The Castellows Full Show Front Row Revelree Music Festival, Sarnia, Ontario Canada July 20, 2024

This was ‪@thecastellows‬ first international show, in Canada just across the border in my home province of Ontario, 3 hours west of 'the big smoke' Toronto, TheMuirClan home base :) "Good things grow in Ontario" is a classic Ontario tourism marketing tag line BTW and I'm sure that now applies to the band's fan base after this show.
With great performances like this and the other I've seen this year its really no wonder that The Castellows were just invited to play at The Grand Ole Opry! So well deserved Ellie, Lily and Powell .. and TheCastfellows!!! ‪@Opry‬ #grandoleopry
This is the first show I saw with the gals not the headliner, so it was a bit shorter set than I've seen before. Still they played catchy hits from their debut EP A Little Goes A Long Way, the recently released gem Miss America, unreleased bangers like I Was Born With a Shotgun In My Hand, and some great covers like Bruce Springsteen's I'm on Fire, House of the Rising Sun and The Beatles Come Together.
What was cool? The whole band did the No.7 Road second verse line dance! We except Brad since its had to line dance and drum at the same time :) In early shows it was only Lily and Ellie and then recently Powell stepped in too. Lily played tambourine on some songs like in some recent shows - I think that is a good vibe with a dressy outfit. Did you ever listen to the tambourine on the EP songs? Its jangly sunshine.
I was going to play my Hohner necklace harmonica with Miss America - harmonica is on the official release but is not played live. But rats! They played in the key of Db (with a capo on the first fret of Ellie's guitar), instead of C, the key of my harmonica and they key they have played in before (e.g., the Shreveport show). Oh well - next time maybe I'll bring a Db harmonica to the show to play along in any key :)
Some silly fun. My buddies and I dressed like the gals for this festival show - we picked out some iconic clothes they have worn and went shopping on Amazon over a couple months. I wore an Ellie look - a denim vest and red scarf over a white shirt. My buddy Jim had a Powell-like beige fringe vest and lots of necklaces. And my buddy Andrew had a stars and stripes top complete with red and white tassels on the bottom - that's a Lily Ralph Lauren look. We also had some red, white and blue cowboy hats and red white and blue shirts that spelled CAS-TEL-BRO, which is what we called ourselves, The Castelbros. I'll post a video of us silly bros showing some of this.
Overall it was great to have a road trip with my 'bestest' buddies going to Sarnia to see the 'bestest' band! I have not been out there since the late 1980's when my future 'home boss' worked' in chemical valley one summer. Bravo to my buds for dressing up and accommodating my sometimes excessive fandom. The next few shows will not be such as spectacle :)
I'll post individual songs later - the KZbin analytics shows folks watch shorter stuff more.
Enjoy the show!
PS - Bonus! I had a chance to chat with the Castfellows after the show - what a nice bunch of talented gents! I shared with Blake that I made the Castellow Caster guitar :) Want to see that creation? It has a pickguard signed by the ladies, custom shotgun shells for the Tone and Volume knobs, a custom Castellow CASTER logo on the headstock and some wildflowers on the body. The flowers are inspired by lyrics in Cowboy Kind of Love. Here it is: www.instagram....
PPS - want to see the homage to classic Castellow threads my buddies and I had on? Check out the Castelbros: www.instagram....

[@RebaSmith-vx9lp]

These sisters are amazing. Thanks to Canadians for giving them a great reception. Georgians are so proud of them❤

[@TheCastellowsLive]

You're welcome. We gave y'all Shania, and you gave us the Balkcoms 💕🤠❤️ - as the gals say on stage "I got you". BTW we're coming down to see them play in Milledgeville and Tifton in Oct 🤟✨ - looking forward to the shows, pecan pie, peanuts and peach cobbler 😊 .. a "little slice of heaven"!

[@JamesHenle-v4r]

Love you and hope you had fun and make it big

[@WICKD1]

Y’all came up to Canada! Bless y’all! All of you, band and crew. Many safe travels.

[@JimmoApsassin]

Wow that's awesome finally true country musicians thanks again beautiful lady's and their awesome band you guy's are in our music box an welcome to Canada 🍁

[@garyodom474]

I miss America, too! Love to Elle, Powell and Lily!

[@TheCastellowsLive]

💕🤠❤️🤠💕

[@gjrachael]

18:48 Absolutely country! Love it! Glad you’re in Canada but hoping you all will come over to the West for the Calgary Stampede! Beautiful … ❤❤❤

[@BaBoombappaBoom]

These Ladies will be absolutely unstoppable when they get a Live Sound Engineer. They're as gorgeous as there voices, and they can play instruments, imagine that 😂👍🇺🇲🌹🌺💐🌻✌️

[@TheCastellowsLive]

I agree. Last night's shows had great sound and I'll post soon. Drunk college kids were talking a lot but I'll try to separate that out with audio processing 😊

[@woytektwardy]

Yeah, lovely performance. And agreed re sound engineer - be nice to hear Powell’s banjo sometimes.

[@zijadbajramovic8822]

Super team.Excellent perfomance.

[@brandonjerue1205]

This makes me happy, helps me get through the rough days, thank you. GO CANADA 🇨🇦 😂THE STAMP!! its the little things in life, the memories. This is stamped on my heart

[@brandonjerue1205]

I would have told them, "PROTOCOL" HIT ME WITH IT!

[@TheCastellowsLive]

Ya she was disappointed :( Should just ask next time .. Toronto show next summer 🏝️🌞🏝️

[@williaml7502]

You girls are awesome. Keep up the good song's. Hope you decide to visit Montreal Canada sometime

[@TheCastellowsLive]

@@williaml7502 They were at a festival in Montreal in mid August. I hope they come back 🤠❤️

[@GenePhillips-ez2yj]

Absolutely Fantastic 💐💛💐💛💐💛

[@renatocangialosi5123]

Best Wishes from Italy !! 👍😃✨👏👏🌸🌸💙💙💖💖🎙️🥁🎸🌅💐🎶📷🇺🇸🇮🇹

[@TheCastellowsLive]

Thank you so much Renato !!!

[@stevenkern5659]

They are improving their craft and sounding good

[@TheCastellowsLive]

They never fail to impress 🤠❤️🤟

[@ANGELICHUMANANGEL]

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!! 🎉🎉🎉

[@TheCastellowsLive]

They always rock !!!

[@DaymanChildress-s8z]

Great band great timing and sound

[@TheCastellowsLive]

These ladies and gents never disappoint 🤟👍😊

[@staceysmith2848]

ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL CONCERT LADIES ; THE CANUCKS ARE MORE RESPECTFUL DURING YOU PERFORMANCES ; NOT SCREAMING OVER YOUR VOCALS OR YELLING UNWANTED LANGUAGE DURING YOUR SONGS WHILE YOU ARE RECORDING YOUR PERFORMANCES. LOVE YOUR MUSIC & YOUR VIDEOS ; THANKYOU FOR BEING YOU🥰🥰🥰 LANGUAGE LANGUAGE

[@jazluvr99]

TRUE. NO NEED TO SHOUT!!! 😲😖

[@geraldlong5637]

love your songs ❤❤❤

[@TheCastellowsLive]

🤠❤️🤠❤️🤠❤️

[@mezz3036]

Great show as usual. Thanks again @TheMuirClan.What would we do without you??? This is their historic first international show!

[@TheCastellowsLive]

Agreed. My engineering thesis supervisor discovered them too and noted to me "They can do no wrong" - he's the smartest fellow I know, and he is absolutely right :)

[@ur8up2jabberwocky79]

ENJOYED THE WHOLE CONCERT, NICE! CANADA LOOKED SO BEAUTIFUL, SUMMERS DAY, KINDA LIKE THE LADIES.

[@TheCastellowsLive]

🎉🎶 This was right next to Cantara Park Beach on Lake Huron - the best Canada has to offer ❤💙💜💚💛

[@kevinfodor4478]

Ty ❤

[@dennishill2030]

very good..

[@TheCastellowsLive]

They tooootally rock ❤️🤠💕

[@jameshenderson2883]

❤you girls are getting better and better the three of you are super stars i love you and I love your music ever sence I herd you all way before you moved to Nashville! I’m still your No.1 fan in Ohio!

