The Red Clay Strays Finish Off Canadian Tour at OLG Stage in Niagara Falls [Photos]

The Red Clay Strays have been busy this March. Back in September, it was announced the country-rock group would be taking on an eight-show tour across Canada, ending in London. This was the plan until OLG Stage announced a month later, on October 28th, that the band would add one more show, ending the tour in Niagara Falls at OLG Stage.

This show kicked off with an eleven-song solo acoustic set by Brent Cobb. This set was filled with storytelling, soul, and comedy, as Cobb had a few jokes to tell in between songs.

Later in the show, it was revealed that Cobb and The Red Clay Strays have a history dating back to 2019. During Chris Stapleton’s “All-American Road Show” in 2019, Cobb found The Red Clay Strays doing a cover of his song at a bar before the show; Cobb got up on stage and sang along with them. They recreated this scene later in the set tonight when the two joined forces for a duet.

After a fantastic opening set from Cobb, it was time for the main act, The Red Clay Strays. They kicked this set off with two slower-tempo songs, something I was expecting from the band without not knowing much about them. They started off strong, the audio sounded amazing, and the lighting guy deserves a raise. However, song three upped the tempo, playing one of the fastest grassroots songs I have ever heard.

Many people know The Red Clay Strays for their hit song that went viral recently, titled “Wondering Why,” a slow song that gave people hope that there is still grassroots music flowing in the mainstream. However, after seeing them live, I can say that song may be the biggest, but it’s far from their identity.

Throughout the set, I was shocked by everything. The guitar solos were long and powerful, the drummer was playing tight, and the vocals were giving me goosebumps. This band was special, I don’t often stay at shows for artists I don’t know a lot about. But I am more than glad I experienced a night with The Red Clay Strays, and I will most definitely be adding some of their songs to the playlist.

Song 13 kicked the crowd into overdrive as the opening line to “Wondering Why” was sung. Everyone was on their feet, and the crowd was loud, word for word. Everybody in OLG Stage knew the lyrics and was belting them. It didn’t stop there, as the band kicked into “I’m Still Fine,” the fans stayed on their feet and were louder than before as the song had more parts that could be yelled. I was shocked they played these songs before the encore and almost midway through their set. I find that bands often wait until the encore or even the last song to bring their big tunes out.

The energy in OLG Stage was flowing all night long, from the slow songs and people slow dancing to the fast songs showcasing the band’s versatility The Red Clay Strays put on a show that everybody in the crowd will remember for the rest of their lives.

Unfortunately, The Red Clay Strays have wrapped up their Canadian tour, but that doesn’t mean they are done playing. They will be hitting the road all summer, playing in Australia, the U.S., and more. You can check out their upcoming shows here!

The Red Clay Strays (w/ Brent Cobb) @ OLG Stage (Niagara Falls, ON) on March 19th, 2025

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