This past weekend we had a chance to spend 2 days in the small town of Lucknow, Ontario. For those of you not sure where this quaint little town is. Lucknow is located just over an hour North-West of Kitchener/ Waterloo. Before I get started we want to thank all the amazing volunteers who put this fantastic weekend together. With over 600+ volunteers pulling together to make this my personal favourite of the busy summer season. This was our 2nd year making the 1h 35min drive to take in some of Country's biggest names.
Friday night things kicked off with The Riverbend Gentlemen on the Sepoy Emerging Artist stage and the boys were pickin' and playin' to the folks setting up for the first night of 2 at the fields. Up next and kicking the weekend off on the main stage were the very talented Runaway Angel. Now I have tried to see these ladies on numerous occasions but we either miss it or are double booked. So it was nice to see the ladies in fine form Friday night. With a solid 50 min set the ladies had the crowd boppin'.
Up next was Shae Dupuy over on the Sepoy Emerging Artists stage. I didn't make it over to take any shots due to being caught up with an artist but we did hear it and I have to say this girl can sing. I would suggest if you get a chance take a look, her current single Drink About is pretty solid. But up next on the main stage was a friend to Sound Check and we know she can bring the house down. Jess Moskaluke kicked her set off to a crowd that had been growing since 7pm. Now being 9pm it was ripe and ready to rock. Jess didn't disappoint. With such a strong performance its crazy she was the support act. Jess has been one of those artists we have watched over the last 18 months and her stock is totally on the rise. When the crowd started singing along to Cheap Wine & Cigarettes it gave us goosebumps.
Now for the headliner.... Last year they had Gord Bamford burn the place down well no worries this year. Dallas Smith was here to bring everyone to there Tippin Point. Yes we have covered a bunch of Dallas shows over the last year but Dallas is one of those artists that I could watch him nightly. The energy this guy brings to the stage is unreal. He is a rare anomaly wherein he poses not only raw natural talent but also an unmistakable charisma found in very fewer performers. His smiles and how he interacts with the crowds is a treat nightly. Friday was no different, the guy didn't stop working the crowd from the moment he stepped foot on the stage. Some of the highlights of the set were his current single Cheap Seats, Nothing But Summer & the fan favourite and a hell of a way to end his set Tippin Point. That's a wrap for Friday Night and let me tell ya the fans LOVED every minute of it.
So lets talk a bit about a jammed packed Saturday in the fields. Unfortunately due to prior commitments on Saturday morning we weren't able to make it till almost 6pm and missed a couple of the sets such as Livy Jeanne, Cold Creek County, Eric Ethridge and our friends Autumn Hill we caught the last 2 songs walking into the park. I spoke to a few of the attendees and of the sets we missed the Cold Creek County set was held in high regard. I personally haven't had a chance to see Cold Creek yet but from what I heard they rock the stage. First up for us was our good friend Chad Brownlee, and yes we have covered a few of Chad's shows this year and he also along with his MDM Recording partner Jess Moskaluke are money in the bank. Chad's sets are always mixed with so many great songs both original & covers. Saturday night the highlights were When The Lights Go Down, Matches and his killer cover of Ed Sheerans Thinking Out Loud.
Next up on the mains stage was Trenton, Florida native Easton Corbin. I had the pleasure of seeing Easton a couple of years back opening for the same band he opened for on Saturday night (The Band Perry) and to be honest I don't recall his set being that good back then. But I can tell you he was fantastic in the fields. He has a great stage presence and just really knows how to keep the crowd happy. With hits like A Little More Country Than That & All Over The Road mixed in with a really cool way to introduce his band he had the crowd movin' and groovin'
The final act of the night.... Big Machine recording artists THE BAND PERRY. Now much like last year they saved the best for last (Dierks Bentley played last on the Saturday night and he was AMAZING) and The Band Perry came out rockin'. For those of you who haven't had a chance to see TBP live please make it a bucket list thing. They have so much energy and how tight the band was, was unreal. This was only the 2nd time they were performing the new set list and it was pretty damn sweet. Sweet dreams in fact, they had a great mashup with some killer songs that's for sure (don't want to spoil the surprise for everyone going to see them on the new tour).
But we can say you likely won't be disappointed. With hits like Chainsaw, Done, Better Dig Two and of course the smash hit If I Die Young this is a set list that nobody can argue. It was the new single Live Forever that had me pumped. I love this new track. Something about those anthem songs that just get's ya going. To have such a great act wrap up 2 days of fantastic music was awesome.
The fine folks that put this outstanding event together are held in high regard by all of us here at Sound Check. I really feel this is the best festival in Ontario. With the amazing talent they are able to assemble year after year and to keep that small town atmosphere is a challenge in today's day and age. Everyone want's to grow things so big that they eventually it becomes not about the fans and the music but about the money. The folks at Lucknow do this to support the community and distribute the profits to those services in the community in need. It really is a hidden gem that 8000 people take in yearly (They never have an issue selling out). So if you're in the hunt for something new I suggest you grab your tickets to 2016 as soon as they go on sale cause they won't last long. Till next year!
Corey Kelly / @CoreyKelly76
More shots from the amazing weekend of music!
Well if your reading this you must really be bored... So I was born and raised in a small town and have a thirst for good Canadian Whiskey and amazing Country Music.