ESTEVAN - One of the greats of Canada’s country music scene was in Estevan on Sunday night for a concert.
Scottish-Canadian musician Johnny Reid performed before a sold-out crowd of approximately 380 people at the Orpheum Theatre for his Love Someone tour. It was billed as an intimate evening with Johnny Reid, and Jocelyn Dougherty, who owns the Orpheum with her husband Alan, said the concert lived up to its billing.
“It couldn’t have been a better evening,” said Jocelyn Dougherty. “I’ve seen him many times, and maybe I’m biased, but this is one of my favourite concerts of his.”
She particularly enjoyed the stories and the jokes that Reid told, which complimented the hit songs that he performed. Reid often has a full band and even a bagpipe player for his concerts, but Dougherty said this time he had a few fellow performers on stage with him.
He also had the crowd involved by singing back to him. When he sang the song Higher, fans had their hands in the air and people were participating.
“We never had one bad comment. Everyone just said it was a fantastic evening,” said Dougherty.
Reid is a class act, she said, and is approachable and was polite to the Doughertys. The band members and road crew were also great to work with.
Crew members, meanwhile, told Dougherty that everyone was so kind and accommodating towards them at the Days Inn, and everywhere they went in the city, they found people to be friendly, polite and welcoming.
“It’s one of the most enjoyable groups that we’ve ever had here,” said Dougherty. “There’s a lot of work behind the scenes, preparing and afterwards tearing down. Everyone who was with him was so good to work with.”
The opening act was Dharma Bizier. Dougherty noted that during the COVIID-19 pandemic, Reid collaborated on a musical about his grandmother, who he mentions a lot during his shows.
“The lady that’s going to be playing her (Reid’s grandmother) in this musical that’s supposed to be released next year, was the opening act,” said Dougherty.
In addition to singing a few songs, Bizier told stories of how Reid’s grandmother would have lived.
Since the concert, the Orpheum has had phone calls thanking them for bringing Reid to Estevan. Dougherty believes people are eager to be out again. Spectators came from Swift Current, Saskatoon, Esterhazy and other Saskatchewan communities for the concert, and they had people from Manitoba, so the show was good for the economy as well.
Tickets are now available for the next two concerts. PIGS: Canada's Most Authentic Pink Floyd Tribute, will perform on April 23. The Trews, who are a veteran Canadian rock group, will appear on May 26.
Those concerts will appeal to different demographics, but Dougherty said the Orpheum has received a lot of interest for both concerts.
The Orpheum has also announced that they will be hosting an acoustic Christmas concert late this year, featuring Chris Henderson, Jack Semple, and Munro and Patrick.
