The evening started with nêhiyaw Plains Cree singer-songwriter, Wyatt C. Louis, whose music set a gentle tone for the evening. Standing alone with his guitar on stage, Louis opened the night with original tunes from his new album, Chandler, that painted pictures of the Canadian interior with long stretches of highway, farmland, and horses. Halfway through his set, he was joined by Boy Golden’s slide guitarist, providing that final layer of soulful country to accompany his guitar and vocals. Just before he closed his set, gave a shout-out to his wife, which was the icing on the cake to his sentimental lyrics and intimate, heart-warming performance.

After being lulled by the music of Wyatt C. Louis, it was time for headliner Boy Golden and his band to come on stage and turn things up a notch. Sporting a vest with ducks, Liam Duncan aka Boy Golden, gave the effortlessly cool performance that he has become known for. The band ping-ponged between new tracks like “Here to Stay” from his latest release, For Eden, and “golden” oldies like “KD and Lunch Meat,” for which many in the audience seemed to know the lyrics and sang along. 

As the evening was coming to a close, Duncan mentioned to the audience that he had actually forgotten his cowboy hat, which was supposed to be a part of his attire. A member of the audience threw their hat up onto the stage and Duncan’s bandmate, Fontine, quickly grabbed and placed it on his head. Although not a classic cowboy look, the maroon felt hat still went with his outfit and made the crowd cheer as he segued into the iconic Boy Golden favourite, “Church of Better Daze.”

Shortly after Duncan and his bandmates left the stage, they were brought back for an encore where they performed their track “A Little Space” from the band’s 2021 LP, Church of Better Daze. It was the perfect ending to a feel-good night with some of the Canadian interior’s most wholesome rising talents.

Boy Golden (Photo by Heather Saitz)