[@ur8up2jabberwocky79]

I ATTENDED THE CONCERT IN LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY SEPT. 20 THE BOURBON AND BEYOND 4 DAY 40 BAND EXTRAVAGANZA. I WAS WAITING TO POST BUT MAYBE IT WILL COME OUT. I WILL TELL EVERYONE YOUR BAND IS MUCH BETTER LIVE THAN ANY VIDEO CAN JUSTIFY....IF YOU WANT TO SEE A BAND GO SEE THEM LIVE. THIS BAND WAS AWESOME LIVE, TRULY. BECAUSE OF TIME CONSTRAINTS THEY ONLY GOT TO PLAY FOR 35 MINUTES, HOWEVER THEY FIRED UP THE CROWD MORE THAN ANY OTHER BAND PERFORMING. THEY HAVE AN ELECTRICITY ABOUT THEM AND THEY HAVE MELDED VERY WELL TOGETHER. AWESOME LIVE CONCERT IN LOUISVILLE. 😁😁😁

[@TheCastellowsLive]

I've seen them seven times - I'm hooked! 😄 The headlining shows are an hour and twenty minutes long which is amazing - they have a lot of great unreleased originals and covers in the longer shows 🤠❤️

[@Tigerufoeye]

Superb record, you are so lucky to have this awesome band close to your home. But I think / hope, they are just starting and progressing so fast - Canada is first, but we hope Europe next year (our capital Prague or come to taste best world beer here in Pilsen)

[@TheCastellowsLive]

Thanks! Prague is SO beautiful - great pics in Katie Cole's Instagram (she tours with smashing pumpkins) - I'm sure The Castellows would have a blast there 🎉🌟🎇🎉🎆🎶✨

[@CullenHormes]

Still need a sound man.these girls are the best.❤

[@TheCastellowsLive]

I'm expecting that when they tour with Little Big Town they will have consistent mixing. I was beside the speaker array for this show and the bass in the mix was a bit much :)

[@DaymanChildress-s8z]

These ladies have got it move over let them thru ❤❤❤

[@TheCastellowsLive]

Giddy Up !!! 🐴🐴🐴

[@GSC20]

Thank you for this great video

[@TheCastellowsLive]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was a very good show .. as always :) I was glad to see Ellie's wrist sprain has recovered so she could play.

[@ggreen69z]

Agree, audio was difficult to hear Lilly for first couple of songs. Got better after that 👍👍💯🔥

[@Allen2]

Powell's half minte banjo solo (just before the 23 minute mark) is Cumberland Gap, a bluegrass classic.

[@TheCastellowsLive]

Very nice! Thanks Allen - I'll add the timestamp index and note that :)

[@thomasschierer9326]

❣🥳🤩

[@TheCastellowsLive]

It was a shorter set than when they headline.. about 20 minutes shorter, but always a great show 🎸🥁🎤🎶

[@joserodriguezbusto]

I'm fan off the Boss and is a great version!!

[@TheCastellowsLive]

Could not agree more 🤠❤️.. they sure do some great covers in their style 😊

[@phoenixproject5484]

Have ever performed with the Dropkick Murphys little irish music.

[@ally4775]

Does anyone know what the first song is called that The Castellows sing in the set?

[@johnhalderman3254]

A long ways to go

[@ally4775]

@@johnhalderman3254 That should be a Single

[@TheCastellowsLive]

The setlist I got in Ann Arbor says Ways To Go ... but that could be a short form :)

[@xaviermichaud923]

When the castellows will perform in France?

[@erichansen7377]

Lilly preforming barefoot reminds me of Deanna Carter when she was on stage many times sans shoes. It kinda became her trademark.

[@TheCastellowsLive]

It is sooo cool and fun to see!! Check out the Shreveport show - Lily is barefoot and just levitating off the stage!!! She doesn't need her plane to fly :)

[@EckertMichael-o4e]

Would be nice when this became her trademark her barefoot performance is wonderful

[@harryepstein3629]

Where's their other, original bass player? That guy looks so cool, and fits right in---

[@TheCastellowsLive]

@@harryepstein3629 Spencer Bradley was bass player and tour manager. Now he's tour manager only. Mason needs a cool hat too 🤠 I guess!

