2023 was a year like no other for Flett. He and his wife Cara Goldthorpe managed to book and perform a 17 gig tour across Western Canada (SK, AB, BC). The tour gigs were split between Alex Flett performing as “A one-man-band Experience” and performing duets as Flett & Goldthorpe. The tour was Independently managed and funded. Highlights included a headlining album release gig at The Exchange (venue of the year 2022) with a debut full band performance, playing for approximately 300 people at Napatak Ramble music festival at La Ronge, and taking his music all the way to The Brighton in downtown Vancouver.
Flett’s philosophy is that all the opportunities are there if the time and effort to manifest them is taken. In December 2022, Flett was recording his second album “A Bridge Between Worlds” (released July 2023) when he had the idea to develop the tour. Only a few of the connections to venues, festivals and people were made at that point. It wasn’t until Flett & Goldthorpe began reaching out to musicians, venues, and any other email with potential, that the tour began to become a reality thanks to the support of fellows in the music community.
Booking inquiries were sent out months in advance, and, when Napatak Ramble accepted the first request, that was enough momentum to develop gig after gig.. Even on tour, they continued booking gigs. After playing an amazing show in Prince George, and scheduled to play in Kamloops one week from the date, Flett and Goldthorpe made a decision that, despite not having anything scheduled in Vancouver, they were going to find somewhere to perform there. They traveled long and arrived on Tuesday, July 25th. Back in Napatak Ramble Flett & Goldthorpe met a fellow musician on tour, Black Suit Devil. He had played at a Pub downtown called The Brighton. They made their pitch to the Venue for the latest possible date they could perform before having to travel to Kamloops: Thursday July 27th. Luckily, although The Brighton is a tightly scheduled pub, they had a cancellation for that night that they had yet to fill. Immediately upon request, Alex Flett was set to perform alongside Cara Goldthorpe in Vancouver, BC. Had they not taken a chance to make the extra mile to Vancouver, this would not have happened.
The Full tour itinerary of successful gigs:
June 16th: Prince Albert, SK: The Spice Trail Restaurant
June 17th: Prince Albert Street Fair: PA’s biggest one day event of the year, on stage.
June 30th: La Ronge, SK: Napatak Ramble Welcome Gate
July 1st: La Ronge, SK: Napatak Ramble side stage
July 6th: Moosejaw, SK: Sidewalk Days
July 7th: Moosejaw, SK: Sidewalk Days
July 8th: Regina, SK: The Exchange (Full Band)
July 14th: Medicine Hat, AB: Moose & Squirrel Bistro
July 21st: Prince George, BC: Nancy O’s
July 22nd: Wells, BC: The Wells Hotel
July 27th: Vancouver, BC: The Brighton
July 29th: Kamloops, BC: Busker Festival
August 1st: Banff, AB: Banff Avenue Brewing
August 2nd: Calgary, AB: Rockin’ for Dollars YYC
August 4th: Medicine Hat, AB: Moose & Squirrel Bistro
August 5th: Medicine Hat, AB: Casa Amigos Cantina (with 6 other bands)
August 11th: Regina, SK: Shannon’s Pub (Full Band Grand Finale)
In commemoration of the tour, Flett is currently releasing a video documentary series of the tour and all of the adventures along the way, with the goal of inspiring other artists that goals are attainable, even independently.
Alex Flett released his second album “A Bridge Between Worlds” on July 7th, 2023, just in time for his Album Release performance at The Exchange as a 5 piece band on July 8th. The album, recorded at Blue Door Studios in Regina, features both his signature one-man-band performances as well as full band tracks. Throughout touring, Flett sold dozens of CDs of this album, as well as CDs of his previous album, “The Sun Dragon One Man Band.”
The goal of Flett’s music is to to be bold; to dare to express rawly his innermost feelings, yet disciplined to not fall too deep into depressing narratives, rather (like in songs like Under the Prairie Sky) his goal is to expose unfiltered all of the ugliness he sees in the world, and choose to love it all without condition as part of a greater whole alongside beauty. Beyond any statistic, fame, or monetary gain, Flett is driven to keep going by people who come up to him after performing, telling him that they really felt something that made their day a little bit better. Ever seeking to evolve, Flett believes that music truly is ‘a bridge between worlds,’ for so many of us across borders real and imaginary live such vastly different lives, yet everywhere there is music.
