Whitehorse, November 2017
Whitehorse is a deeply admired Canadian folk-rock duo from Hamilton, Ontario, made up of Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland. Both were well-established solo artists before forming the band in 2011, and together they carved out a rich hybrid sound that blends folk, rock, blues, and Americana. Anchored by layered vocal harmonies and inventive live looping, their music has earned critical acclaim and industry recognition, including a Juno Award for Leave No Bridge Unburned (2015) and a Polaris Music Prize shortlist in 2013. Just as importantly, Whitehorse has built a reputation for dynamic live performances that feel both intimate and powerful.
Live, Whitehorse is far more than a typical guitar-and-vocals duo. They move fluidly between instruments, including guitars, bass, keyboards, and percussion, using looping techniques to construct a surprisingly full sound in real time. Fans and critics alike regularly praise their ability to shift the energy onstage, moving from subtle, quiet storytelling to full-bodied, rhythmic rock with effortless precision. The emotional honesty of their songs, which often explore love, identity, societal tension, and personal narratives, resonates deeply in both concert halls and festival settings.
In November 2017, Whitehorse was touring in support of their fourth studio album, Panther in the Dollhouse, released earlier that summer. They performed at Centre In The Square in Kitchener, Ontario, on November 18, 2017, with Begonia opening the show. The appearance was part of a packed fall schedule that included stops in cities such as Ottawa and Toronto around the same period.
The Centre In The Square concert featured the venue’s unique standing-room-on-stage configuration and was sold out, drawing more than 700 people for a close, immersive performance that highlighted Whitehorse’s rare ability to command both scale and intimacy at once.
