Bobby Wills made the trip to Boots & Hearts 2018 to take a turn on the main stage on Sunday afternoon, and he made it count!
The Canadian Country Music Association Male Artist of the Year nominee rolled through a set of his hits and fan favourites in the Sunday sun while country music fans sang and danced and cheered. The Alberta native had a smile on his face on stage throughout his performance, making it clear he was happy to have made the trip to Ontario.
We saw that same smile backstage before the show when we had the chance to hang out with Wills to talk about the CCMAs, his summer, the thrill of the crowd, and more. Plus, we had the opportunity to play a round of 5 Quick Questions with the Won't You Be Mine singer.
We talked about his summer of shows, and fans and he told us that it all still feels fresh and exciting. He's happy for that, and it keeps him moving forward. Eight years after the release of his first album, Man With No Past, it's fantastic to hear that Bobby is still having a good time.
This Summer has been a good one for Wills. He's been in Winnipeg, Tillsonburg, Toronto, and more. He's been in front of country fans that know and love his music. And he's watched and listened as they've sung along with him during his shows.
While we talked about those shows, we asked about the feeling of looking out into the crowd and seeing the audience singing along with his songs. Wills had a one-word answer: High. He said that the first time it happened was at the Big Valley Jamboree after Show Some Respect had started gaining popularity. It's happened a whole lot more since.
It was maybe the most succinct answer we've ever heard to that question. We love it. We get it. We wish we could feel it.
On stage at Boots & Hearts we got to see and hear Bobby Wills play a great set that included songs like Somebody Will, Never Didn't Love You, Get While The Gettin's Good, Won't You Be Mine, Down By The River, and Crazy Enough. It was awesome to see him give everything he had to the crowd. It was fantastic to see the reaction to these songs that country fans clearly love.
Wills also took us all the way back to his first Top 10 single form 2012, a song that means a lot to him, and still connects, Show Some Respect. As live music moments go, it was a really good one.
With the CCMA Awards coming up in Hamilton, ON, Bobby Wills has a lot to look forward to. That Male Artist of the Year nomination is big. We asked him about it, and he told us that it's true what people say - it is an honour to be nominated and to be recognized by your peers.
He's also looking forward to seeing his friends in the industry throughout the weekend. And in the middle of all of that, he'll get up on stage at the MDM Recordings party (which is always a very, very good time) and sing some of his songs during Canadian country music's biggest week of the year.
Bobby Wills is inching closer to a decade since his first release. But as long as it stays fresh and fun, we expect he's got a whole lot left in him and a long time left up on stage and a lot of highs left to feel.
5 Quick Questions with Bobby Wills
Q1) Do you have a road trip album? One that you can put on and let play?
Note: We knew Bobby was a Brooks fan, having seen him bust out The River in his soundcheck back on the When The Lights Go Down Tour. So it's no surprise that Garth gets this spot.
Q2) Do you remember the first Album that you bought?
Bobby) Police's Synchronicity (1983)
Q3) Do you have a dream venue on your career wish list?
Note: Bobby did tell us that being at Boots & Hearts was crossing something big off of his list.
Q4) Do you remember your first concert?
Bobby) U2 on the Joshua Tree Tour
Note: It was a monster tour with 111 shows across the US, Canada, and Europe. Crazy!
Q5) Is there any artist that you think that more people should be listening to?
Note: We wholeheartedly agree on this one, and we can't wait for JJ's new music.
