Brett Kissel wishes more big-name artists performed in the Sault

One of Canada’s most recognized country artists believes Sault Ste. Marie deserves more exposure to big names in the music industry.

During a recent interview with SooToday ahead of his show at the Machine Shop on Wednesday, multi-platinum entertainer Brett Kissel expressed his disappointment that high-calibre artists too often miss out on booking northern Ontario venues when touring the country.

“Sault Ste. Marie is one of the most underappreciated and overlooked cities in all of Canada, especially in the province of Ontario,” he told SooToday. “Anybody can go to Toronto, but only the cool people get to go to the Sault, and I’m really excited we get to have a great Canadian experience up there.”

Known for his popular hits like “Drink About Me” and “Make a Life, Not a Living,” Kissel is currently on the final leg of The Compass Tour — a cross-Canada, four-part album experience that showcases various themes of the country genre.

His first time ever performing in the area was in 2012 during the second annual Hot Rides Cornfest at the Laird International Raceway grounds, the same year he released his first single.

Two years later, a snowstorm prevented Kissel from opening for Brad Paisley at the now GFL Memorial Gardens, but he arrived just in time to perform alongside one of his country heroes in what he called “one of the best days” of his career.

The three-time Juno award winning artist estimates he’s been to the Sault seven times throughout his career, including stops at the now Sault Community Theatre Centre in 2017 and The Machine Shop in 2018.

“There’s a lot of my friends in country music who go on a cross-Canada tour, and they’ve ended in Ottawa, but they don’t even do Quebec or the Maritimes,” he said. “A bunch of my buddies have never been up to the Sault. To me, that’s not going across Canada. You’re not even going to the good places.”

Kissel’s ongoing tour was formed from The Compass Project, an endeavour he describes as “the most ambitious and extensive” he has ever accomplished.

Released in 2023, the project includes 44 songs across four albums — North, South, East, and West — each of which highlights distinctly different sub-genres under the umbrella of country music.

“North is a greatest hits album, celebrating ten years in the business and recorded live from different cities,” he said. “East is me and a guitar and shows all these love songs I’ve written — for my wife and for Canada.”

“West is country and western, my ode to the hard work of the cattlemen, the oilmen, the rodeo cowboys – everything that is western and ranch life, and a big part of who I am,” he continued. “South is where all the hits live and that’s my Nashville record.”

Kissel says his song “Nowhere” from the East album and “Missin’ You In San Antone” from the West album highlights the wide spectrum of his country stylings.

While he’s not exactly sure which songs he’ll be performing for concert goers at the Machine Shop on Wednesday, he promises they’ll be “partying like it’s a Saturday night.”

“We know what the Machine Shop is like – it’s not a theatre,” he said. “It won’t be a crowd sitting down and super quiet. This will be a high-energy, big-time party in the middle of the week. It’s going to be a lot of hits, high octane, and a lot of impact.”

Looking to get back to song writing after The Compass Tour concludes, the Alberta native is excited to have his wife and four kids join him along this leg of the tour, which will see him perform in Sudbury, Toronto, and Montreal, among other cities.

“Our kids will be able to say they’ve been to every province and territory, and we’re really proud of that,” Kissel said. “We home school them, and they’ll still be doing work, but we also want them to focus on the travel, sightseeing, and the amazing journey across Canada.”

“I’m so appreciative that I get to do this for a living and come out to great communities,” he added. “I’m a small-town guy myself, and it’s communities like the Sault that rank at the top of the list where artists ought to play for every tour.”

As part of the 61st Bon Soo Winter Carnival, Kissel will be joined by special guest Ben Chase when he hits the stage at The Machine Shop on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are still available for purchase by clicking here.