Ruttan touches down on the riverfront

July 27, 2008 - Pictou County News

By Adam Richardson

Looking back at his recent gigs, Canadian country music singer Deric Ruttan declares this his “summer of Nova Scotia.”

The Bracebridge, Ont., native-turned-Nashville, Tenn., resident has spent a fair bit of time on the East Coast recently, and he’s not done yet. He’ll touch down at the New Glasgow Riverfront Jubilee for a performance on August 3, with another show in the Annapolis Valley later in August.

“I’ve been loving it out there,” Ruttan said from Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta, Ga. “I did a radio tour of the Maritimes and played some shows, and the audiences were great. I played a celebrity golf tournament at Digby Pines and did some sightseeing, too. I saw Halifax, Digby, Truro, Kentville, and we even rented a car to see Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail.”

His ties to the area extend further. Ruttan got hooked on the Rankin family in college, and is good friends with songwriter Bruce Gouthro.

After his self-titled debut in 2003, Ruttan didn’t rush his follow-up work, waiting until last April to release the aptly-named First Time in a Long Time album.

The album’s smooth and undeniably fun sound even has some Bluenose content. Two tracks – “First Time in a Long Time” and “On the Inside” – were co-written by Jimmy Rankin.

“Jimmy left me a voicemail saying he was on his way to Nashville and he wanted to know if I wanted to get together to write a song,” Ruttan said. “Where I’m from, if Jimmy Rankin wants to write a song with you, the answer is always yes.”

There’s a track dubbed “Maggie”, a love song for his wife, Margaret. The pair hit the road for San Francisco to enjoy their anniversary before getting back to work in time for the Jubilee, and it follows a theme in his work – singing to women.

“I have a few songs like that, and I guess it’s from listening to a lot of Bruce Springsteen,” Ruttan joked. “He was always singing to a woman in his songs.”

Ruttan’s talent for songwriting extends beyond his own albums. He’s written songs for Dierks Bentley, including the popular “Lot Of Leavin’ Left To Do” and “What I Was Thinkin”, along with Aaron Pritchett’s hit “Hold My Beer”.

Ruttan loves working these tunes into his live performances, along with nods to his influences, greats like Waylon Jennings and Steve Earle.

“I think people like hearing those songs, it’s part of a dynamic live performance. When I perform “Hold My Beer” in concert, there’s always someone in the autograph line after the show that didn’t know I wrote that. It’s fun for me and the audience.”

Also appearing on August 3 will be Ferrona, Groundstar, Dave Gunning and JD Clarke. The show starts at 7 p.m. and costs $15, or weekend passes can be purchased for $45.
For more information on Ruttan, visit his website at www.dericruttan.net.

Canadian Country Music Award nominees

July 30, 2008 - Pictou County News

By Canadian Press

TORONTO — Some of the major nominations for this year's Canadian Country Music Awards:

FANS' CHOICE AWARD: Paul Brandt, George Canyon, Doc Walker, Emerson Drive, Jessie Farrell.

SINGLE OF THE YEAR: "Beautiful Life," Doc Walker; "Best of Me," Jessie Farrell; "Blame It on That Red Dress," Gord Bamford; "Risk," Paul Brandt; "You Can Let Go," Crystal Shawanda.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR: "Beautiful Life," Doc Walker; "First Time in a Long Time," Deric Ruttan; "Kicking Stones," Johnny Reid; "Nothing Fancy," Jessie Farrell; "Risk," Paul Brandt.

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Lisa Brokop, Terri Clark, Jessie Farrell, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Crystal Shawanda.

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Paul Brandt, George Canyon, Johnny Reid, Deric Ruttan, Shane Yellowbird.

SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR: "Beautiful Life" (written by Murray Pulver, Chris Thorsteinson, Dave Wasyliw; recorded by Doc Walker); "Best of Me" (written by Jessie Farrell, Jared Kuemper, Jesse Tucker; recorded by Jessie Farrell); "Blame It on That Red Dress" (written by Gord Bamford, Byron Hill, Zack Turner; recorded by Gord Bamford); "First Time in a Long Time" (written by Jimmy Rankin, Deric Ruttan; recorded by Deric Ruttan); "Risk" (written by Paul Brandt; recorded by Paul Brandt).

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR: Ambush, Doc Walker, Emerson Drive, the Higgins, the Wilkinsons.

ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR: Ridley Bent, the Cruzeros, Sean Hogan, Corb Lund, Prairie Oyster.

TOP NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR - FEMALE: Jessie Farrell, Amber Nicholson, Alex J. Robinson.

TOP NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR - MALE: Gord Bamford, Ridley Bent, Jason Blaine.

TOP NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR GROUP OR DUO: Desert Heat, Hey Romeo, Jo Hikk.

CMT VIDEO OF THE YEAR: "Beautiful Life," Doc Walker; "Best of Me," Jessie Farrell; "Blame It on That Red Dress," Gord Bamford; "In This Room," Ambush; "Ring of Fire," George Canyon.

TOP SELLING ALBUM: "Carnival Ride," Carrie Underwood; "Raising Sand," Robert Plant/Alison Krauss; "Reba Duets," Reba McEntire; "Taylor Swift," Taylor Swift; "Ultimate Hits," Garth Brooks.

TOP SELLING CANADIAN ALBUM: "Classics," George Canyon; "Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier!" Corb Lund; "Kicking Stones," Johnny Reid; "Nothing Fancy," Jessie Farrell; "Risk," Paul Brandt.

Paying tribute to Alistair MacLeod

July 30, 2008 - Cape Breton Post

INVERNESS — Plans are underway to pay tribute to a renowned author often described as Cape Breton’s ambassador of fiction.

Alistair MacLeod, who divides his time between Windsor, Ont. and Dunvegan, Cape Breton, will be honoured Aug. 10 during a special tribute night at the Inverness County Centre for the Arts.

“Alistair was inducted into the Order of Canada in early 2008 and Inverness County is very proud of him and wanted to honour him,” explained Geraldine Beaton, a member of the tribute organizing committee.

Beaton said friends and family, writers and musicians will gather to celebrate the internationally acclaimed author.

Hosted by Ian McNeil, the evening will feature performances by Raylene Rankin, Marion and Kenneth MacLeod, and other MacLeod family members. Tributes will be paid by Inverness author Frank Macdonald and East Bay author Beatrice MacNeil and other speakers and musicians will toast MacLeod’s gifts as a writer, teacher, family man and friend.

Beaton also revealed that a very special guest, known nationally, will take part in the tribute.

Born in Saskatchewan, MacLeod spent much of his childhood in Cape Breton after his family moved to Dunvegan. He’s written many celebrated short stories and his novel, No Great Mischief, earned the richest prize in fiction, the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.

Tickets for the MacLeod tribute night are $40 and proceeds from the evening will be shared by the Alistair MacLeod Scholarship at Inverness Academy and the Inverness County Centre for the Arts.

For information or tickets, call Beth Ryan at the Inverness County Centre for the Arts at 258-2533, or e-mail icca@invernessarts.ca

Canadian Legend Performs Lunenburg folk festival opens

August 5, 2008 - South Shore Now

By Paula Levy

Annapolis Valley Ex has it all

August 5, 2008 - Annapolis County Spectator

By Larry Powell

All the big events are back at the Annapolis Valley Exhibition in Lawrencetown (August 11 to 16) this year, and when the gates open it hardly matters what day you go – because the schedule is packed.

Exhibition manager John Longley said the big attractions are always the ATC competition set for Monday, and Saturday; Team Penning on Tuesday; the Rodeo on Wednesday; and of course top-notch entertainment at the Riverside Stage on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings.

