Brooks & Bowskill – March 30 at the Aron Theatre Co-op, Campbellford, ON
Some of country’s most recognizable couples include Johnny Cash and June Carter, Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter, and George Jones and Tammy Wynette.
A couple that should be added to this list is Jim Bowskill and Brittany Brooks—who play under the name Brooks and Bowskill.
Their debut album, Too Many Roads, was released earlier this year, and since then the couple, along with The Hometown Beauts, have been opening for Canadian country-rock band Blue Rodeo, as well as headlining their own shows.
Last week, Brooks and Bowskill played at Aron Theatre in Campbellford, ON—“Home of the Two Dollar Coin.”
For a Thursday night in the small Trent Hills town, Brooks and Bowskill left the equally as small Aron Theatre yearning for more.
Over the course of two sets, Brooks and Bowskill played songs off their first full-length LP and their 2022 single, and incorporated their musical influences of country and folk through covers of songs by Kate Wolf and Trio (Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt).
Songs such as “Distant Cowgirl,” “Golden Prime” and “Plane From Saskatoon” really showed off their chemistry.
Knowing that each song on the new album was written by the pair, it made each original tune an intimate glimpse into their relationship, both on and off stage.
The evening was full of mellifluous songs, their voices euphonious.
After every song, the audience would be left gasping, wanting more from the group.
Their setlist was diverse as well, going from beautiful love songs to fiery guitar solo battles on “Pickin’ Party.”
The musicianship between Brittany, Jim and The Hometown Beauts is some of the tightest I’ve seen—and it’s apparent they’re having fun on stage, which reflects onto the audience.
Brooks and Bowskill takes the concept of classic country and brings it into the present.
They are uniquely their own, and embrace themselves as such.
If you’re a fan of country, folk, and a little bit of rockabilly sprinkled in, be sure to see Brooks and Bowskill in the near future.
