Yuri Woodfall
Western Lead, Photojournalist – Sound Check Entertainment
There’s something beautifully disarming about walking into a show expecting a wall of sound – and instead getting a living-room confession.
That was the magic trick Dear Rouge pulled off on their unplugged stop – a night that felt less like being at a concert and more like being invited into their story.
The evening began with the solo project of Danielle McTaggart, Larkk. Her debut single “Caverns” is already available across streaming platforms, and her debut album Cinders was released just last week on February 13th. That made the night at Festival Place feel even more special – the audience wasn’t just hearing an opener, they were among the first to experience songs from a record barely days old.
The tone was intimate from the start – and it stayed that way.
Opening With Intention
Dear Rouge opened with “I Heard I Had.” Fully stripped back, it carried a raw clarity – no extra layers, no place to hide, just the song sitting right in front of you. The crowd leaned in immediately, because that’s what the arrangement demanded.
Many had arrived expecting a full-band show. Instead, the duo embraced the surprise.
“Surprise! That’s how we got you to buy tickets,” they laughed.
The room laughed with them – and then settled into something far more personal.
They reflected on being part of the Arkells Leather Jacket tour and contrasted those larger stages with this quieter, more vulnerable format. They also shared a story from their first tour, when their van broke down in Lloydminster – a reminder that every band’s journey includes a few roadside chapters.
Life, Slowed Down
They’re parents now. Their son, just over two years old, has reshaped their priorities. At one point they mentioned he was in Red Deer, and you could feel how much that grounded the night. Touring looks different now. The pace is more intentional. The gratitude feels deeper.
And that perspective echoed through the set.
Songs That Breathe
The unplugged format gave the entire set a new texture.
“Fake Fame” felt especially pointed in this setting – its message landing without distraction.
“Garbage” made an appearance as well, and stripped of its usual layers, it revealed a different kind of tension – less punch, more pulse. It proved the song doesn’t rely on volume to hit hard.
Their rendition of “Time After Time” transformed the room into a full choir. No prompting needed. The audience instinctively joined in, voices rising together in one of those rare, unmanufactured moments.
They also performed “Life Goes By And I Can’t Keep Up.” In this stripped-down space, the lyric – “When life goes by every single day and I can’t keep up” – resonated deeply. It felt like an honest reflection of the season they’re in, balancing music, touring, and parenthood.
“Stolen Days” was dedicated to those who have passed on, shifting the atmosphere into something reverent and reflective.
Then came the story behind “Brick and Mortar.” Drew explained he wrote and recorded it on Christmas Eve – and that the only copy exists in an email.
“If you want a copy of that song, email info@dearrouge.com,” he told the crowd with a sly look.
A song living quietly in an inbox somehow felt perfectly aligned with the intimacy of the night.
“When the brick and mortar falls, I’ll be careful with your heart.”
In a room like this, lyrics don’t float by. They stay with you.
A Golden Finish
They closed with “Black to Gold.” Unplugged, it felt hopeful and deeply personal – less like an anthem and more like a shared promise. The audience sang along one final time, filling Festival Place with warmth as the last notes faded.
Throughout the night, they expressed genuine gratitude for the crowd. And the crowd gave it right back.
No one left wishing it had been louder.
Dear Rouge proved that sometimes the most powerful performances aren’t about volume – they’re about connection.
