In the late 1980’s Canada’s pop-rock scene was dominated by two names – Bryan Adams and Corey Hart. Both handsome, charismatic and backed up with the dawn of the music video era they were the kings of Can-con. However, while Adams has kept up a career that spans 3 decades, Hart by 2002 had stopped performing, choosing to raise his kids out of the spotlight in the Bahamas. A 2014 farewell concert in Montreal seemed like the last we would see of the singer.
His kids now grown, Hart performed in Calgary for the first time in 2 decades at the annual Oxford Stomp at Fort Calgary. A year after the event was cancelled due to flooding of the grounds, fans got a beautiful, hot day for the event. Thousands came out and the excitement for seeing Corey Hart was palpable as the clock clicked closer to showtime.
It appears that the time away from the industry was a good thing. Still ridiculously handsome at 55 with piercing blue-green eyes that sparkled from stage, Hart was captivating to watch. Kicking off with Boy in the Box Hart took an enthusiastic audience on a journey through his career. Black Cloud Rain gave a dose of 90’s. Hart brought a fan onstage and serenaded her from the piano with Jenny Fay – a moment that could be so cliché but from Hart was genuine and a display of why he’s so respected as a person. Never Surrender echoed through the East Village like it was 1985. Of course, you couldn’t help but don your sunglasses – whether brought from home or purchased from the merch tent – as the synthesizer brought forth the classic Sunglasses at Night. That would have been enough, but Hart ended the evening with a gorgeous version of Can’t Help Falling In Love.
There are few Canadian icons, and Harts absence could have been used as a gimmick. He could have rested on his laurels and phoned it in. However, he delivered in spades.
In the time that Hart was away, Our Lady Peace has continued to be one of Canada’s top bands. Their early evening set was a hit list from Superman’s Dead and Clumsy from their 1998 Clumsy album all the way back to their first big hit and album Naveed. New single Drop Me In The Water was a teaser for a new EP coming soon. I’ve seen Our Lady Peace multiple times in the past 20 years in everything from clubs to outdoor festivals and they always deliver.
One of the scheduled artists for 2016’s cancelled Oxford Stomp was Serena Ryder, who returned this year to kick off the day. It’s kind of a shame that the show starts so early, those making their way from work missed a hell of a set from one of Canada’s finest current singers. The set featured heavily from her new EP Electric Love. Whether belting out behind the microphone or strapping on a guitar, Ryder’s showmanship continues to be great as she continues to tour and perform. While Stompa got the fans doing just that, favourite Weak in the Knees stood out as it always does as one of her finest songs. Ryder continues to get fans and airplay and showed she could play a big stage no problem. Having followed her career over the last decade, it’s great to see that.
In addition to the show beer gardens kept the audience refreshed and the always popular beef on a bun from the Rotary Club kept people fed. Oxford Stomp continues to be a big part of the Stampede calendar and hopefully will continue to do so for many more years.
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Contributor Jason Clevett |
Locale Calgary |
Person Corey Hart |
Topic Oxford Stomp |
