess to strip things down from her regular live set. She told the crowd she appreciated these opportunities because they don't come around very often. With less loud guitar and a down-sized drum and percussion set-up, her voice and the songs were able to shine from start to finish.
That stripped-down approach was especially powerful when Jess performed powerful songs like Past The Past and Take Me Home. The emotion and depth in her voice were on full display and wowed the crowd.
During the set, Moskaluke also revealed that the next radio single from the Past The Past album will be released on Christmas Day. Save Some Of That Whiskey is a great listen that should find its way up the charts, and we can't wait to see the accompanying music video that was shot this week in Toronto.
The hits and fan favourites from Moskaluke's library were fantastic all night long, but let's not forget that this was a Christmas show!
From the top, Little Drummer Boy and Winter Wonderland set the tone, with smiles on faces, gentle singing along in the crowd, and a holiday feeling overtaking the room. From there, as the Christmas songs included Grown Up Christmas List (which Jess told us all was the first song she ever sang solo, at 14 years old), her own song, Thank God For Christmas, and two amazing surprises for the crowd.
The first surprise came when Moskaluke welcomed Kira Isabella to stage. The two-time CCMA Female Artist of the Year joined Jess on Santa Baby, taking over the part of Cassadee Pope and having a great time doing it. The second bonus was former CCMA Rising Star and Country Music Association of Ontario Male Artist of the Year, Tim Hicks. The Niagara area star joined in on the Dolly Parton / Kenny Rogers classic, With Bells On swapping in for album duet partner, Paul Brandt.
Note: Duets of Hicks' The Worst Kind and Isabella's Handcuffs were great fun and special moments that were more than we could have hoped for in surprise guest appearances.
The show closed with a two-song encore and plenty more applause for the evening's star. Cheap Wine And Cigarettes and O Holy Night were the perfect cappers to the night. Moskaluke's biggest song to date, Platinum and loved across the country, followed by one of the most beloved Christmas carols ever recorded.
Jess Moskaluke shines brightly as one of Canadian country music's biggest stars, and on Tuesday night in Toronto, she lit up the room with her smile, her songs, and the holiday spirit. Here's hoping this becomes a tradition we can get used to.
Jess Moskaluke Setlist, December 11, 2018 - Harbourfront Centre
❄️ Little Drummer Boy
❄️ Winter Wonderland
❄️ Drive Me Away
❄️ Night We Won't Forget
❄️ Used
❄️ Grown Up Christmas List
❄️ Sleigh Ride
❄️ Kiss Me Quiet
❄️ Camouflage
❄️ Save Some Of That Whiskey
❄️ Past The Past
❄️ Santa Baby (Duet with Kira Isabella)
❄️ Handcuffs (Duet with Kira Isabella)
❄️ Thank God For Christmas
❄️ Take Me Home
❄️ The Worst Kind (Duet with Tim Hicks)
❄️ With Bells On (Duet with Tim Hicks)
Encore
❄️ Cheap Wine And Cigarettes
❄️ O Holy Night