That’s not to mention the light horse show throughout the week, ox pulls, horse pulls, border collie herding demonstrations, a day devoted to 4-H, a big midway with lots of rides, and so much food visitors don’t need to worry about getting hungry. Add the Miss Valley Ex pageant, craft demonstrations, arts, fruit and vegetable competitions, the dairy show, Ag Alley, and nobody goes home saying they had no fun.

“We are all excited about celebrating the 82nd Annapolis Valley Exhibition,” said Elaine Marshall, president of the board of directors. “A lot of work has gone into this years’ Ex to prepare it for you.”

That quote comes from the exhibition’s official program and couldn’t be more true. While crews were preparing the grounds last week, exhibition staff were busy organizing finishing touches and final details for events – a job that will continue right up to August 11 when the gates open early in the morning for 4-H day.

PARADE AND OPENING CEREMONIES

While events go on all day August 11, the street parade will draw hundreds to the small village as it leaves Fitch Road at 6:30 p.m. At 6:45 p.m. opening ceremonies begin at the Main Ring on the exhibition grounds with the parade entering the ring at about 7:15 p.m.

After parade winners get their awards, the 4-H Tug of War final starts at 8 p.m. and if it’s anything like last year’s muddy battle, it will be a crowd pleaser.

Longley said visitors this year will not want to miss the Team Cattle Penning Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. at the Main Ring where new seating last year not only better accommodated the crowds, but gave spectators a better view of the action.

Wednesday’s Rodeo starts at 8 p.m. after the 7 p.m. Wild n’ Woolie Sheep Rodeo, and includes ‘Ribbon on Tail,’ ‘Pick-up Race,’ ‘Calf Scramble,’ and ‘Steer Riding.’ Of course the Rodeo Clowns will be on hand to make sure everything goes off without a hitch or injury.

ENTERTAINMENT

The exhibition has managed to pick up a trio of great, professional musical entertainment acts, starting with homegrown Witchitaw on Thursday evening, Raylene Rankin on Friday, and Canadian country sensation Deric Ruttan for Saturday evening.

While many exhibitions charge visitors an additional fee for featured entertainment, at the Annapolis Valley Exhibition the charge at the gate covers it all, giving everyone access to the big names performing at the Riverside Concert Stage.

While Rankin and Ruttan are the big names this year, local band Witchitaw on Thursday night is expected to have the crowd southern-rockin’ as the five-piece group shifts through the gears all the way up to overdrive. Whether they’re spending ‘six days on the road’ with Dave Dudley, chasing Smokey and the Bandit with Jerry Reed, or belting out their own brand of rocking lyrics or ballads, the Jason Spinney fronted Witchitaw has its own style that many expect may propel the band well beyond their local boarders. Jason’s brother Jamie, Frank Dobbin, Terry Salsman, and Paul Browner round out the group.

Their unique style blends new country with a touch of blues and southern rock.

But the Riverside Concert Stage isn’t the only venue on the grounds. Perennial favourites The Bridgetown Fiddlers perform Monday at 8:30 p.m. at the Youth Arena. Wind Song takes to the stage at the Youth Arena at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Valley Grass performs there Wednesday at 8:30 p.m., and Old Country Band takes over on Friday.

POPULARITY RISING

While the Annapolis Valley Exhibition has always been the big draw in the Valley, its popularity has continued to rise in recent years, attracting visitors from every province in Canada, and calling ex-patriots home on their vacations. Last year it rained on Monday, but by the end of Tuesday attendance figures were right back on track. By Friday evening, all previous attendance records fell. It was only a day of rain on Saturday that kept it from being the biggest success to date. In the end, figures were down by several thousand but still close to the 45,000 mark which has become the norm, making it the single largest one-venue event in the region.

For a complete schedule of events, go to www.annapolisvalleyexhibition.ca, or pick up the official program at local businesses in your community.

