Meghan Patrick played the main stage at Boots and Hearts for the first time on Saturday afternoon. It won't be the last time.
The 2017 Canadian Country Music Association's Female Artist of the Year came out in the full summer sun to play a mix of hits and fan favourites from her debut album, Grace & Grit (2016) and her second full-length album, Country Music Made Me Do It (2018). And every step of the way, the country music fans at Boots & Hearts were right there with her.
The homegrown fan favourite was all-in from the jump, showing off her harmonica skills before strapping on her six-string and standing at the microphone to get things started. The last time we saw Meghan play at Boots & Hearts, she was on the kickoff show roster on the Front Porch Stage. It was summer 2016 and fans were just learning who she was and what she could do. Now, they know.
The sun-soaked crowd sang along to every song they knew and got as loud as they could, every chance they had. It was especially awesome to look out and see a ton of dudes singing along to songs like The Bad Guy, Be Country With Me, and Country Music Made Me Do It. There was no holding back. This was a let it all out and show 'em that you're a fan space. And the fans were everywhere.
As we've watched Meghan Patrick's career progress since first seeing her a Boots & Hearts 2013 with the Stone Sparrows, she's consistently upped her own game. At Boots 2018, she did it again. On both her electric and acoustic she was doing her part with the band, while also connecting with the fans, getting out on the catwalk, playing the harmonica, having a drink, telling stories, and throwing in a little sassy and bad assy for good measure. In a genre that celebrates live performers like Eric Church, Tim Hicks, and Dallas Smith for their energy and rock n' roll edge, Meghan Patrick fits right in and can hang with those boys any day.
Meghan also took the opportunity on Saturday to test out some new material on the country lovers at B&H. Both Breathing Room and Country Music And Dive Bars were well received and hopefully passed any tests that she was putting them through. And while we don't know when the next Meghan Patrick album is coming, we'll be ready to hear those tracks on it.
With five CCMA nominations this year, it's easy to see that people have taken notice of her music, effort, and dedication to her craft. And if she comes home with any of those trophies (Album, Female Artist, Single, Video, and Songwriter of the Year) we'll remember that it started with a bluegrass band at Boots & Hearts in Bowmanville, and grew into her main stage performance in front of thousands of country music fans on a sunny Saturday. And there's more growing to come. We'd bet on it.
If you still haven't seen Meghan Patrick live, do it. But don't take our word for it, ask the thousands of our pals who saw her at Boots & Hearts 2018!
Meghan Patrick Setlist, Boots & Hearts 2018
👢 Hardest On My Heart
👢 Walls Come Down
👢 Grace & Grit
👢 Breathing Room
👢 The Bad Guy
👢 Dive Bars And Country Music
👢 Jolene
👢 Country Music Made Me Do It
👢 Be Country With Me
👢 The Buzz
👢 Bow Chicka Wow Wow
