BY JAMIE UMBACH – ROGERSPLACE.COM
EDMONTON, AB – In the words of Dierks Bentley, “it was a great way to start the weekend.”
And it was only Thursday.
After 77 concert-less days at Rogers Place, concert season is officially back in Alberta’s capital.
Dierks Bentley and Co. brought the country flair to Rogers Place with the Burning Man Tour on Thursday night, as the fiery rocker employed the explosive rhythm and lyrics from his ninth studio album.
Bentley’s stop in Edmonton started with the country musician donning his alternate persona, heavy-haired lead singer Douglas “Big Rhythm Doug” Douglason, in the night’s opening act Hot Country Knights. The ‘90s was arguably one of the greatest eras of country music., Douglason, was keen to represent the decade well by belting out classics produced by the likes of Shania Twain.
Of course, it wouldn’t have been a Canadian country tour without local talent.
Tenille Townes, an artist from Grande Prairie, Alberta, whose fame has brought her as far as making an appearance on the popular show The Bachelor as a musical guest, rocked the stage in her home province. With dozens of familiar faces in the crowd, the 24-year-old recalled making the five-hour journey from Northwest Alberta to Edmonton for her concerts over the years. Today was a date she’s had circled on her calendar for months. A dream come true.
