J.D. Potié
With yet another stacked lineup for this year’s Shawville Fair, Sunday night will be headlined by none other than award-winning country superstar Brett Kissel.
Part of his . . .
summer series of shows, Kissel is making his second stop in the Pontiac in the last few years and couldn’t be more thrilled about it.
“We had such a great time there,” he said. “I think we had such a special show that to get invited back is kind of a compliment. That’s what brings me to the area. I love performing. The fans love having me. So, let’s do it again.”
Coming off the most extensive tour in Canadian music history playing 112 dates over the course of ten months, Kissel isn’t planning on taking a rest anytime soon.
“A lot of people are asking me when I’m going to sleep, when I’m going to take a vacation to breathe,” he said. “No, I’m going to sleep when I’m dead. We’re going hard until the end of 2019.”
Travelling with a team of 15 people, 70 bags of luggage, music equipment and merchandise, Kissel is heading to Shawville with a mission to put on a show like no other.
Featuring a star-studded band, stacked with award winning talents all around, Kissel is confident that he and his supporting cast stand supreme when it comes to the Canadian country scene.
“I truly believe I’ve got the best band in Canada,” he said. “The work ethic is extraordinary. It’s a well-oiled machine and it is an extraordinary group,” he said. Raised in the small town of Flat Lake, Alta., the 2019 Juno award winner particularly enjoys performing at events like the Shawville Fair because it makes him feel at home and always brings back memories.
“That’s a rural community and a rural fair so I love going back to my roots too, which is very special,” he said. “Being a farm guy, I just love going around and seeing everything the fair has to offer. I usually do and I will again this September.”
Having previously enjoyed the rides and the delicious food the event has to offer, the country superstar looks forward to hanging with the locals and enjoying the party once again, before hitting the stage on Sunday evening.
“It’s very, very likely that people are going to see us out and about, either the day before or the day of the show,” he said. “Just roaming the grounds. I’m looking forward to that and taking pictures with people.”
Amassing numerous honours over the course of his storied career, including the Allan Slaight Honour effectively engraving his name into Canada’s Walk of Fame and being recognized as International Artist of the Year at the Worldwide Radio Summit in California
Currently living in Nashville, TN., Kissel couldn’t wait for his next chance to come out to the region and play for a legion of people he appreciates so much. “It’s very simple,” he said. “I love the province of Quebec and what they have to offer in terms of country music. I think the wild spirit of the country music fans is pretty unreal.”
Folks can expect to hear a selection of tunes from Kissel’s latest studio album We were that song, which includes hits like “Guitars and Gasoline”, “Anthem” and the title track “We were that song”.
While the show likely won’t showcase any unreleased material, the live element of the performance will turn the new ones into completely different experiences, Kissel said.
“There’s a lot of songs that are brand new as far as sharing them live,” he said. “Of course, they’ve heard them on the radio and Spotify or Apple whatever your thing. But my fans haven’t had the opportunity to see me play a lot of these songs and some have become hits.”
While some entertainers hit the stage with a set list of songs to perform, Kissel prefers to let the audience’s energy dictate the atmosphere of the show to make the experience unique and memorable for the fans.
“I love country music so much and I’ve learned from watching and meeting and spending time with a lot of my heroes and I’m just very, very grateful that I get the opportunity to go out and play live.”
As a small-town guy, it means a lot for Kissel to come out to the Pontiac and put on a show for people who often have to travel great distances to get a glimpse of their favorite artists.
“There are so many small towns that don’t get a quality show,” he said. “They have to drive into big cities to go and see. I’ve always wanted to make it a mandate in my career that if I was ever to reach some level of success to go out and be the small-town guy and I’m very thankful that I get to do that.”
As the awards keep piling up, and the number of fans seems to grow by the day, it’s hard for the Alberta-native not to look back on everything he’s accomplished and where he came from. From playing Johnny Cash songs at local establishments as a 12-year-old to headlining festivals, the last decade plus has provided an unbelievable and eventful journey for Kissel.
“I try to live in the moment and be as present as I can,” he said. “But quite often it’s difficult because I still cannot believe that I get to travel and do the things that I’ve been able to do. I’m so, so lucky. When I say ‘it’s like a pinch me moment’ it truly is. I’m very blessed.”
Nominated for the Fans Choice Award at the Canadian Country Music Awards taking place the following weekend, Kissel is hoping to use the show as an opportunity to rally fans in his corner. To support Kissel and/or other artists up for the honour, fans can cast their votes at ccmafanvote.com.
“I’d love to get together with all the fans in Shawville and have everyone vote for me,” he said. “You can literally vote a million times.”