Deric Ruttan raids Rankin's writing

August 13, 2008 - Telegraph Journal

By Bob Mersereau

Canadian country singer Deric Ruttan keeps some good company in the songwriting department. The Bracebridge, Ont., native has lived in Nashville for a decade now, and regularly runs with buddies Dierks Bentley and Brett Beavers, who are credited on Ruttan's latest, release, First Time In A Long Time (EMI).

There is another name, too, that will ring East Coast bells: Jimmy Rankin.

Ruttan has been in the Maritimes of late, playing shows and doing interviews, and the two of us sat down recently in Fredericton. It turns out the Ruttan/Rankin relationship started out in Saint John.

"I met him at the CCMAs (Canadian Country Music Awards) when it was in Saint John," Ruttan said. "We were both on the same label (EMI). We hung out, talked a bit, got along good, and traded phone numbers. I was already a huge fan of his writing, the Rankin Family stuff, North Country. That was that, but then a couple of years later, out of the blue, I get a call. 'Deric, it's Jimmy,' he says, no Jimmy Rankin or anything. It took me a second, but then I recognized his accent. He says he's coming to Nashville, and wants to know if I want to get together to write some songs. Of course, I said yes."

That is how things are done in Nashville. Collaboration is not just common, it is expected. New singers, trying to be writers, work with others to hone their skills but Ruttan considers himself a writer first.

His 2003 recording debut got him five Canadian hits and several CCMA nominations.

Meanwhile, his writing career was taking off stateside.

"My friend Brett Beavers and I were both signed to the same publishing company, and we worked together a lot. You work hard, you do a lot of writing, lots of playing, it's like the minor leagues. You're constantly trying to get better, to write better, to get your songs heard, and get your chance in the big leagues."

That chance came when the two started working with Dierks Bentley, another young prospect. The trio hit No. 1 with What Was I Thinkin and have continued to conquer the charts. Ruttan has been writing hits for others, including Canadian Aaron Pritchett's Hold My Beer.

All that writing delayed the release of Ruttan's second disc until this year. Thankfully, he had held back some gems for it, including the first single Good Time, a duet with buddy Bentley.

And those Rankin tunes? The title cut, First Time in a Long Time and On the Inside are two of the best on the disc. If you're heading to Nova Scotia this weekend, catch Ruttan in concert at the Annapolis Valley Exhibition in Lawrencetown. Bonus: It's a free show.

A SINGER OR MUSICIAN can write hundreds of songs, but the odds of those songs actually getting recorded are fairly low, says Deric Ruttan, whose co-write for American country star Dierks Bentley, What Was I Thinking, was a No. 1 Billboard hit in 2003.

So the fact that both songs Ruttan wrote with Jimmy Rankin ended up making it onto Ruttan’s latest album, First Time In A Long Time, is a rare feat indeed, says the humble singer-songwriter over the phone from Nashville, where he’s been based for the last 14 years.

"I was a big Rankin Family fan in college," says Ruttan, who grew up near Bracebridge, Ont.

"I ran into Jimmy at the CCMAs (Canadian Country Music Awards) and he introduced himself and we exchanged phone numbers. He called me out of the blue about two years ago and said he was coming to Nashville and wanted to get together to write a song.

"He was in town for a week and the first day we wrote On the Inside, which is the last track on the album, and the second day we wrote First Time In A Long Time, which became the title track, so we’re batting a thousand."

Expect to hear both songs when Ruttan and his four-member band take to the stage Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at the Annapolis Valley Exhibition in Lawrencetown.

"People often come up to me after a show and say ‘I know every one of those songs, but I didn’t know who sang them,’ " says the man whose 2003 self-titled debut CD included the hits When You Come Around, Shine and Take the Wheel.

"So I’ll do songs people expect to hear, like When You Come Around, Good Time, which is my duet with Dierks Bentley (the first single on the new CD) and First Time In A Long Time.

