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Kissel ready to come back to his small town roots

Brett Kissel may travel from coast to coast, but he never forgets where he came from.
Kissel
Brett Kissel announced he will be closing his 2018 tour in Bonnyville.

Brett Kissel may travel from coast to coast, but he never forgets where he came from.

“All of my friends in the music business who are actors or play in the NHL, they say how different it tends to feel when they come home, how people treat you different now that you’re a celebrity. What I love about Bonnyville, is I feel like the same guy who went to BCHS, or H.E.B.,” described Kissel. “I feel like the same guy who cut my teeth singing O’ Canada at Pontiac games, who grew up with his grandma and grandpa at the family ranch… just chasing cattle, driving my quad, and wearing Wrangler jeans and cowboy boots. I feel like that same guy.”

This was one of the many reasons why he will be ending his nation-wide tour, We Were That Song, in Bonnyville, on Dec. 7.

This will be the first time the Lakeland-native has headlined at the Centennial Centre, and Kissel has plans in place to ensure it’s unforgettable.

“For me, it’s very much going to be like the final game of the season or your playoff game,” Kissel expressed. “We don’t have to save anything for the next night. We’re going to give it our all, everything we’ve got left is going to Bonnyville. After playing over 100 shows on tour, this being the biggest tour that’s ever happened in Canadian music, we’re going to make sure we show Bonnyville and the rest of Canada this is how you party and this is how you end a historic tour.”

So far, the band hasn’t selected an opening act, but that could just translate into more time on stage for Kissel, who said “we’re going to play for as long as the people will stay.”

The decision to end the tour in Bonnyville was an easy one. Kissel and his family felt it was the perfect place to wrap up the largest tour in Canadian history.

“We felt the community kind of deserved to have arguably our best show and effort,” emphasized Kissel.

Not only is it their last tour stop, but it’s the band’s final show of the year.

Kissel said even though they’ve performed over 100 concerts across the country, he is always nervous stepping out in front of a hometown crowd.

“There are a lot of things that I can say to a first-time crowd, and can kind of get away with because it’s the first time. You’re telling old jokes that sound like new jokes, and you’re playing songs for the first time, and there’s all of the excitement that comes with a first-time crowd.”

He added, “For me, playing for a crowd in your hometown, I think you really need to step on the gas pedal and you really need to find new energy, new things to say, and make sure it’s an impactful show.”

Tickets are on sale for the concert on Kissel’s website or at the Centennial Centre. For those interested in the VIP experience, tables can also be purchased.

“I’m really proud we get to come back to a wonderful event space and I get to bring my show, my band, and everything I’m so proud of that we’ve done across Canada. We’ve done over 100 shows, and our 111th is going to be in Bonnyville. It’s going to be a well-oiled machine, and we’re going to make sure we have a lot left in the tank for Bonnyville,” Kissel expressed.

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