Kyle Ivan ready to live out a childhood dream as he hits Bluesfest’s City Stage
Posted Jul 13, 2019 06:00:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
When you first hear Kyle Ivan, your immediate thought might not be power chords aplenty, screeching vocals, and hard rock. But everybody starts somewhere.
“I got my first guitar when I was 13, Jay Turser knockoff Strat,” said Ivan. “That was also the year I saw my first concert AC/DC — spent the year trying to become Angus Young.”
These days Ivan is taking a more laid-back approach, singing and playing folk-pop gems, solo and more recently with a band.
This year has been a wild ride so far for the artist.
“2019 started with a long two-day drive back from PEI. Just wrapped up my 'Tour To See Joel Plaskett,' which brought myself, Chris Zimmerman, Christine Jakel, and Charlie The Kid on a small tour through a few East Coast provinces,” he explained.
Along with a second tour in April, Ivan released a cover of Stevie Nicks' Edge of Seventeen and played his third annual 'Show on a Boat;' which was expanded to four sold-out shows, two in Toronto and two in Ottawa. He also plans to release more music later this year.
And now, he gets to live out a childhood dream.
“Bluesfest is that festival that I dreamed of playing in high school,” said Ivan. “Hell, it was the festival I dreamed of playing last year. I remember watching the Foo Fighters on the main stage last year thinking to myself that one day I could be playing up on that stage. I didn't expect to get that offer a few months later though!”
You can catch Ivan playing the City Stage this year at Bluesfest, Sunday, July 14 at 3:30 p.m.
For daily updates you can follow Ivan him on instagram @thekyleivan or check out his website at kyleivan.com.
Story by Matt Francis