[@triantafilos9942]

A second album soon? Live? Why not? Come on Girls 🎶🤘

[@TheCastellowsLive]

@@triantafilos9942 Good idea! They played up to 6 unreleased songs on the tour.. could easily do another album :) Live is a good idea 💡

[@Alfonso-je3bd]

🎉🎉🎉👍

[@Alfonso-je3bd]

❤️❤️❤️🌹🌹🌹🫶👍👍👍🙋‍♂️

[@real_HP]

@thecastellows If you would do this same show Nov 15th ❤ and I'm not even Canadian Eh!

[@SeriyKayf]

Хорошечки! Лапусики! )

[@TheCastellowsLive]

Really Nice !!!

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

I hope that everything is alright and not overheating as I am seeing something like smoke maybe it is a smoke machine but it is better to stay safe rather than sorry.

[@EarlBell-o8l]

Coming from a cattle farm in Prince Edward Island Canada y'all would fit good in our all towns should look in to Cavendish beach music festival here all the big artist come here mean of them much love

[@TheCastellowsLive]

Great idea 💡 👍

[@JimmoApsassin]

I wish you girls can bring your beautiful music to 👆 northern bc Canada 🍁 fsj Charlie lake bc Canada 🍁

[@TheCastellowsLive]

That would be great 👍 They have played Sarnia last summer (this video) and Toronto is next July. They would love them out west in Calgary etc 🤠❤️

[@GeorgeWalker-o5j]

Lily rocking the bare feet. So cute.

[@EckertMichael-o4e]

Yes she does it very well

[@Андрей-ч2г3о]

❤️🌹🌹🌹❤️🔥🥳🎉✌️

[@TheCastellowsLive]

😇😇😇💕🇨🇦💕

[@Alfonso-je3bd]

Las chicas guapísimas seguro que es de noche pero al estar ellas se hizo de dia😂😂 es qué por donde ellas pasan se ilumina todo con decirte que cuando yo las veo me pongo las gafas de sol porque es que me tiene deslumbrado muchacha 😂😂 por el amor de dios terrible un abrazote chicas ❤❤❤🌹🌹🌹💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿💯💯💯👏👏👏👍👍👍💋🙋‍♂️

[@Alfonso-je3bd]

❤️🌹💋👍🙋‍♂️

[@donaldthompson9313]

Those Georgia girls charmed the Canadians.

[@TheCastellowsLive]

Indeed they did .. they showed Canada 🍁 the Cowboy Love 🤠 💕

[@jazluvr99]

Looks like a great show; the lovely Castellow ladies and band are in fine form. Unfortunately (as is typical with cell phone-shot videos) the audio isn't great. Obviously, there is a cameraman using professional equipment. Any chance this will be available as an HD "official" concert recording?

[@TheCastellowsLive]

@@jazluvr99 the mix up front is hit and miss at the shows I've seen (7 so far). In Sarnia the guitar and fiddle mix was sometimes low and the bass drum was shaking us (but array was right in front of us). What to do? I have done some moises.ai track separation to remix the recordings (see some other venue song recordings). Have not looked at this show yet for that track level polishing. I just recorded the Jordan, NY show and the mix was pretty good up front - I'll post soon. I hope they pro record a show to share. It's hard to get very good audio (back of room) and video (front of room) at the live shows. I also dubbed the Shreveport show audio over the other suboptimal mix shows for some songs - it works because drummer Brad plays with a click track and the band is very consistent playing or singing their parts. Look for songs with "remix" in the title for that audio swap.. that's my quest to capture the best of what they do. I hope the Little Big Town tour will have more consistent audio this fall.. stay tuned Jaz Luvr ❤️🤠💕

[@jazluvr99]

@@TheCastellowsLive You're doing a great job. The audio and video quality are better than most cell phone recordings. Keep up the good work! 😄👍

[@RadoslawPrasalek]

Ta druga piosenka jest ok.

[@michaeleckert3145]

The little sister enjoy it beeing barefoot on stage very nice

[@GoldenbanjoDJ]

UK time

[@adamcrookedsmile]

line dance at 42:05 ... ha so fun

[@TheCastellowsLive]

That is so sweet. Initially just Elly and Lily did that dance but now Powell joins in too :) Recently I saw the guys dance too Castellows and Castellows

[@adamcrookedsmile]

@@TheCastellowsLive seems the fiddler joined in on this occasion, but he was out of view most of the time

[@TheCastellowsLive]

@@adamcrookedsmile Justin is great 👍 I do try to zoom in on the ladies singing most of the time tho

[@georgecatana9081]

are you their manager ?

