Canadian country star Aaron Pritchett arrived in Hope on Friday ready to party.
From the moment he jumped on stage to kick off his high-energy show with “Let’s Get Rowdy” and “Light It Up,” he kept fans on their feet throughout the night dancing in front of the Sports Bowl stage.
Having spent several years growing up in North Bend and Boston Bar as a child, Pritchett’s return to Hope was somewhat like a homecoming.
“Lots of time was spent in Hope,” he told the crowd, in between taking sips from his red solo cup. “Cheers Hope. Cheers to Brigade Days. Cheers to you all.”
Pritchett performed a variety of his hits from the last decade which included “Lucky For Me,” “Hell Bent for Buffalo,” “Done You Wrong,” “New Frontier,” “My Way,” “Warm Safe Place,” “Big Wheel,” “Suntan City” and “Boat on the Water.”
After over an hour of entertaining and engaging the crowd, chants of “Hold My Beer” brought Pritchett and his band back on stage to perform one of his most recognizable hits. He broke into a medley of classic rock songs in between his performance of “Hold My Beer,” which included “We Will Rock You,” “Living on a Prayer,” “Summer of 69,” and “We’re Not Going to Take It.”
With numerous top hits, music videos, tours with Alan Jackson, Toby Keith and Brooks & Dunn, Pritchett has gained a significant following across Canada. Over his career he has earned many accolades and awards, including a Canadian Country Music Association award for Independent Male Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year in 2007 for “Hold My Beer.”
The night’s entertainment kicked off with a set from emerging country band Me & Mae. Fronted by Shawn Meehan and Jacky Mae, the group pumped the crowd up with singles from their debut album, including “What Cha Wearin’” and “Tailgate Party,” as well as a few original covers.
Hope’s Roger Dalton then took the stage with legendary guitarist Jerry Doucette. Known for his gritty music with punchy lyrics, Dalton worked the stage with a high-energy set that included songs like “Hell Songs Like Heaven,” “Lucky I’m a Guy,” and “Dirty.”