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Dierks Bentley’s “Burning Man” Tour Engulfs Ottawa

January 20th, 2019 by Matthew Perry | Published in Concerts

Dierks Bentley at The Canadian Tire Centre (2019) by Matthew Perry

Dierks Bentley at The Canadian Tire Centre Photo Credit: Matthew Perry

Dierks arrived as promised for The Burning Man Tour as it engulfed Ottawa. Encompassing some of the hottest country music of the year with a plethora of talent from The Hot Country Knights, Tenille Townes, Jon Pardi and of course Dierks Bentley with his band.

The Hot Country Knights got the evening started, not wasting any time with getting the action and laughs started, the Nashville based cover band played some comedic covers from the country music genre. You could tell by this time that a high percentage of the crowd was unaware of who this band really was, why Dierks Bentley would choose them for a high profile tour and the largest fact of all, the reason he chose them was the fact that it was actually Dierks Bentley in the mullet, pink sunglasses and strumming that acoustic on stage well handing out roses to the ladies in the crowd.

Hot Country Knights at The Canadian Tire Centre (2019) by Matthew Perry

Hot Country Knights at The Canadian Tire Centre Photo Credit: Matthew Perry

Following up this comedic act on stage was none other than Canada’s own Tenille Townes and her band. As she took some time to speak to the crowd after her opening song, it was here that she let the crowd know this was her first arena tour and she was so thankful for her fans. Her voice didn’t have a hint of nervousness whatsoever and she was interactive and kept the crowd attached throughout her set, especially when she ended with “Somebody’s Daughter” which is a Canadian hit across the charts, and radio play across the country.

Tenille Townes at The Canadian Tire Centre (2019) by Matthew Perry

Tenille Townes at The Canadian Tire Centre Photo Credit: Matthew Perry

There was certainly a heartache on the dance floor when Jon Pardi hit the stage, the crowd was electric with good reason. Pardi didn’t let them down, throwing down that old school country twang that he is known for as he played through the setlist of his most popular hits.

There was a lucky fan in the pit that happened to be on FaceTime with someone, while Pardi noticed and grabbed their phone so he could bring that person even closer to the stage, in fact on the stage with him.

Jon Pardi at The Canadian Tire Centre (2019) by Matthew Perry

Jon Pardi at The Canadian Tire Centre Photo Credit: Matthew Perry

Ending the set, Pardi made a promise to the crowd that a new album release would be coming this year.

Does this mean we will see a Jon Pardi headlining tour upcoming? Stay tuned…..

Dierks Bentley at The Canadian Tire Centre Photo Credit: Matthew Perry

Bentley came on stage to a crowd of 9200 emphatically screaming fans as they heard the tune of Burning Man fire up, just what this tour was all about.

He emphasized the fact that the crowd was so electric when he declared “You’re going to make the rest of the tour suck”. Then he laughed and continued with “This is only the second show, do not ruin it for the rest of the year. Tone it down, Ottawa”

Dierks had a couple of duets throughout the show, calling out Tenille Townes for “Different for Girls” and Jon Pardi for some old school Dwight Yoakam twang.

Bentley and his bandmates were like lightning in a bottle through to the last song of the evening, wrapping things up with one of his biggest hits, “Drunk on A Plane”.

Giving Ottawa that feel good feeling, and leaving us with the quote “This is the best night I’ve ever had in Canada,” he said “Ever”

Dierks Bentley at The Canadian Tire Centre Photo Credit: Matthew Perry