Pride and patriotism fuel the acts in the Great Canadian Roadtrip

Ian talks with John Brownlee and his work with Jason Blaine and Jason McCoy for the Great Canadian Roadtrip 2.0.

Country star Chad Brownlee admits he’s even more patriotic as he performs in the Great Canadian Roadtrip with Jason McCoy and Jason Blaine, and he credits Canada’s recent win in the Four Nations Faceoff.

“Something happens when you put on your country’s colours. There’s a lot of pride and honour in that,” Brownlee told CTV News.

Brownlee – a draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks in 2003 – said he’s found a new camaraderie on the road with his fellow musicians, a kinship that’s not unlike hockey.

“There’s a lot of parallels between hockey and music and I really feel all of those years I spent as a player prepared me for this world. So now my band is my team.

“They’re a little bit smaller. I don’t have 20 guys. We’ve got usually five to 10 depending on how big the crew is. These tours, they really spark friendships really fast.,” he told CTV News.

The format of the Great Canadian Roadtrip also forces Brownlee, McCoy and Blaine to work closely together.

There’s no headliner or opening act.

“We’re one band,” he said.

“It’s been the most songs I’ve ever had to learn on a tour ‘cause usually it’s my own stuff but to dig into Jason Blaine and Jason McCoy’s catalogue has just been an absolute blast.”

The Great Canadian Roadtrip is at the Grey Eagle Events Centre on March 13.