MOOSE JAW — With Shania Twain’s summer show still echoing in the city and the Festival of Trees ready to bring “Disco in Denim” this fall, Moose Jaw’s country music run is far from over — and fans might want to keep their dancing boots close by for what’s next.
Temple Gardens Centre has officially announced that the James Barker Band will be stopping in the Friendly City as part of their Bud Light Buckle Up Tour. The show is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20, and will also feature special guests Ryan and Rory.
“It’s going to be another fun one. They’re a little bit different; they have some country flair as well, but they’re a big party band,” said Corey Nyhagen, assistant general manager at Temple Gardens Centre. “They’re a group of guys who just love to have a blast. They just played at Country Thunder … and they’re already talking about how excited they are to come to Moose Jaw.”
This concert will feature a pit-style general admission floor, giving fans the freedom to move with the music and soak in the high-energy atmosphere as they dance to hits including “You Didn’t Hear It From Me” and the new single, “Somebody I Know.”
“The floor isn’t a seated floor for this one; it’s a pit,” Nyhagen explained. “People love to country dance in (these pit areas at our country shows).”
While specific show-day surprises are still in the works and only limited details can be confirmed at this time, Nyhagen hinted that there’s more to come in the weeks ahead.
“There’ll be more things that come down along the way, and more surprises that we’re working out,” he said.
The James Barker Band is a Canadian country group known for blending traditional country roots with a modern, upbeat sound. Originally formed in Ontario, the band shot to fame with their 2017 debut EP “Game On,” which produced multiple gold and platinum-certified singles, including the chart-topping hit “Chills.”
The James Barker Band announcement comes as Temple Gardens Centre continues to attract major acts to the local stage, including classic rock legends Nazareth. The rock band will perform at the venue on Thursday, Oct. 17, as part of their Canadian Farewell Tour, with special guest Lee Aaron joining for the night.
The show promises to be a high-energy tribute to Nazareth’s decades-long career, featuring fan favourites like “Love Hurts” and “Hair of the Dog.” Tickets are already on sale at SaskTix.ca, and fans are encouraged to act quickly — Moose Jaw is one of only a handful of Canadian stops on the band’s final tour.
Fans interested in early access are encouraged to sign up for the venue’s Cyber Club newsletter at TempleGardensCentre.ca.
“That’s one thing I would suggest to anybody, for any of our shows — if you want to get ahead and beat general sales, go to the Temple Gardens Centre website and sign up for the newsletter,” Nyhagen said.
Ticket sales for the James Barker Band concert opened at 10 a.m. on July 18 and can be purchased through SaskTix.ca.
To learn more about the James Barker Band, visit JamesBarkerBand.com.
The Temple Gardens Centre is located at 110 First Avenue Northwest.
