A musical triple play, Your Town Throwdown began rocking stages across Canada this month showcasing the talents of award winning country music artists Chad Brownlee, Deric Ruttan and Jason Blaine. The 26 date tour kicked off in PEI a little more than a week ago and will travel from coast to coast, wrapping up the party in British Columbia in November. Tonight was the last Maritimes dates for the tour, here at Casino New Brunswick, after playing in PEI and Nova Scotia.
Keeping it Canadian, the night started right on time with opening act “Wyatt” from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A guitar laden group of rocking country, this band would not be out of place picking up and playing a more classic rock type show and this is infused into their country show. Named after the famous Ok Corral participant Wyatt Earp, the band has already had their songs charting on Canadian Billboard Country charts and just released their new album “You Should Have Been Here Last Night”. A great warm up for what was to come, Wyatt got the crowd involved, and set the stage for the three performers to follow.
It was then time for the main attraction, as Jason Blaine, Chad Brownlee, and Deric Ruttan hit the stage together for an opening number that got the crowd heavily populated by young screaming girls (not surprisingly) up and into the show. After the opening number, Brownlee and Ruttan left the stage leaving it for Jason Blaine to have his set of six songs that included songs like “Cool”, and “A Night Like This”. It was obvious that Blaine was having fun, and was excited about the tour, interacting with the crowd and getting them singing right along with him. All the artists tonight were promoting new albums and Blaine mentioned his new album “Everything I Love” and launched into a couple of newer songs off that album.
Jason Blaine – Your Town Throw Down – Casino NB – 10/19/13 ~ Refrain Photography
Next up was Chad Browlee for his turn at center stage asking the crowd if this is ‘where the party at’? and launching into his song by that name. Brownlee has a bit different sound than Blaine but all three artists, Ruttan included, compliment each other well. With a rock edge to their country sound, and a ridiculous stack of Marshall amps behind them they got the crowd rocking. Many may not know that Brownlee, a fairly accomplished hockey player, was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the 6th round of the 2003 NHL draft and played pro and semi-pro hockey from 2003-2009 at which time he began to focus totally on his music. Rocking through songs like “Sitting on the hood of my Car” and two personal favourites in “Listen” and “Smoke in the Rain” the crowd ate it up.
Chad Brownlee – Your Town Throw Down – Casino NB – 10/19/13 ~ Refrain Photography
Rounding out the trio was award winning singer and song writer Deric Ruttan with his turn at the microphone. Ruttan, known almost as much for his incredible song writing ability as his music has a song currently sitting at the top of country music charts everywhere and getting massive radio airplay in “Mine Would Be You” performed by Blake Shelton. He’s also written his songs for many other chart topping country artists like Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, and Jason Blaine to name a few. Tonight Deric looked ready to have a fun, and starting his set off with his 2007 hit “Good Time”. Rocking the stage with a beautiful Les Paul and jamming with the backing bands guitar player that looks incredibly like Russel Brand, Ruttan bounces from one end of the stage to the other. Also promoting a new album, “Take The Week Off’, that was released a couple of weeks ago he got the girls screaming once again playing the title track off his new album, and finished the rousing and rocking set with “Up All Night” (at which point he also invited the crowd to the front of the stage).
Deric Ruttan – Your Town Throw Down – Casino NB – 10/19/13 ~ Refrain Photography
Finishing the night brought Blaine and Browlee back to the stage and the three launched into another set of songs with the three artists kicking into Blaine’s song “Friends of Mine”. They rocked, the girls screamed, and rocking country music was served up well on this night. I encourage you to get out and catch one of the remaining 20+ dates across the country as it comes near you, you won’t be disappointed.
October 21, 2013 Parry Sound, ON Stockey Centre
October 22, 2013 Kitchener, ON Dallas Night Club
October 23, 2013 London, ON Cowboys Dance Hall
October 24, 2013 Brampton, ON Rose Theatre
October 25, 2013 Kingston, ON The Grand
October 26, 2013 Belleville, ON Empire Theatre
October 27, 2013 Hamilton, ON Molson Canadian Studio
October 29, 2013 Brandon, MB The 40/Trails West Inn
October 30, 2013 Melfort, SK CJVR Performing Arts Theatre
October 31, 2013 Saskatoon, SK Odeon
November 1, 2013 Regina, SK Casino Regina
November 2, 2013 Winnipeg, MB McPhillips Station Casino
November 3, 2013 Winnipeg, MB McPhillips Station Casino
November 5, 2013 Calgary, AB Cowboys Dance Hall
November 7, 2013 Edmonton, AB The Ranch Roadhouse
November 8, 2013 Grande Prairie, AB Spurs Night Club
November 9, 2013 Red Deer, AB Cowboys Bar & Nightclub
November 10, 2013 Swift Current, SK Living Sky Casino
November 12, 2013 Kelowna, BC Kelowna Community Theatre
November 13, 2013 Kamloops, BC Sagebrush Theatre
November 14, 2013 Mission, BC Clarke Theatre
November 15, 2013 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
Thanks to Blaine, Brownlee, and Ruttan, Casino New Brunswick, and PPRL for a great night of entertainment!