PROVIDENCE BAY—You can certainly count country music legend Jason McCoy as a huge fan of the Providence Bay Fair and particularly the Lone Pine Stage as one of the favourite venues he has played in his career.

“The Lone Pine Stage is fantastic,” Mr. McCoy told The Expositor on Saturday afternoon, several hours prior to the incredible concert he, Michelle Wright and Doc Walker, of the Great Canadian Roadtrip, put on in front of a huge crowd at the relatively new stage as part of the Providence Bay Fair Saturday evening. “Wayne Legge needs to be recognized for being so passionate about the community to step up and support having this kind of venue. It is a great stage to play at. And it’s a great venue with the hillside in front of the stage for the fans to sit. It’s a beautiful setting and one of the best venues I’ve ever performed at.”

Mr. McCoy, repeated his praise at the concert itself, telling the crowd, “I would like to thank Wayne and his family for their vision and support of this type of venue, and the many people that helped put on this event. I have to tell you this is one of the best facilities I’ve ever played.”

Since forming in 1994, the award-winning country duo Doc Walker, composed of Chris Thorsteinson and Dave Wasyliw, has become one of Canada’s most beloved country music acts. Over about three decades, the pair has won a JUNO award, 14 Canadian Country Music Awards, and had 21 top 10 Canadian Country radio singles, eight No. 1 CMT videos and millions of streams.

Jason McCoy is a two-time CCMA Male Vocalist of the year award winner. In his over 25-year career and frontman and founder of the Road Hammers, a Canadian Country music Hall of Fame inductee, he has racked up multiple CCMA and CMA awards along the way in addition to a gold-certified album and CMA Global Artist Award (Nashville CMA).

Michelle Wright is one of Canada’s most recognized and awarded female country singers. In 1992, she became the first Canadian artist in the modern era of country music to have a Top 10 hit in America, a number one video on CMT-USA, and to win a major US music industry award (the Academy of Country Music Top New Female Vocalist Award in 1992). She has graced concert stages around the world and accepted more than 40 major awards, including her 2011 induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. 

The performers high energy concert was a huge hit with the huge crowd on hand, who could be heard singing and dancing to their songs. 

“The Great Canadian Roadtrip started up two years ago,” Mr. McCoy told The Expositor. “We were all working with the same agent, and it was proposed that we should all tour at the same time. It was a great idea. I mean when you are performing with music greats like Michelle (Wright) and Doc Walker, how much better can you get?”

Mr. McCoy performed at the former Manitoulin Countryfest “a few times in the past, put on by Craig and K.T. Timmermans. It was always a great event, and it is always good to get back to the Island.”

He pointed out with the three legendary performers on one stage, they take turns performing the other performers songs, many of which have been number one hits, during the concert. And it is easy to see they all get along very well, judged by their interaction and wise cracks they have for each other during the show. Not to mention the fantastic music they provide.

“When someone brings up the possibility of Doc Walker getting together on tour with Michelle and Jason, I mean you have to love it,” Mr. Thorsteinson told the crowd. “Performing with them on tour is one of the best things I’ve ever done, and I’ve been in this business for over 30 years. I love these guys.”

“I have been out here on the road for about 40 years now, and it is because of you, our fans, thank you Manitoulin Island,” stated Ms. Wright.

The Great Canadian Roadtrip was not the only crowd-pleasing entertainers to hit the stage this weekend. Local musician Ben Lentir and White Stallion performed Saturday evening, as did The Redhill Valleys. On Friday evening, local band Double Barrel, along with Avery Drive performed in front of a large crowd.