From Maintenance to Main Stage

By Kate Butler @butler2

Ian Kelly Plays Roots and Soul Music Room April 16, 2015

Montreal-born singer songwriter Ian Kelly is set to tour his fourth album All These Lines across Canada and will be making multiple stops in New Brunswick during the month of April. All These Lines debuted in the top 10 on iTunes Canada and continues to receive praise across the country.

Kelly originally did not set his sights on becoming a full time musician and only found his inspiration after watching countless bands come through The Spectrum Theatre in Montreal. Kelly began as maintenance personnel at the theatre and later becoming a sound engineer.

“In the beginning I didn’t really know what kind of musician I wanted to be,” said Kelly. “I was fortunate enough to see so many great bands come through the Spectrum that once I started playing it only pushed me to be better at what I was working on.”

Kelly flexed his DIY chops and recorded and produced his first album, Insecurity, including learning to play each instrument that was featured on the album as well as releasing the album under his own Me, Myself and I label. Kelly is a jack-of-all-trades and a bit hard to pin down, all of which he attributes to his Dad’s eclectic list of skills.

He received his first big break from Canadian icon Alanis Morissette and the need for an opening act during her show at Théâtre St. Denis where Kelly was working as part of the sound crew.

“They desperately needed someone to open for her and even though I originally volunteered, they continued to try and find someone else,” he said. “After two hours of calling everyone they knew, they gave me a shot. It was a personal triumph knowing I had over 3,000 attentive people listening to me. It gave me the confidence to move forward and seriously think that I could do this for a living.”

Although Kelly has toured previously with a full band and played larger venues the Montreal area, this time around he will be making the trek on his own and is looking forward to playing smaller more intimate venues.

“I am looking forward to being out on my own this time,” he said. “I have a third baby on the way and this will be my last bit of time to reflect and explore the smaller more intimate venues. I can be alone with my thoughts and hopefully do some more writing. You have to miss the people you love, right?”

Kelly has many accolades to his name including a certified Gold Record for his sophomore album Speak Your Mind, he accompanied Sarah Slean on her 2012 cross Canada tour and has been a main stage performer at both Montreal’s Jazz Fest and Osheaga Music Festival.

Ian Kelly | Roots and Soul Music Room | April 16, 2015 | 8:00pm | $10 | View Event

You can preview his most recent album All These Lines http://www.iankellysmusic.com/music/ an check him out on Facebook.

And can catch him on tour throughout the Maritimes: