Fun is the operative word at any Jason McCoy concert. The country music singer-songwriter cracks jokes, plays a mean guitar and rolls out an unforgettable gravelly twang.
A 35-year-plus veteran of the music industry, and two-time CCMA Vocalist of the Year and CMA Award recipient, McCoy has earned enough respect to have the industry’s heavy hitters on speed dial.
Taking a temporary detour from The Road Hammers, McCoy has hitched his wagon to Chad Brownlee and Jason Blaine. The three amigos will deliver the goods on a cross-Canada tour titled The Great Canadian Roadtrip 2.0. Supported by a backing band, the trio plays Sunday, March 9 at the Arden Theatre.
“There’s not one single headliner in this show. We share the band and we’re all onstage at the same time, but it will be a different show at every place we play,” said McCoy.
Built on the success of The Great Canadian Roadtrip 1.0 in 2023-24 with Michelle Wright and Doc Walker, McCoy reprises his lead role for the second instalment.
Although McCoy, Brownlee and Blaine don't perform together consistently, forming the unified sound of one band, they have each built a Canadian country career on talent, respect and shared experiences. The concert vibe they present will be familiar, yet original.
“We all cut our teeth on the road playing clubs and different festivals over the years,” McCoy said. “We work well together because we’re old enough to have left our egos and all that garbage behind us. That’s why we can go onstage and support each other. Our decisions are based on what’s best for the song and the show. You get to a certain age and ego just doesn’t matter anymore.”
In addition to parking their egos at the door, the three singer-songwriters have balanced personalities that energize each other.
“Jason is the most thoughtful of us. He considers everything and whatever he does is well thought out. Chad is a deep thinker, and me, I’m just like a big wet dog and I just run around. I’m just loud,” said McCoy describing some of the energy he imports from The Road Hammers’ electric gigs.
The concert will strike an even keel with the three artists' best or most popular songs — Blaine's Dance With My Daughter and The Road That You Raised You Up, Brownlee’s Reason to Love and The Country Kind as well as McCoy’s I Feel a Sin Comin’ On.
“This concert is the best bang for your buck. We’ll have nothing but hits and you don’t have to wait for a band to switch. It’s all killer and no filler.”
The Great Canadian Roadtrip 2.0 runs Sunday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Arden Theatre. Tickets are $86.25 including GST, handling charges and fees. Call 780-459-1542 or online at tickets.stalbert.ca.
