Walking in a room full of reporters and cameramen with a hood and hat wearing a wide, warm smile, you will be excused if you think that the man who is perhaps the most famous voice in country music is one of the team.
But whether it’s the facade of an experienced performer or true seriousness, Garth Brooks seems to be everyone’s best friend – or at least for two nights, everyone’s friend in Edmonton.
“You know, I think the Edmonton thing is – the same thing for all the places you like – it’s the people, isn’t it?” He said as he sat on the edge of the stage, talking to reporters on Friday afternoon.
“And these people, they don’t just show up – they show up ready to play and show up with anticipation.”
The story continues under the ad
Garth Brooks spoke to reporters before his concerts in Edmonton, Alta. on Friday, June 24, 2022. Global News
Brooks is no stranger to Edmonton: in 2017, he sold out not one – even two or three – but nine concerts with his wife, Trisha Yerwood, at Rodgers Place: “Each of those nights was a bad night.”
A total of about 160,000 fans picked up these shows five years ago. He said the level of commitment raises the bar for him and his crew.
Read more: Garth Brooks sells out the 2nd show in Edmonton in 45 minutes
Brooks said the shows in 2017 also left him with high expectations for the audience, which will appear at the Commonwealth Stadium on Friday and Saturday nights.
“We want these people to leave here, thinking it’s a better show than an arena show. So we came to do that. “
The story continues under the ad
The sold-out concerts in Edmonton are the only Canadian dates on a tour that has taken him around the United States and will end in Dublin, Ireland.
1:33 Garth Brooks fans pack the Commonwealth Stadium just for a Canadian tour stop
Brooks said he hopes for polite but energetic crowds, adding that he has a level of sincerity to his fans.
“They know their country music inside and out.
“When you play country music for a country music audience, there’s a way for it to penetrate your soul.”
The music brings back memories, Brooks said, explaining that his goal is to quickly move the show from a concert to a large party of 61,000 people.
“If you can get into that party mode in the first two songs – then just Katie closing the door will be fun.”
The story continues under the ad
4:33 Garth Brooks is excited about the 2nd show in Edmonton Garth Brooks is excited about the 2nd show in Edmonton – May 11, 2022
Brooks said his goal was to get people to leave the Commonwealth Stadium, loving each other more than when they entered: “It’s not an easy task here because they are already coming to love each other!
Popular stories
-
Mummified woolly calf of a mammoth, discovered by gold miners in the Yukon
-
Canada has 3 of the most habitable cities in the world in 2022
“Garth Brooks’ music (s) is about inclusion, not exclusion. We can’t do it alone. We need each other. So black and white must learn to work together. Red and blue should work together. Canadians, Americans need to learn to work together, right? So that’s what we do. “
Music brings together people who might otherwise have nothing to do, Brooks said.
“Maybe if they were in the same room, they wouldn’t agree on anything. But here they are, friends in low places, hand in hand, right on the river.
“It’s a wonderful thing that tells me that music can very well be the voice of hope for me.
The story continues under the ad
Read more: Garth Brooks is ready for a “family reunion” when he returns to Edmonton in June
Brooks said he recorded audiences for his concerts and listened to them sing with The River: “I’ve been doing this for 100 years. right? And she still cries like a baby when it happens. So I think it’s a lot of fun that I’m looking forward to. “
The tour of the stadium actually started in 2019, but was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Brooks said canceling the tour was the right thing to do, but added that he was much more excited about it now.
1:42 Business in Edmonton expects a boost with Garth Brooks concerts Business in Edmonton expects a boost with Garth Brooks concerts
There is nothing to compare to live performance, he said, adding that he “1000 percent” feeds on the energy of the crowd.
He said he learned this lesson during the COVID-19 pandemic, when live concerts were not possible, so in the United States they were replaced by drive-in shows. Brooks organized a filmed concert, which he said was attended by about 750,000 people in movie theaters in the United States.
The story continues under the ad
“All you do is play in front of cameras,” he said, explaining that the singing and applause of the fans made a difference to him as a performer.
Edmonton, THANK YOU for reminding me why Canada is one of the best places to play country music! 2 nights in #YEG, life is good !!!!! love, g pic.twitter.com/WWqo5DVlKK
– Garth Brooks (@garthbrooks) June 25, 2022
He also noted that it was only part of the show’s liveliness. He was speaking with Blake Shelton in Boise, Idaho, when they encountered technical difficulties.
“So Blake Shelton will surprise us at Dive Bar, everyone knows he’s coming, and the sound system is starting to scream and go out. You are now in front of all these people. Now you realize what you are without your crew.
“Without the crew, without the group, without the people, it just doesn’t happen. That’s why it’s a statement of honesty, not humility – I’m lucky to be a part of it. “
The story continues under the ad
Read more: Business in Edmonton expects a boost from Garth Brooks fans who only attend a show in Canada
For anyone who goes to the concert, it is important to remember that the Commonwealth Stadium has a clean bag policy. Wallets or connectors that you cannot see through are not allowed.
3:09 Preparations for Garth Brooks concerts in Edmonton are underway Preparations for Garth Brooks concerts in Edmonton
The City of Edmonton will work on parking and driving to and from the stadium in six locations, similar to that during the Edmonton Elks Games, but will cost $ 6 for the two-way price of the special event.
All parking and driving services at the Commonwealth Stadium start two hours before the start of the event and end after the stadium is cleared after the event.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Add Comment