After a two-year postponement, Lasso Festival finally kicked off yesterday in Montreal to the delight of country music lovers.
• Also read: Shows not to be missed at LASSO
The chilly day didn’t dampen country fans’ excitement for the first such event in an urban setting in Quebec. It was also amazing and nice to see so many people wearing cowboy and cowgirl boots and hats, bolo ties, bandanas and plaid shirts on the yellow line metro towards Parc Jean-Drapeau in the middle of the afternoon.
Photo Agency QMI, Mario Beauregard
The rush was great for singer Blanco Brown.
Attack on the old Dominion
Photo Agency QMI, Mario Beauregard
Old Dominion at Festival Lasso in Montreal on August 12, 2022.
Expectations were high for Old Dominion, this American group that formed in Nashville at the top of the charts and won a plethora of awards and visited Montreal for the first time. To be honest, the five members did not disappoint. They kicked off the night with “Make it Sweet” before Matthew Ramsey, eyes sparkling, sang “Never Be Sorry” directly to the crowd, who alone finished the words of “No Such Thing as Broken Heart”. Old Dominion delivered a highly energetic and festive show with rock and pop accents. The band members’ complicity was palpable, particularly between Matthew Ramsey and guitarist Brad Tursi.
Excellent Ashley McBryde
Photo Agency QMI, Mario Beauregard
Ashley McBryde
The enchanting Ashley McBryde came to tell her story in her beautiful deep voice meant for country. The audience tapped their feet and nodded as she performed tracks from her popular repertoire ranging from American Scandal to A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega to whiskey and country music. The American singer put on a show that she obviously enjoyed and didn’t hesitate to introduce the three guitarists who accompanied her.
Burst Blanco Brown
Photo agency QMI, Mario Beauregard
Blanco Brown
The bursting Blanco Brown proved very surprising as he presented us with his eclectic universe where hi-hop, country and sometimes soul are intertwined. With a fox’s tail at his waist, the singer would have the crowd flapping his arm, dancing to Do si do, High Horse or Just the Way and singing hits from Vanessa Carlton’s A Thousand Miles to Live Your Life from TI to Outkast, where he had one fun competition with his DJ. He even charmed by offering red roses to some women in the audience while performing I Need Love and surprised with impressive vocals on a remix of Lee Brice’s soul.
Energetic Sara Dufour
Photo agency QMI, Mario Beauregard
Quebecois Sara Dufour put on a very festive show.
The Quebecois kicked off her show with the celebratory song Chez nous c’est Ski-Doo, taken from her album of the same name. The singer-songwriter then introduced herself through the lyrics of the song Baseball, which was performed with a jubilant interlude of Watatatow’s theme song. His infectious energy quickly enlivened the crowd, particularly his complicit interactions with his guitarist-banjo player, who brought a lovely touch of bluegrass, and with multi-instrumentalist Dave Chenel, who was gifted at both violin and piano. At the time of this writing, American superstar Dierks Bentley, headliner of the day, kicked off his show.
WHAT ABOUT THE NEW CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY?
It’s difficult to define “neo-land” or new land without putting it in a straitjacket. “New Country generally sounds more pop. It’s more accessible music with catchier melodies,” explains Audray Johnson, program coordinator at evenko. Sometimes he also uses folk and rock.
TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR TODAY
There are still tickets left for Saturday. LASSO can also be an original family outing, where children up to 10 years old have free entry. For festival-goers wanting to don the costume, cowboy hats, some of which glow in the dark, can be found on-site and cost $40.
SAME AND DIVERSIFIED PROGRAMMING
“People perceive the country as a very masculine world. It was important for us to change this perception, to offer an equal program that is also due to diversity,” explains Patrick Guay, programmer at evenko and head of the program department. In the afternoon, performer Lily Rose, a rare performer in the openly gay milieu, performed on the Coors Prairie stage.