Coronation Royal Performing Arts kicked off its 2022 concert series in strong fashion on Jan. 29, 2022, when country singer Drew Gregory and his band came to town.
Award-winning and Alberta-based Gregory was the first performance held by the Coronation Royal Performing Arts since the COVID-19 pandemic caused an abrupt end to the concert season in the spring of 2020.
When restrictions eased in the summer of 2021, plans were put forward to host a show that November; however, due to a huge spike in COVID cases causing the Government of Alberta to re-implement restrictions, those plans were abandoned.
Plans began anew when the province introduced the Restrictions Exemption Program, which gave the volunteers who organize the event a path forward.
That path forward led to the Gregory concert on Jan. 29, which is to be followed by Fleetwood Mac tribute band Mac Daddy on Mar. 19 and by the Dirt Road Angels on April 9.
As a thank you to the fans of the Coronation Royal Performing Arts, the three performances in the spring of 2022 are being offered at a discounted price.
Tickets are $25 for the performance, and $45 for the meal and performance.
During his nearly two hours on stage Gregory performed a variety of songs, both his own and other artists, before an audience of 119 people.
Gregory and his band performed two sets over nearly two hours, including an encore.
Joining Gregory on stage were guitarist Mitch Jay, bass guitarist Paul Bergeron and drummer Dallas Clifford.
All did not go smoothly during the performance, however.
Three songs into the band’s first set the speakers in the sound system began to cause feedback.
The musicians and the sound technicians set to work and after 20 minutes Gregory returned to the stage with guitarist Jay, while Bergeron and Clifford headed back stage.
Performing for about 30 minutes, the duo finished the first set before taking a break.
During the break the sound technicians and musicians descended on the sound system again and managed to get things working once more.
When Gregory returned to the stage around 20 minutes later, the full band was back with him.
Alberta-based country singer Drew Gregory played in Coronation on Jan. 29, 2022. (Kevin Sabo/BLACK PRESS NEWS MEDIA)
119 people were in attendance for the first show of the Coronation Royal Performin g Arts 2022 season. The Restrictions Exemption Program was in effect. (Kevin Sabo/BLACK PRESS NEWS MEDIA)
Country singer Drew Gregory is joined by band-mates, drummer Dallas Clifford and bass guitarist Paul Bergeron. Not in picture is guitarist Mitch Jay. (Kevin Sabo/BLACK PPRESS NEWS MEDIA)
