Electric anticipation filled the crowd at the inaugural Princess St. Promenade concert.
On Sept. 13, three Kingston-based bands took to the stage on Princess and Ontario St. for the debut concert of the Princess St. Promenade series. With roughly 400 people in attendance, solo artists Lukas Oak and Kyra opened the show, followed by the rock band Kasador.
Despite some nervousness, 15-year-old singer Lucas Oak quickly found his rhythm through the night, delivering a set of rock and country favourites that won over the Kingston crowd. Oak opened with a cover of The Glorious Sons’ “Mama” before moving to a soulful rendition of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Pride and Joy.” He closed his set with a lively take on Zach Bryan’s “Revival.”
Performing for a large crowd was “a big rush,” Oak said in an interview with The Journal. “Seeing that many people look back at you and cheer for you [is] just a really good feeling.”
Oak’s music journey began just over a year ago, inspired by his favourite artist, Dominic Fike. “I picked up the guitar, then started singing, and I stuck with it,” said Oak. “This is all I want to do with my life forever and ever…I want to bring Kingston with me and always come back to support my hometown,” said Oak.
Kingston-based singer-songwriter Kyra was the second opener. Her debut album Skin to Skin dropped on July 2. She opened with “I’ve Seen a Ghost,” its airy tones immediately relaxing the audience. That mellow vibe continued through original songs like “Sage Green” and “Jealousy” before she ramped things up with “Backbone Blood,” a standout track highlighted by a punchy harmonica.
By sunset, the crowd stretched the full length of the block. With only one act left, energy-peaked headliners Kasador took the stage. They went off with their single “Golden,” instantly sending the audience into a frenzy, followed by fans singing along to “Crawling,” trading lines back-and-forth with lead singer, Cam Wyatt, ArtSci ’15.
Kasador blended fan favourites with new material, including “Trouble” from their latest EP Kasador II, marking the song’s live debut. By the time they closed with their most popular track, “R.I.P. Me Down,” the crowd was roaring with cheers and applause.
Still craving more, the crowd got an encore as Kasador closed the night with “Brood & Bloom.”
Performing in Kingston is “awesome,” Wyatt said in an interview with The Journal. “It just kind of matters more here because it’s our home. Being a functioning member of the community means more.” For shows like the Promenade concert, he likes “to see the community come together. I feel it just means more,” Wyatt said.
With three strong performances from Kingston-based bands, this weekend offered a shining glimpse of what’s to come next for local music.
Tags
Arts, concerts, Kasador, Music, Princess St Promenade
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