Killarney Guide

BY JAY STRUTH

Plans are taking shape for another colossal Canada Day concert in Killarney this summer, and this year’s headliners, The Reklaws, are ready to celebrate.

“We definitely bring a bit of a party wherever we go,” said Jenna Walker, who fronts The Reklaws along with her brother, Stuart Walker. “I think Canada Day in general has always been a good memory for us growing up. It’s always a party, it’s always a celebration, and we’re honoured to be able to spend it with you guys.”

The Guide caught up with The Reklaws just as they were heading to Country Thunder in Arizona last weekend for their first U.S. festival gig ever. Then this week it was time to record some new music in L.A., and then back to Nashville.

“We’re trying to get some new music together,” said Jenna. “We have a lot of songs that we want to finish and get out there, because we just love new music and releasing it, and I think you’re going to see a lot more of that from us in the upcoming months, which is really exciting.”

The Reklaws kicked off the year with the Winter’s A Beach Tour, which took them across Canada for their second-ever headlining tour. It was completely sold out.

“Incredible, amazing crowds,” said Stuart of the cross-Canada winter tour. “We had no idea what to expect, because we hadn’t done our own hard ticket tour since before COVID. So the fact that it sold out, and everybody turned up and sang our songs as loud as they do at festivals, was such a blessing to us.”

Up and coming country star Justin LaBrash will open up for The Reklaws on Canada Day, plus popular Treherne band Hicktown will be back for the Killarney festival, along with local southern Manitoba groups Tangle Box, and Sentinel. Food trucks will be available for great grub on the grounds as well.

The Canada Day 2023 concert is being organized again by the Killarney Community Events Committee (KCEC), and is sponsored by the Killarney Kinsmen and the Killarney Ag Society. 

Last year’s event attracted close to 3,000 concert goers, and the committee is hoping for even more this year. 

“It’s Canada Day, and we’re so proud to be Canadian,” said Stuart. “It’s in what we do and the fans that we have, and what they’ve allowed us to do in Canada alone is amazing. We’re going to help make it a big celebration. We’re going to show up and try to bring the biggest party to Killarney.”

“I’m so ready – let’s go,” exclaimed Jenna. “Thanks for having us, and we can’t wait to party with you on Canada Day.”

The Reklaws hold five JUNO nominations, six CCMA Awards, three #1 hits at Canadian Radio, 11 Gold, and seven Platinum singles, and a Gold-certified debut album (Freshman Year). 

Their music has 250 million-plus global streams, six of the top 20 streamed singles by a Canadian country artist since 2019 (more than any other artist) and the most domestically streamed debut album in Canadian country history.

Ticket prices for the Killarney Canada Day Concert are $50 for adults, and $20 for children aged six to 12 years, and they’re available at eventbrite.com, the Shamrock Centre, and Lewis & Jones.

READY TO PARTY – Brother and sister Stuart and Jenna Walker of The Reklaws are ready to rock the colossal Killarney Canada Day Concert at the Ag Grounds on July 1. See the full list of Canada Day events, including plenty of free ones, below.

CANADA DAY CROWD – Last year’s Canada Day concert crowd swelled to nearly 3,000 people by the time the headlining Hunter Brothers took the stage. The Reklaws are this year’s headliners, with up and coming country star Justin LaBrash opening up for them, along with Treherne band Hicktown, and local southern Manitoba groups Tangle Box, and The Sentinels. Food trucks will be available again for great grub on the grounds.