A Night To Remember With Erin McCallum
By Ken Wallis | The Sound Cafe Journal
Photo Credit: Ken Wallis
September 18th, 2026 at the Gibson Centre in Alliston, Ontario, Canada.
An energy-charged evening of music unfolded as Erin McCallum stood front and centre for the release party of her wide-ranging album, Full Spread. The band setup had the audience in anticipation before the performance, and everyone could sense that something special was about to happen.
The room just crackled with electric energy.
Photo Credit: Ken Wallis.
The surprise of the evening came when Erin’s longtime bandmate, alumni Brian George Harrison, strolled out onto the stage unannounced. Along with Teddy Leonard, nostalgia reigned supreme as they launched into Clarksdale, then treated the audience to Hero.
Then the roof came off as Erin and drummer Joe Pace hit the stage and pulled out all the stops with Big Mama Thornton’s Hound Dog. Eat your heart out, Elvis, ’cause no one’s sung it like this before.
The first set featured some of the new tunes from the album, including I’m Still Here, The Big Shout, and I’m Still Here for Now.
As much as the feature was the new album Full Spread, it was also a celebration of a storied musical career. The audience was treated to some Erin classics, with Roll with the Punches, Raise Me Up, and Right Down the Middle wrapping up the first set.
A short break allowed the audience to catch its breath, but set two kicked off with a wow factor as Erin launched into her new single, I Need a New Lover. That was followed by the new songs Lost Myself Loving You, Good News, and Broken Lies.
But once again, that wasn’t all. Erin let loose with some of her classic tunes: Lost in Memphis Tennessee, 2 Steps Forward, and Complicated Woman. The audience called for more as the last note faded away, and the band retook the stage for a rousing encore of Good Intentions.
Erin’s powerhouse voice kept the audience enthralled throughout the evening. The slick mastery of guitar by Teddy Leonard, the groove set by Brian George Harrison on bass, and the sophisticated downbeat of Joe Pace on drums melded the band into a united wave of sound. The band was locked in, with a chemistry that felt both familiar and newly charged.
It was an evening of new reveals, as well as joyful nostalgia, in Erin’s hometown. The community spirit was in full evidence as Erin’s Mom sold a boatload of CDs.
All in all, it was a CD release party that was more than just a performance. It was a night of reconnection, revelation, and musical storytelling.
Full Spread wasn’t just released. It was unveiled. And the audience in Alliston was the first to see it and hear it.
The Sound Cafe Journal
Where the story behind the music matters.
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Find Out More About Erin McCallum HERE
