Mega country sensation, Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood hitting the stage for a performance at the Budweiser Stage, June 29, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
A sold-out crowd at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage could only mean one thing: country superstars, Lady Antebellum returned to their honorary Canadian roots for a memorable, fun-filled show that certainly delivered.
Since filming the music video for their breakthrough hit, “Need You Know” in 2009 at the King Edward Hotel, the Nashville, Tennessee band has had an intense Canadian connection and fan following — and their Toronto show on Thursday night proved it.
Making their triumphant return to Toronto’s Budweiser Stage (formerly known as the Molson Amphitheater) on June 29, nearly two years exactly from their last trip on the “Wheels Up Tour,” the multi-platinum, award-winning country trio is back with their fifth concert tour supporting their seventh studio album, Heart Break.
Even with solo projects from Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley, Lady Antebellum proved they haven’t missed a beat as a dynamic group as they injected a dose of fresh excitement while performing new tunes and old favorites.
Brett Young talking to the crowds at the Budweiser Stage before singing his hit single, “You Ain’t Here to Kiss Me” on June 29, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Opening the show for them in arguably one of the best venues located in Toronto was new country sensations, Brett Young and Kelsea Ballerini.
Young is the real deal. With a rich, textured voice, he was a great addition to the tour as he engaged with the crowd and sang tracks off his self-titled debut album. With a four-song set, the 36-year-old California country artist definitely gave the crowds an appreciated taste of his showmanship and charm.
Tennessee native, Ballerini is rising in the country music world like a firecracker. With an acclaimed debut album full of fan favorites and a new single driving fans wild, the 23-year-old sweetheart delivered a set that proved she’s a force to be reckoned with. Kicking off the middle of the night with her first three hit singles on country music radio, Ballerini is here to stay. Humble, kind and gracious in her delivery, she is genuinely loving to her fans and even took a moment during her new single, “Legends” to hold the hand of one to sing with them as she kneeled over the stage into the crowds.
When it was time for Lady Antebellum to arrive and the lights went dim, you could tell fans were holding their breath and awaiting the mega country trio with honest fervor and excitement. Hitting the stage with “Downtown” off their record, Golden, the crowds erupted in cheers as the instantly catchy, pop-leaning country track epitomized a burst of enthralling sunshine with a melody full of charming vocals and a nice twangy guitar solo balanced with some steel guitars.
After Scott, Kelley and Dave Haywood sang their number one hit, they went into “Our Kind of Love, followed by the Canadian debut of their upbeat track, “This City” off their new album, Heart Break. Complemented by a neon sign that read, “Welcome to Toronto” as they performed, the fans certainly loved it.
Lady Antebellum sang plenty of fan favorites, like “Dancin’ Away With My Heart,” “Compass” blended with “We Owned the Night” and even injected some Canadiana to “American Honey” that really made audiences cheer.
Kelsea Ballerini singing “Dibs” during her set on the Budweiser Stage on June 29, 2017 of Lady Antebellum’s “You Look Good World Tour” in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The band singing “Heart Break” off the new record was just as fun for the crowd with its chill vibe and perky, pop sound. Setting the mood for the remainder of the show and a residual appreciation for our outlook on summer, it brought about a fresh take on the country band’s sound we’ve all come to love and enjoy.
Though crowds were happy to hear classics and covers like, “You’re Still The One” that paid homage to Canadian country icon, Shania Twain (who was in attendance) and Scott’s award-winning single, “Thy Will,” it was the tracks from Heart Break that truly pumped the sea of fans, reminding them how fun live music concerts really are.
“Good Time to Be Alive” blended with Bill Withers’ “Lean On Me” mellowed the crowd with its feel-good vibes about enjoying life and letting the ride put a smile on your face; while “You Look Good” featured a funky horn section that pushes the band in a new direction musically and performance-wise. Its jazzy, hip vibes really got everyone on their feet.
Leading sing-alongs and getting close to fans, like Kelley, who walked off from his right of the stage to meet with fans mid-song, Lady Antebellum also showed off their talents with their opening acts for memorable performances. Kelley sang Tim McGraw’s “Something Like That” with Young in a performance that was fun, chirpy and found their voices blending beautifully, while Scott teamed up with Ballerini for a phenomenal and sexy rendition of Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love” that had crowds going wild.
For an encore, the band returned with two classics that, safe to say, fans wanted more of after witnessing the night’s impressive set. Before breaking into their booty shaking hit single, “Bartender,” Kelley introduced the track with a goosebumps-inducing version of Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” that played most gorgeously with the sets’ lights and hues.
From their very first single to their most recent hit, Lady Antebellum covered a lot of ground during their stunning 19-song set with appreciated banter and humbleness, while playing their hearts out. Ensuring that everyone was entertained, at every minute, Heart Break now joins their previous hits for a growing set list that has become more inventive and robust with a fresh sound that will keep country fans coming back for more.
And it’s safe to say, they were looking — and sounding — more than good while doing it.
Lady Antebellum singing their Grammy-award nominated single, “I Run to You” at the Budweiser Stage on June 29, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
All photographs are shot by Tania Hussain exclusively for The Hudsucker.
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Are you seeing Lady Antebellum on tour this summer? Let us know whereabouts and what you are most excited about!
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