Jackson Dean in Toronto

Country music thumped beyond the doors of Horseshoe Tavern, with bursts of it erupting each time the door opened and someone came outside to meet friends. Jackson Dean was making the Horseshoe in Toronto his home tonight to promote his new album ‘Magnolia Sage.’

The intimate album listening party started off with a small Q&A session where the interviewer had a series of questions that fans were dying to know. They talked about his writing process, future tour dates, and what songs he loved to perform the most. When the first part of the evening wrapped up, the crew got the stage ready for the performance portion, and fans pursued the merch table for copies of the album and baseball hats.

Jackson Dean's performance

When it was finally time for Jackson Dean to return to the stage, he came back fresh and picked up his guitar. His set overall was short and sweet, only about eight songs long. A moment to highlight and connect with the crowd while he let them hear and understand the sounds of his new album. Dean opened with his new track ‘Tennessee Moon’ where he talks about missing someone and how they’re both staring at the same moon despite being miles apart. This imagery paired with the laid back acoustic delivery make the lyrics feel all the more intimate and confessional. He introduced his song ‘Make a liar,’ a song about playing hard to get and enjoying the dance of courting a new partner. The stubborn and ultimately pointless resistance of fighting the desire to be with someone, when both people know where it will end.

Fans also got to enjoy hit songs like ‘Fearless’ that he confesses that despite having played it around the world, it still makes him emotional. It chronicles the feeling of taking on endless challenges, and new frontiers, but still feeling the same vulnerability of giving a piece of yourself to a partner and accepting the trust that comes with it.

Closing

As the evening wound down, fans lined up near the side to get photos with Dean, clad in all black and his classic wide brim feather tipped cap. With his shirt open at the chest, and his sleeves rolled up, he looked every bit the southern country star he is. He seemed as comfortable off the stage as he was on it, accepting compliments humbly and spending time with the dedicated fans who were in attendance tonight. If you missed his album party at the Horseshoe, you can catch him this fall at Misty City Music Festival.