Jason Blaine: Boots & Hearts 2016 Performer Q&A
On Wednesday I hopped on a quick call with Boots & Hearts 2016 performer, and Canadian country music man, Jason Blaine to talk about the festival, his newest album, and what’s coming up for Christmas this year.
Thank you to Jason for taking the time to talk, we all know how busy this time of year is, and he genuinely proved what I’ve always been told: Jason Blaine is one of the nicest people in country music.
If you still haven’t picked up your Boots & Hearts 2016 tickets, we’d recommend doing it quickly – because Tier 2 pricing will be gone soon!
Let’s get to it!
Q. The first thing I asked Jason was, you a morning person? It wasn’t an 8am call, but it was pre-lunch and I know he’d already been busy.
A. His response: Not really.
Jason told us that he’s a morning person because it’s required. When he got into music he thought it’d just be a lot of late nights and late mornings. But… then you have a few kids and you end up getting up early. There are early morning flights and commitments. He did add that he writes some of his best stuff late, late at night.
Q. We saw you on the main stage in the sunshine at Boots & Hearts back in 2013, are you excited to come back to even more fans at a new venue?
A. Excited, yes! He’s got good memories of 2013, all positive. We talked about the increase in crowd size (could be as many as 45,000 people at Boots & Hearts in 2016) and how cool that is. He’s also looking forward to seeing the Burl’s Creek in person.
Q. Next I had to try and get a little unreleased information… so I asked if Jason knew when he’d be on stage this year? Will we see you in the sun again or will it be later?
A. Jason didn’t tell us which night it would be… BUT he did tell us that he’ll be in the third from headliner spot on Tim McGraw’s night, with Chase Rice between them.
Q. The Boots & Hearts lineup is packed with talent from Canada and the US for 2016, so I asked if there are any acts that he’s especially excited to be on the bill with?
A. Tim McGraw! Jason’s super excited to be on the bill with Tim. He’s been listening to him and looking up to him since he started in the music business.
Q. Then we went back in time a little. We’ve passed the 10th anniversary of your 1st album and we’re coming up on 13 years since you released That’s What I Do (1st single) what’s changed for you over the years that makes you feel like you’re better at your craft?
A. Here’s what Jason told us about all of that – A friend once said to him “if you don’t cringe when you go back and listen to your early stuff, you’re not evolving.”
Jason says sometimes he cringes when he listens to the earlier stuff… so I guess he’s evolving.
Q. And back to the present… Country Side has been great for you so far with 2 top 20 singles already – how happy are you with how it has turned out?
A. Not unexpectedly, he’s really happy with how it turned out. There were about 60 songs to choose the 13 from to put together the Country Side alubm. There are some tracks deep in the record that he hopes people get to know. Including one he wrote after a father-daughter dance, “Dance with my Daughter”. It’s pretty special to him.
Q. I asked how exciting it will be to be bringing the record out to tour now that fans will have had time to learn all of the songs?
A. Jason says that with this kind of a set at Boots & Hearts, he’ll be probably sticking to stuff the fans will know. They’ll want to keep the energy up, and they’ll try to think about what the fans want to hear. Some time in the new year he’ll be starting work on figuring out the specifics of the set.
Q. Then I asked Jason what his favourite thing about playing on a big stage in front of a big crowd at an outdoor festival?
A. He talked about the energy and also mentioned that he’s played in front of all kinds of audience including small intimate ones, but nothing compares to the energy of a big outdoor festival audience like there will be at Boots & Hearts.
Q. I love asking this question, so I asked Jason, who the top 3 artists in your most played right now?
A. John Mayer, Joe Bonamass, Kenny Chesney. “I’m a guitar guy” Jason told us. He loves the bluesy guitar sounds of Joe and is a fan of guitar playing.
Q. And lastly, to wrap things up I asked, what are you most looking forward to this Christmas?
A. Jason told us that he and his wife will be packing up their three kids and driving up from Hendersonville, TN (just outside of Nashville) to see the family in Ontario. It’s a journey they make twice a year: Once for Christmas and once for the summer golf festival.
He also mentioned that Boots & Hearts have been supporters of his golf tournament from his first involvement with them. We chatted a bit about how great they are and how caring they are, but also how good they are at what they do.
Thanks again to Jason for taking to time to chat. I can’t wait to see him up on the Boots & Hearts main stage in August 2016!
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