The first day of the new London music fest at the Western Fair District’s racetrack concert site had plenty of country songs and fans to help celebrate the country’s 149th birthday.
There also was plenty of true patriot love in the crowd of about 12,000 fans. The sea of red and white did not dwindle until the wee hours of the night. Fans
wrapped in flags were up on the shoulders of other fans decked in temporary Canada Day tattoos to show their
Canadian pride by waving the flags over a crowd bright with countless
red-and-white outfits.
Mississippi’s Randy Houser, Alberta’s Brett Kissel and Saskatchewan’s Jess Mosklauke were among those who shouted out “Happy Canada Day.”
By the time Friday’s headliner, Chris Young , had shared “a love song to tequila,” there was plenty to celebrate. There were songs about cheap wine and cigarettes, raising a glass to partying and trying to find a hallelujah.
Even the headliner was carried away into the celebration. “I’ve got to calm down. That’s the first time I’ve left the mic at the wrong mic stand.” If that's the worst thing that happened during your set Chris, then I'd say it was a success. I think the other 12,000 fans could agree.
He continued with an excellent mix of salutes to love — Sober Saturday Night — and I Can Take It From There. He also covered Keith Whitley’s When You Say Nothing At All with a quiet intensity that deserved more quiet from some chattering fans.
Young’s much needed cover of Sharp Dressed Man won huge applause as the crowd erupted into the chorus.
Randy Houser led the longest run for sing-a-longs on Friday. He also kept referring to the night as Thursday night, which the crowd of 12,000 chanted in reply, "Friday." Poor Randy thought everyone was chanting his name. Houser saddled up for Like A Cowboy after saying he had enjoyed singing it at a Budweiser Gardens concert. “Will you all help me sing one of my favourite songs?” Yes, Randy. Yes we will.
Thousands of fans were ready to help Houser, who used his big voice to keep the song going and going.
His talented band came back to help him finish the set. Houser had the best beer song of the night. The lyrics of A Little Bit Older had him singing “A little bit older a little Budweiser,” which by coincidence worked nicely with the sponsorship Budweiser provided for the event.
Also by coincidence, Houser had the cover of the night, My Church. The Maren Morris hit also had been covered by Moskaluke.
“Y’all give it up for Maren Morris. I love that song. It’s just come out,” Houser said.
In the afternoon, Moskaluke took a trip mid-set back to the days not so long ago when she was sharing covers on YouTube.
“It kind of blew up by accident,” Moskaluke said of how she made the jump from YouTube to fests like Trackside.
Her cover of My Church blew me away. Moskaluke also had fun with Elle King’s Ex’s And Oh’s.
Moskaluke had one of her own — 2014’s Cheap Wine And Cigarettes — to inspire a set finale singalong. Her stage presence took over, and all eyes were on her.
Moskaluke also had a message for fans and fest organizers. She had been told she was the only woman on the bill, referring to the mainstage. The Homegrown Talent stage had such Ontario rising stars as Lucan’s Julia Haggarty, Kelsi Mayne, Ashlynne Vince and Jenna Walker of The Reklaws.
“I’m not complaining. I get to share the stage with some great, handsome fellas,” she said.
Here was the star’s point: “More ladies next year, right?”
Sounds like a plan for Canada Day 2017.
Then there was day two.
The Trackside Music Festival has wrapped up but if the cheers still echoing across the Western Fair District are any indication, London is ready for more country. Even walking home with hoards of country-lovers was something special to see. Groups still cheering as they travelled downtown to The Bull and Barrel after party.
Day two of the festival got underway with a performance by the local country/rock band Them Dang Ramblers, who were followed by Steven Lee Olsen and then Chris Lane.
My personal favourite of the day was Chris Lane. His originals were what made me fall in love with him in the first place, but his medleys which included some of the most popular music in the past two decades brought more energy into the audience.
My personal favourite of the day was Chris Lane. His originals were what made me fall in love with him in the first place, but his medleys which included some of the most popular music in the past two decades brought more energy into the audience.
Kane Brown took the growing crowd through the dinner hour before Cole Swindlell claimed the main stage and swooned his way into the hearts of the ladies (and also brought tears into my eyes with "You Should Be Here." He definitely made it "worth the whiskey."
Florida Georgia Line capped things off with a string of hits from the songbook of its founding members, vocalists Brian Kelly and Tyler Hubbard. The lights were not the only thing that brought some ''Shine'' to the Western Fair Grounds (but seriously, what a light show).
It was the first year for the Trackside Music Festival. There were some kinks, which is to be expected but with quick action from the organizers, most of them were worked out for day two. There was limit food options, and on Friday most of the food was sold out before 7:00pm due to demand. On Saturday this was resolved, and there was more supplies that met the demand. The facilities crew were also exceeding expectations and kept the area as clean as to be expected in a crowd of 12,000. The sound, which was poor on Friday if you were at the back of the group, was loud and clear for Saturday's line-up.
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