[@TheCastellowsLive]

Hi George, I'm just a fan who has seen a lot of their great shows to share. My channel has other bands I've seen too but WOW everyone just loves The Castellows! My channel has some of my original songs (my hobby) and Muir family vacation videos too :) - Rob

[@DaymanChildress-s8z]

There alot of bands that push back

[@SsSs-pk1xp]

Наконец более менее нормальный звук!

[@tcb6875]

First time you can year their voices better than the band, now you can't hear their instruments.

[@TheCastellowsLive]

They did have some challenges with the electric guitar level to start, didn't they? And sometimes Justin's fiddle was quiet. I can say the bass drum and bass were thundering out of the speaker beside us :) I bet touring with Little Big Town later this year they'll have more consistent sound mixing. I'm looking forward to that in Buffalo :) I even convinced my home boss to drive from Toronto to see that show with me !

[@Cavalier.440]

C A N A D A 😢 🛌☕⏳📖🛐🌄

[@SsSs-pk1xp]

Русалки!

[@williamcollins9254]

i wish you'd speak up!!! Your voice is very soothing but we need to hear you. Speak up!! Enunciate!!

[@TheCastellowsLive]

The band all have in-ear monitors and I'm sure they hear vocal levels fine with that. The mix I have heard at the venues varies considerably though. They don't have their own sound guy on the board, so it's different all the time and depends where I am standing (in Sarnia I'm in front of the array and the bass was very/too loud, in Malone no guitar or fiddle on the right side). Because the mixes I record are off I've posted songs that are remixed after moises.ai track separation and vocal track boosting. Enunciation is not the issue IMHO, it's the house mix.

[@yellavonjella2893]

I wish they wouldn't do cover songs......

[@TheCastellowsLive]

They do have great unreleased originals to play like Cowgirl Blues, Grass is always bluer.. I need to check if they played The Part Where You Break My Heart too (?) ... they should always play that.. as much as I like The Beatles cover etc. the originals are unique 🤠❤️🤟

[@yellavonjella2893]

@@TheCastellowsLive Their original songs are refreshing.... .being a musician I've heard/played those covers 1000 times.

[@Olm9]

I hope they will always pay tribute to Emmylou and others that they obviously love and are inspired by. It's a classic country thing to do - Cash, Nelson, Waylon, Merle, Kris etc. all did it back in the day. I see it as a sign of respect and quite a country tradition. Just sprinkling a few cover song into the set is sweet.

[@yellavonjella2893]

@@Olm9 "Come Together" is not country....... I only meant it as a compliment basically saying I like Castellows songs more.

[@TheCastellowsLive]

I hear you. While I went to see The Who and Elton on the farewell tours recently and I'll be seeing Pumpkins and Green Day in a few weeks, its the new bands in a cozy venue with new material that really excite me. I realize that The Castellows are bringing me back to my old, old roots too - when we were kids my uncle Dave played country and we all loved Stompin' Tom Connors (RIP). We saw that Canadian icon play at the Horseshoe Tavern when I was eight in the early 70's :) Country songs connect - and so did Tom, coming to me and my brother's table to meet us and sign autographs. BTW I wandered into the Grand Ole Oprey twenty years ago when in Nashville at a conference - Gretchen Wilson played Red Neck Woman and I immediately thought, "you know this story telling is so memorable" and she is going places. I think the same thing about The Castellows - going places :) Like Tom they are so nice, sign stuff at the merch table and chat. Tom sang about places in Canada (Sudbury Saturday Night kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3S2doiNfMilaNU) and the gals sing about their home. The songs connect right off the bat like Gretchen did when I saw her. Like Tom did. I'll add one more thing. The Balkcom gals sing about a time when you didn't have to lock your doors in Miss America. That lost level of trust and community is apparent when you consider how my brother and I, just 8 and 9 years old, got to the Horseshoe Tavern to see Stompin' Tom in . My mom let our basement apartment tenant Bernice take us!