Garth Brooks was beaming ahead of his opening concert in Regina Friday night.(Teena Monteleone/paNOW Staff)

By Teena Monteleone

Country megastar set for Capital

Superstar Garth Brooks wows Regina after lengthy weather delay

Aug 9, 2019 | 10:24 PM

Regina’s Mosaic Stadium burst into life after over a two hour weather delay to welcome Garth Brooks back onto the Saskatchewan stage. The superstar was performing the first of two gigs in the capital as his only Canadian stops on his Stadium Tour. However, the tens of thousands of fans faced a tense wait to learn if indeed the show would happen because of lightning storms overhead.

Ahead of the delayed opener the country music icon spent part of the afternoon in a press conference with local media, including paNOW and Saskatchewan Country CKBI’s Teena Monteleone. Here they are together.

This is Brooks’ second trip to Saskatchewan in three years, having played to sold out crowds in Saskatoon in 2016.

“Oh man, the people in Saskatoon were just crazy. It was awesome. We barely got out alive and I’m like, I wanna do that again,” Brooks said.

Brooks recently debuted what is being called this summer’s anthem “Dive Bar” featuring fellow country music star Blake Shelton. He has been popping up at hometown dives across the U.S. for impromptu concerts as part of his summer tour. As part of the celebration, the pair have pledged to #JoinThePact to never drive impaired, helping to make roads safer for everyone.

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“There are other substances we need to worry about now here in Canada too. And it’s all about responsibility,” he said.

“You know, we just want everyone to have fun and be safe. I don’t know what they have in Canada but we encourage people to take Uber and Lift or cabs.”

Brooks and Seagram’s 7 Crown Whiskey have committed to securing 700,000 pledges this summer, via jointhepact.com, from dive bar patrons across the US. Brooks encouraged Saskatchewanians to take part.

Brooks’ stadium tour has been hugely successful and has seen him play to sell-out crowds of more than 70,000. In October of last year, Brooks sold out the first ever concert at Notre Dame Football Stadium in South Bend, Ind. The concert, “GARTH: LIVE AT NOTRE DAME!” was filmed for television and aired December 2nd on CBS. Nearly 14 million watched.

A crowd of approximately 40,000 people is expected for each of the concerts tonight and tomorrow in Regina.

Electric atmosphere

Meanwhile, the tens of thousands flocking to the arena had to gather under shelter as storm clouds gathered overhead.

Fans were prevented from taking their seats as a safety precaution because of lighting. (Teena Monteleone/paNOW Staff)

Organizers warned of lightning so people could not take their seats and had to amass in the concourse or couldn’t get access to the main stadium area. As of 7:40 pm it was unclear if the gig would proceed.

Is this show going to happen? Fans seek solace in their cell phones as they wait for the skies to clear. (Teena Monteleone/paNOW Staff)

But it was all worthwhile in the end as the Prairie lightning made way for some Brooks electricity .

After a lengthy delay because of lightning and heavy rain Garth Brooks took to the stage in Regina. He’s back at it again Saturday night. (Teena Monteleone/paNOW Staff)

teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow