Legendary rockers Blue Rodeo, who recorded the hit song 5 Days In May thirty years ago, will be in Las Vegas performing for what should be one amazing night in February for Canadian dealers at the 2024 NADA Show.
The Toronto-based band, who have become Canadian icons with a multitude of tunes that also include Try, Hasn’t Hit Me Yet, and Till I Am Myself, will be doing a concert to bring back Canada Night NAD’eh on February 1. Tickets are complimentary for Canadian dealers. To learn more about the event and to sign up visit: https://canadanightnadeh.ca/
In an interview, the band’s co-frontman Jim Cuddy told Canadian auto dealer he is looking forward to the event.
“Well first of all, the people who are contracting us are really nice,” says Cuddy. “Obviously it’s a bigger event, because it’s the whole of Blue Rodeo. The last time I did it I was in a small room and just played a few tunes. I’m always impressed that people who are in an industry because of cars want music. To me, music is the best accompaniment for everything. I heard about this and thought it would be fun to go to Vegas. It would be fun to play for these people, too,” he said.
“If you’re a Canadian dealer and you’re going to be in Vegas, you’re not going to want to miss being here,” said Lara Appleton, Marketing and Customer Experience Manager at taq Automotive Intelligence, which is helping to organize the event along with a roster of leading suppliers, including Canadian auto dealer. “It’s a great way to reconnect with your Canadian industry friends and colleagues.”
Canada Night NAD’eh has been a huge theme at the NADA, beginning with an intimate performance in 2016 with just Jim Cuddy. Prominent Canadian acts that have followed included Alan Doyle of Great Big Sea and Barenaked Ladies. Then COVID disrupted the NADA Show and Canada Night NAD’eh was shelved.
“After five years, we’re really trying to bring the Eh! back to NADA. COVID can’t stop us. We’ve come through on the other side and we just thought what a great time to bring this event back,” said Appleton, adding “Where are you going to see Blue Rodeo in a really, really intimate setting with a few hundred of your closest industry friends? What a great night to kick off your NADA experience.”
Canada Night NAD’eh begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Sahara Theatre, which has a capacity of about 850. The concert runs from 10:30 p.m. to midnight. NADA’s Welcome Reception runs nearby at the Sphere from 7-10 p.m.
“You don’t have to choose between one event or the other,” said Appleton. “Come to ours as well. There’s going to be an open bar (and) food. We’d love for many Canadian dealers to come.”
Appleton added that the organizing committee wanted to hire a noteworthy, enduring Canadian musical group to cap off the night and Blue Rodeo fit the bill perfectly.
“For many Canadian dealers it’s their first NADA since COVID hit back in 2020, so we really wanted to put on a really great party — and who better to perform than Canadian legendary Juno-award winning band Blue Rodeo,” said Appleton. “We wanted a mainstream name, one that has been around for a long time, a name people would recognize, one we know who will put on a really good show and has experience in performing. We looked at some other acts as well, but they didn’t have the name recognition that Blue Rodeo does. Blue Rodeo is just a great way to bring this event back to the forefront.”
Vaughn Wyant, President and CEO of the Wyant Group, has seen Blue Rodeo perform several times and said the band defines Canadiana. “They’re so good, so musically in sync.”
