Heading into the long weekend, the patrons of the Fonthill Bandshell were treated to a full two-hour concert embodiment of classic Canadian rock with performances of tunes by the Guess Who, Randy Bachman, Burton Cummings, and the Bachman Turner Overdrive (BTO).
All of this came thanks to the talent of five performers under the band name No Sugar Tonight.
This was a concert that almost wasn’t, since a dispute between Burton Cummings and the current the Guess Who has resulted in no one anywhere being licensed to perform any of Cummings’ songs live.
However, as the audience was told at the start of the show Thursday night, communication between No Sugar Tonight and the iconic singer/songwriter’s representatives resulted in a one-night, one-time performance licence for the Fonthill Bandshell for June 27, 2024.
The audience in Peace Park would likely agree that they readily lived up to the special treatment allowed by Cummings, alternating between pumping numbers such as American Woman or Let it Ride, and softer classics such as These Eyes. No one was Running Back to Saskatoon as a result, you might say.
With the night winding down, it was time for one more hit; an encore with BTO’s classic Takin’ Care of Business sent the Bandshell patrons singing into the night.
Next up is Hungry Hearts Band – Tribute to Bruce Springsteen, sponsored by Accipiter Radar. All concerts start at 7 p.m.
