The Bareback Riders bringing old country back
'When we talk about traditional country, there's that purity to it,' said the newly-named lead singer Joe Allain.
Singer and pedal steel player Allain, drummer Colin Connors, and bass player and singer Chris Mancini will debut their new style alongside guitarist J.K. Gulley at the Cat and Fiddle Saturday at 3 p.m.
'We don't want anyone yelling out, 'do Wagon Wheel, Save a Horse.' That's not happening,' said Connors.
Over the years, the Bareback Riders have played for artists such as Scottish-Canadian singer Johnny Reid, Canadian country star Shania Twain and American singer and actress Reba McEntire.
The band formed in 1996 when Connors heard about and connected with Mancini.
Two years later, the two got the opportunity to play eight gigs for Hamilton country singer Robyn Pauhl. That is when Connors added Allain to the group.
'Here we are since 1998 and I earned some of the greatest friends of my life,' said Connors.
Although the three men are the foundation of the group, lead singers have cycled through the band before moving on to further their careers.
The group has had 10 lead singers since its inception.
The band is known as a stepping-stone for country artists, having worked with Kitchener country music performer James Cameron and Mildmay, Ont. singer-songwriter Owen Riegling.
Cameron died
at 26.
'They kept the Bareback Riders alive,' said Allain.
Riegling, the band's last lead singer, has gone on to sign with Universal Music Canada, perform at Boots and Hearts Music Festival, win two CCMA Awards and to support Luke Bryan on tour.
Once Riegling left in 2023, the band had to think about its future. Now, after six months of rehearsing, the trio will debut its 'pure country' style with Allain as the new lead singer.
'All these years, up until this point, we needed to cater to the clubs that we played in, which was all new country,' said Allain.
The band considers Guelph's Stampede Ranch their 'musical home,' where they would pull crowds in the hundreds.
Now, they've found a home in local venues, such as the Cat and Fiddle.
'Now we get a place to play and call Hamilton our musical home again,' said Connors.
The Cat and Fiddle reopened Oct. 2, 2023, two years after the previous owners shuttered the venue's doors.
Ty Patry, 27, runs the live music venue with his father, Alex. Patry had left work as an insurance broker when he heard about the space being on the market.
'I was unemployed and it just fell into my lap,' said Patry. 'You always hear life's about taking risks.'
The two took six months to renovate the old spot, such as painting the once-red walls grey, before they opened the venue.
A five-year goal for Patry is to renovate the restaurant and patio to a more modern look and have more acts play throughout the week.
The venue hosts live performances on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The Bareback Riders will use this Saturday to have people get to know their new style. The band will play songs from traditional country artists, such as 'Daydreams About Night Things' by Ronnie Milsap and 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' by George Jones.
'They will recognize almost every song that we're going to perform,' said Connors.
Go to
catandfiddle.net/events
for details. The venue is located at
174 John St. S., in Hamilton.
Here are other live performances happening in Hamilton:
Hamilton's singer-songwriter Brad James will play Puddicombe Estate Winery, 1468 Hwy. 8. The outdoor show is Friday from 6:30 to 10 p.m. It is part of the Sunset Sounds concert series. Attendees should bring their own lawn chairs.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $33.93 on Eventbrite. Go to
instagram.com/puddicombeestate
for details and tickets.
Michael Maguire will play at jazz venue Henry's on James, 303 James St. N., Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Go to
henrysonjames.com/events/michael-maguire-1
for details.
The Burlington four-person band will play at Shawn and Ed Brewing Company, 65 Hatt St., in Dundas, on Thursday, July 3.
The show is part of the venue's 'Music to our Beers' live music event series. The show is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Go to
lagershed.com/music
for more details.
The four-member pop group will have a two-day album release show at Mills Hardware,
95 King St. E.
Friday and Saturday. Doors open at 7 p.m. and shows start at 8 p.m.
Rexford Drive will join the group on Friday and Smit will join on Saturday. Tickets are $15 for each night.
Go to
millshardware.ca
for tickets and more information.
Cheyenne Bholla is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator.
cbholla@thespec.com
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