IAN JAMES BAIN

AFTER PARTY • ELORA LEGION DOWNSTAIRS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17 • 11:30PM

$15 AT DOOR • NO ADVANCED TICKETS

GUELPH, ONTARIO

The son of an air force man, Ian called many places across Canada ‘home’ for a couple of years before packing up and moving down the road. Maybe that’s why he was so drawn to music. Something constant, something to come back to.

When he was a teenager living in a small rural Ontario town he found a bunch of like minded kids putting on DIY shows in church basements and legion halls  – the rest just happened naturally.

After many years working as a sideman in a range of genres Ian had come to feel most at home with the music that reflected his rural and nomadic upbringing – country.

In need of a fresh start, Ian left home in the summer of 2019 to work on a small ranch in Golden, British Columbia. His days were spent working outside, his nights were spent picking and singing in a small cabin on the property. Here, Bain developed his practice as a songwriter, recording the process to cassette. Returning home,  Ian continued to develop his chops by crooning the classics alongside legendary Canadian country singer Paul Weber at the famous Maryhill Commercial Tavern. Here, he found his footing as a singer and discovered a powerful voice full of grit and sorrow.

Akin to his personality, Ian’s music refuses to be put in a box. Bain’s songs allow the essence of country music to filter through a lifetime of musical experience and reference, distilling into a complex creation that is as deeply steeped in tradition and nostalgia as it is unapologetically modern.

Not one to rest, only weeks after the release of his debut album Bain was back in the studio with producer and pedal steeler Aaron Goldstein (Daniel Romano, Kathleen Edwards, Julianna Riolino) recording a new EP of songs that reflect Bain’s growth as a performer and songwriter. Look for it in 2024.