Diehard country fans were undeterred by torrential downpours and lighting, sticking it out through Friday’s outdoor concert for Luke Combs in their cowboy boots and rain ponchos.
Friday’s lineup schedule was modified thanks to a squall and thunderstorm throughout Montreal. Combs was originally scheduled to play after 8 p.m., following openers Thelma & James, Ty Myers and Dierks Bentley. But the first two opening acts were cut to give the headliner a chance to perform before the storm.
“I’m sorry about the weird weather man. We’re just trying to play for y’all,” the musician earnestly professed during his set.
Writer of the hit single When It Rains It Pours is playing two concerts at Jean-Drapeau Park this weekend, both of which are nearly sold-out according to StubHub.
Luke Combs smiles for his fans at Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette
Environment Canada issued a special weather statement warning of a severe thunderstorm, forecasting up to 20 mm of precipitation on Friday evening in Montreal. Heavy rains, thunder and lightning hit the region around 5 p.m. Friday. The storm held off for the beginning of the show with skies clearing around 5:30 p.m., until a second storm struck midway through the concert at around 8:20 p.m.
“I think persevering through the rain, and knowing that the crowd might be a little bit dead, he kept the vibes up,” said fan Emma Kenny, who stayed until the end of the show despite the weather.
Combs wrote on Instagram the schedule of the May 29 show was shifted because of Montreal’s weather forecast. “My team and I are doing our best to give you the most time today,” he added.
In his post, he wrote Dierks Bentley would come on at 5:15, and Combs would play starting at 6:30. But the schedule shifted again once the rain started, with Bentley playing from 6:05 to 6:50 p.m., and Combs kicking off at 7:15 p.m. for a two-hour performance.
Country fans enjoy the Luke Combs concert. Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette
But the North Carolina-born country star seemed unphased by the extreme weather, who powered through his outdoor performance in a short-sleeve shirt and baseball hat.
“I appreciate him not cancelling on us and rearranging the times so we could see him,” Kenny added.
Her sister, Samantha Kenny, said the rain didn’t affect the fun.
“We just all dressed for the rain and the poncho helped. I knew it was coming,” she said.
Habs fever on display at country concert
The Friday night concert overlapped with the Canadiens’ Game 5 in their semifinal series against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Many Habs fans missed the critical game against Carolina to watch the Combs concert, but with the number of Canadiens jerseys seen in the crowd, it could have almost been mistaken for a hockey game.
One Montreal hockey fan, Patrick McDonald, wore a cowboy hat featuring a Canadiens’ logo.
“I hope they take care of business today. Because I want to see them play on Sunday. I’m gonna have to miss the game tonight,” McDonald said at the show.
Emma Kenny said she and her friends checked the score every 20 minutes throughout the Combs show.
“We knew there were priorities. Luke Combs is No. 1, but the NHL playoffs are a second,” she said.
Several of the Canadiens players are country music fans themselves. A few were spotted last summer watching country stars at music festivals Osheaga and Lasso, including Shaboozey and Alex Warren.
“We’ve seen them at concerts before, especially Lasso. They’re usually standing up there with their country hats on. I’m sure they wish they could be here, but they got a little more important business to take care of tonight,” McDonald added.
Leora Schertzer is a reporter at the Montreal Gazette who thrives on the chase. Whether it’s producing a documentary about sewage or investigating a Nazi gold scandal, it’s the novelty and adrenaline that keep her in this challenging industry. Send her tips at lschertzer@postmedia.com.
lschertzer@postmedia.com
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