"I’ll also do a few of the songs that influenced me growing up — Steve Earle, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash — songs that show my roots."

Ruttan, named CCMA songwriter of the year in 2007 (with co-writers Aaron Pritchett and Mitch Merrett) for Hold My Beer, says he’ll also do medleys of songs recorded by other artists. Besides Bentley (whose hit Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do was co-written by Ruttan, Bentley and Brett Beavers) and Pritchett (who also recorded Ruttan’s My Way), his songs have been recorded by Gary Allan, Paul Brandt, and Eric Church, among others.

"They’re songs that you’ve probably heard, but not known I was the songwriter. It’s what I would like to see as a fan, to hear songs I know, sung by the person who wrote them. It makes for a very unique event."

And Saturday’s show will be high-energy, promises the friendly Ruttan, who performed earlier this month at the New Glasgow Jubilee and took part in the East Coast Classic Golf Tournament at Digby Pines in July along with Gordie Sampson, Lennie Gallant, Joan Kennedy, Matt Minglewood, Paul Lamb, Bruce Gouthro and others.

The New Glasgow show was the first time Ruttan had performed with his band in Nova Scotia and the audience really made him feel welcome, despite the rain, he says.

They particularly responded to First Time In A Long Time, a song about someone coming out of a dark period and a bad relationship and reaching that period in time when they realize everything will be OK, when they can see light at the end of the tunnel, hope and strength, Ruttan says.

On The Inside, which was a title Rankin had, ended up as a haunting song about addiction (which isn’t something Ruttan has personally struggled with). After penning the ballad, Ruttan wanted to write something upbeat, "one of those anthem songs you imagine the audience singing back at you, a song with a message."

That song turned out to be First Time In A Long Time and Ruttan and Rankin have been nominated as CCMA Songwriters of the Year for it. It is one of four CCMA nominations for Ruttan.

At the 2008 CCMAs to be held in Winnipeg on Sept. 8, Ruttan will also be up for best album for First Time In A Long Time, producer of the year for First Time In A Long Time (with co-producer Beavers) and male artist of the year.

"I’ve been nominated in the past, but this is the most nominations I’ve ever had. Will I win? That’s another question, but it really is just nice to be nominated along with your peers, to be recognized by the industry you’ve worked in for so many years."

After the CCMAs, Ruttan plans to do a coast-to-coast tour supporting the album. He expects to play several Maritime dates starting at the end of September.

Fans can sign up for a Meet and Greet at the Annapolis Valley Exhibition, download songs digitally, purchase the new album and get all the latest news, by visiting www.dericruttan.net.

Halifax Urban country

August 28, 2008 - Halifax Herald

By Stephen Cooke, Entertainment Reporter

Rain-soaked crews on Halifax Common began assembling a stage which arrived in parts from Ontario, Nashville, Chicago and Florida on Wednesday, in preparation for Saturday’s Country Rocks 2008 extravaganza.

According to the show’s producer, Harold MacKay of Power Promotional Events, everything’s going according to schedule for the day-long concert featuring Australian country superstar Keith Urban and Nashville’s Redneck Woman Gretchen Wilson, along with popular East Coast performers Great Big Sea and Jimmy Rankin and Canadian male vocalists Johnny Reid, Charlie Major and Aaron Pritchett.

"It’s going well. For our shows we always try to be completely ready on Friday night," says MacKay from his Burnside office. "We’ll strum the guitar on Friday and make sure everything’s up and running, tweak it a bit on Saturday morning, and then we’re ready to rock. Everything’s on time. Keith Urban’s coming in early on Friday from Australia, so we’ll have that worry out of the way, and Gretchen’s coming on Friday night.

"Things are shaping up good."

Country Rocks 2008 is the biggest event to take place on the Common since the Rolling Stones’ A Bigger Bang brought its massive stage to the site in 2006. While this show isn’t quite the same scale — MacKay says he expects at least 25,000 to attend, probably more if the sunny forecast for Saturday holds on — he promises an impressive spectacle bolstered by giant video screens and world-class sound.

