Calgary roots, Nashville polish

Lindsay Ell is a Calgary-born guitarist and songwriter who blends country hooks with bluesy, precise leads. After years sharpening her craft as a road guitarist and solo act, she has leaned further into guitar-forward pop-country that still keeps the song at the center. Expect a tight set that likely slots Criminal, wAnt me back, Right On Time, and Waiting on You, with one stripped solo section where she loops a riff and sings over it. Two neat notes: she cut The Continuum Project in two days as homework to study John Mayer, and The Project was produced by Kristian Bush, who pushed her to commit to bolder guitar tones.

Setlist shape and who's in the room

The room skews mixed: radio country fans next to pedal-curious players trading notes by the bar, plus couples who know the choruses and a few teens wearing first-gig wristbands. You might also catch a past duet reworked solo to spotlight the lyric while the band resets. The crowd energy feels focused rather than rowdy, with phone lights saved for a mid-set ballad and head-nods taking the place of big group shouts. For transparency, the songs and production details described here are inferred from recent patterns and could change from show to show.

Where Boots Meet Pedalboards: The Lindsay Ell Crowd

Riffs, lyrics, and small rituals

The scene blends country-night energy with musician hang vibes, so you will spot boots and sneakers, guitar pick necklaces, and denim jackets in equal measure. People tend to sing the last line of Criminal loud and then fall quiet to catch the solo, which reads as care for the parts rather than noise for its own sake. Expect a clap pattern to kick in on the second chorus of Right On Time, cued by the snare build. Merch leans practical, with soft tees that quote a lyric, a low-key hat with a guitar silhouette, a small pack of usable picks, and a vinyl bin for The Project and heart theory. Pre-show playlists tilt toward modern country with blues edges, so the ears settle into a guitar-first frame before the lights drop. After the closer, people often trade short clips of fills and tone rather than pyrotechnics, and the comments talk about groove and pocket as much as feelings. It is a friendly mix that prizes musicianship without posture and makes room for first-timers to feel at home beside longtime supporters.

Strings Before Sparkle: Lindsay Ell's Live Build

Tone first, then lift

Live, Lindsay Ell's voice sits clean and bright, with a slight rasp when she pushes into choruses. Arrangements keep verses lean so the guitars can punch on the refrain, and the drums favor tight kick-snare patterns that leave space for syncopated riffs. She often bumps tempos a notch on stage, which makes mid-tempo singles feel as if they breathe more.

Small choices, big payoffs

Listen for a sparkling Strat-style top end on rhythm parts and a warmer, thicker tone for solos, with a short loop sometimes stacked to build an intro before the band drops in. Deep-cut moment: she has been known to fold a few bars from The Continuum Project into a transition, a quiet nod to that study exercise. On ballads, the keys player tucks organ pads under the vocal while the bass traces simple roots so her right-hand accents pop. Lighting tends toward warm ambers and clean whites, earning attention without fighting the mix. A subtle trick you might catch is a quick capo move to brighten a familiar song, turning the guitar into more of a chiming rhythm instrument for the chorus.

Fans of Lindsay Ell Often Cross Paths With These Voices

Neighboring sounds on the road

Fans of Lindsay Ell often also turn up for Maren Morris because both balance radio-ready hooks with live bands that leave room for guitar lines. Kelsea Ballerini appeals to the pop-leaning side of the crowd, with relatable writing and sleek choruses that land cleanly in the room. If you come for the lead-guitar fireworks, Keith Urban offers that polished, arena-tested take with rhythmic drive and tasteful solos. Fellow Canadian Tenille Townes connects on story-first songs and a conversational stage style that mirrors her easy banter. All four acts share a focus on tight arrangements and strong melodies rather than big gimmicks. If those traits draw you in, these artists will likely sit in the same playlist as the new show memories.