Ronnie Dunn may have felt the need to introduce himself upon getting on stage, but the audience knew who he was by the time he walked off.
The country legend electrified the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium stage on Thursday night with a setlist that spanned nearly 30 years.
However, before any music was played the singer of former Brooks and Dunn fame addressed the audience.
He wanted to make it clear that even though his old act, which disbanded in 2010, was the most successful duo in country music history, he was now on a solo venture.
“I used to be part of Brooks and Dunn, now I’m just Dunn,” he said.
With that, he launched into his set, which was dominated by crowd favourites from the Brooks and Dunn catalogue.
He led off with a song, Play Something Country, that followed its own suggestion. Next up was the 2001 smash-hit Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You that had couples throughout the audience on their feet and swaying to the tune.
Dunn, 60, is an artist that has been at the pinnacle of country music, and was not shy about sharing it. Throughout his monologues in between songs he would name drop fellow icons such as Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire.
He was also reflective during his addresses to the audience, describing the influence late country music super-couple Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash provided early in his career, and he explained the importance of paying tribute to the history of the genre.
He also performed some of the songs he’s written since embarking on his solo career, such as the high-intensity Let the Cowboy Rock.
His experience of playing major, and much larger, shows came through at the end of the regular set. Dunn selected the rousing Put A Girl In It as the penultimate song before following it up with My Maria, a cover that Brooks and Dunn introduced to a new generation nearly 20 years ago.
As the band played out My Maria, Dunn was busy greeting and shaking hands with fans at the front of the stage as confetti rained down from the Auditorium ceiling.
He departed the stage, and returned less than two minutes later for the encore with the crowd still standing.
They wouldn’t be sitting anytime soon, as line dancing began with the playing of the honky tonk classic Boot Scootin’ Boogie for the encore.
For the country music fans in attendance, it was a night they won't soon forget.