What will be different from the Stones show is the turf-protecting carpet that will be underfoot in front of the stage, avoiding the muddy mess of 2006, and no streets will be blocked off before or during the show, with the main entrance to the site on Robie Street between Quinpool and Cunard.

Also, while the VIP area has seating, general admission attendees are allowed to bring a fold-in-the-bag lawn chair onsite, as well as a litre of sealed bottle water. As you might expect, food and beverage vendors will also be available.

For those concerned about parking and transportation, Metro Transit is operating four concert shuttle routes starting at noon heading inbound every 30 minutes until 8 p.m., resuming at 10 p.m. heading outbound on a "load and go" basis until 1:30 a.m. The shuttles can be boarded at Spryfield’s South Centre Mall and the Portland Hills, Lacewood and Sackville Terminals, with a fare of $2 (cash only) each way.

After putting on successful country music events on Moncton’s Magnetic Hill with acts like Alan Jackson, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, MacKay is anxious to see how a similar show does in the heart of Halifax. While the New Brunswick site has its advantages with water and power outlets already in place and an isolated location that makes for easier crowd and noise control, MacKay says for concertgoers, the Common’s proximity to downtown restaurants and bars is a definite plus.

"What we’re trying to do is bring in two or three international promoters to see our show and see Halifax," he says. "I was talking to one of them last night, and he was saying, ‘So you’re comfortable with this site?’ and I was telling him how great it is. These people have never been here, although they know the Stones were here, and I’m pretty excited because I think the Common is an excellent site and I think they’ll be very impressed.

"Where else can you roll out of a big outdoor concert and be relaxing downtown on the waterfront within 10 minutes?"

As for the concert itself, MacKay says he won’t even look at a weather forecast until the morning of the show, but he has checked out Urban for himself and anticipates a unique experience for C&W fans. "I saw him perform in December, he was spectacular. I’m not a huge country fan, but man he’s good. He plays it so well; a song like You Look Good in My Shirt comes across like a rock tune. Can he ever play.

"And he was a rocker when he came from Australia. He landed in the Nashville area, became friends with everybody there, and that’s how he wound up on the country side of things. (Cape Breton singer-songwriter) Gordie Sampson is one of his good friends down there; they’ve recorded and toured together. Gordie’s agent wanted to try and get him on the bill, but it was all booked solid, but I’m hoping maybe Keith will invite him up onstage for a song."

When asked if Urban might be bringing his better half, actress wife Nicole Kidman, and their seven-week-old baby Sunday Rose, he slyly suggests the lack of Hollywood paparazzi here might mean they could actually enjoy themselves for a few days.

"If she did come it would create quite a buzz," says MacKay. "He’s flying directly from Australia, but they haven’t told me if he’s bringing the family. But he is going to New York right after to do the National Football League kick-off, which makes us suspicious. Plus he’s getting here early, when most musicians like to get to the concert site at the last minute.

"Last year we were told Tim McGraw and Faith Hill would fly out right after their concert, but the next day we were on the site getting it cleaned up and she showed up in an SUV and was walking around the site talking to everybody and thanking them. They like to fool the promoters, I guess."

Saturday’s concert starts at noon with Halifax’s own Mark Cameron kicking things off. Gates open at 11:30 a.m.

General admission is $109, with a budget-priced student area (ID required) for $69 and VIP seats at $219. Tickets are available via the Ticket Atlantic box office (451-1221 or www.ticketatlantic.com) and participating Atlantic Superstore outlets.

Halifax goes a little country

August 31, 2008 - Halifax Herald

By Stephen Cooke, Entertainment Reporter

Country came to the city on Saturday, as fans of modern day musical cowboys—and one cowgirl—turned out in droves for Country Rocks 2008 on Halifax Common.

Headlined by New Zealand-born, Australia-bred country rocker Keith Urban and Pocahontas, Ill., bad girl Gretchen Wilson, the day-long event drew over 30,000 to the broad green expanse in the centre of the peninsula, turning it into a sea of straw hats and folding chairs.

Fans started lining up Saturday morning on Robie Street, undergoing a full pat-down by security staff who searched chair bags and even looked under hats for contraband, seizing anything that wasn’t a sealed bottle of water.

The crowd was sparse when Halifax’s Mark Cameron took to the stage under overcast skies just after noon, but the husky East Coast cowboy got a hearty "Yee haw!" from the few hundred early birds at the front of the stage as he performed a set of muscular tunes from his debut CD Get ’Er Done.

Keith Urban fan club member Lou Anne Tracy drove from Fredericton with boyfriend Brian Lean as one of eight lucky admirers drawn from thousands to win a backstage pass to meet the country hunk.

"He writes really great songs, he’s a talented performer and he comes off as a good person," said Tracy, describing her love of Urban’s sound and style.

"Too bad he’s not so good looking," joked Lean as Tracy held up her new T-shirt from Urban’s merchandise table. "I don’t know, he looks pretty good to me," she responded.

Truro fan Sammie Pratt showed her love for the star by wearing an official Nova Scotia licence plate around her neck stamped with "KURBAN".

"When we found out he was coming, I lost my mind, I was ecstatic," said Pratt. "I haven’t slept all week."

Cape Breton’s Jimmy Rankin got people on their feet with a mix of Rankin Family classics like Movin’ On ("A tip of the hat to Hank Snow and Muddy Waters") and Followed Her Around, which "I’m sending out to anyone who’s ever visited Ralph’s in Dartmouth," acknowledging the strip bar where the video for this rootsy collaboration with Gordie Sampson was filmed.

Newfoundland’s Great Big Sea brought even more Celtic to the picnic, or as singer Alan Doyle called it, "the biggest kitchen party ever in the history of the world." Playing the masses like they were still on stage at the Lower Deck (as they were at an invite-only show on Friday night), Doyle and bandmates Sean "Shanty Man" McCann and Bob Hallett showed their poppier side on songs like Walk on the Moon from the new CD Fortune’s Favour, but it was Newf classics like a ferocious Mary Mac that got the island flags waving.

"Put up your hands, this ain’t no disco!" ordered Doyle before a particularly spirited Lukey’s Boat, as thousands of revelers stomped along in agreement.

Gretchen Wilson brought out the heavy ammo with her guitar-heavy band and working-class anthems like Here for the Party and I Got Your Country Right Here, the title track from her forthcoming fourth album.

The southern boogie sound of Lynyrd Skynyrd found its way into Wilson tunes like There’s a Place in the Whiskey and the Loretta Lynn-inspired Homewrecker, which sounded more like Sweet Homewrecker Alabama.

Wilson acknowledged her bar band roots with covers of Journey and Heart classics that showed off an astonishing set of pipes before bringing out everyone’s latent hillbilly with Redneck Woman.

Finally it was time for the big moment, and Keith Urban hit the stage running with the loping beat of Days Go By, but the momentum was stopped short when the sound system abruptly cut out. After miming some sign language, the man with the most famous Nashville haircut since Billy Ray Cyrus was back on the mike. "Should we keep going?" he asked with an unmistakable down under twang.

With that, the band tore into Where the Blacktop Ends, an ode to good times on back roads, with banjo and mandolin blending into Urban’s urgent Telecaster wails.

Urban also showed his sensitive side on ballads like Raining on Sunday and Stupid Boy, with the latter building into six-string scream of frustration, while the dramatic battle of wills I Told You So demonstrated his ability to blur the lines between pop, rock and country and goes a long way towards how his mix of looks, personality, talent and savvy is the most revolutionary thing in mainstream country since Shania Twain decided to move out of Timmins.