New York City’s Pier 17 boasts breathtaking views, especially before the sun sets low.
Josh Ross’ performance was backdropped by this unique, shining example of charm with the Brooklyn Bridge suspended just behind the stage. It was a wicked metaphor for the show itself, too, as Josh truly did exude a sort of charm only amplified by his circumstance. And I don’t mean Southern Charm.
The 30-year-old singer-songwriter subverts country expectations with his nationality: Canada. The stereotype of your homegrown Nashville star have long since been defied throughout recent generations of country royalty, including Pennsylvania-born Taylor Swift and Australian Keith Urban. However, even now, watching a non-American succeed in the genre can feel surprising… until you see Josh’s ability to lean into the energy that makes a country concert hot.
What’s most respectable about Josh is he’s fully homegrown. His early career was born from a handful of small music competitions. As he was being showcased as an emerging artist, Josh spent some time in Tennessee developing his craft. You see, Josh was able to shed that smalltown feel and, instead, replace it with polished and packaged music. Josh’s musical career thrived and formed under the guidance of Universal-owned MCA Records after signing in 2022.
On May 28, Josh performed at Pier 17, supporting Nate Smith on tour. The lights hadn’t yet dimmed across the dreamy city, but country fans turned out in droves to watch the opener — always a great sign. The young star brought one major thing: energy. His music is already well-polished, so that added kick of enthusiasm gave him a full-package performance.
Interestingly, Josh doesn’t seem to be banking on pop music any time soon. Unlike many artists in the genre his age, he’s sticking staunchly to a true country noise, which was only emphasized by his choice to tour with Nate. Country pop has been growing among young people, begging the question: Will classic country make a comeback, too?
With artists like Josh winning over… charming over… the masses, even in unexpected markets like NYC, we might be seeing a new trend… and Josh is leading it.
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