Roughly halfway through their “I Can See the Future” tour, which showcases their recent album of the same name, Leith Ross made a stop in Nashville, Tennessee, at The Mil at Cannery Hall to deliver a memorable, sentimental performance. In front of a decorated and fabulously dressed crowd, Ross explored themes of reflection, grief and nostalgia across various genres.
The Canadian singer-songwriter first gained widespread attention in August 2021 when a clip of their song “We’ll Never Have Sex” went viral on TikTok, attracting comments from FINNEAS, Ricky Montgomery, dodie and others. The track was officially released in March 2022 and has since drawn over 180 million streams on Spotify. That same year, they received the inaugural John Prine Songwriter Fellowship, an award honoring the late singer-songwriter, who had several ties to Nashville (and happened to be my first-ever concert).
Their sound is described as indie folk, a style that perfectly blends the music of my childhood with the songs currently filling my headphones. While they also experiment with jazz and pop elements, Ross stays true to their roots, keeping folksy stringed instruments prominent throughout their pieces.
The show started with a similar genre as Annika Bennett opened the set with nothing but a guitar in her hand and a couple of handcrafted beats. Bennett primarily played songs from her upcoming album, “Triple Shooting Star,” which releases on Nov. 14. She previously lived in Nashville, and many of the songs she performed were written during her time in the city, including the album’s opening track, “Big House on a Mountain.”
After a great performance from Bennett, Leith Ross took the stage accompanied by their band. They opened with the gentle, heartfelt love song “Point of View,” which left the crowd swaying to the beat and holding their loved ones close. Each song was immediately followed by Ross giggling and excitedly thanking the crowd. The pauses between songs, along with the intimacy of the room, allowed for many special interactions with fans. After the conclusion of “Treasure,” one fan exclaimed to the crowd that it was their favorite tune.
The first half of the show consisted mostly of songs from the new album, with the back half featuring older, beloved favorites. Around halfway through the set, Ross brought out their friend Ella Korth, a talented guitarist and singer-songwriter based in Nashville. Together, they performed their variation of the old Irish folk song “Bold Riley.”
The most memorable performance had to be “I’d Have to Think About It,” a single released in 2021. The crowd joined in louder than they had for any song up to that point, and Ross even mentioned that it might have been the loudest they had heard it sung on the tour.
From there, the energy shifted as Ross got vulnerable during “Grieving,” a song dedicated to their late grandfather. He was a Scottish musician who played several stringed instruments, and the song was inspired by the kinds of tunes he used to play before he passed. Ross began the song solo with a stripped-down acoustic version before the rest of the band joined in.
Toward the end of the set, Ross explained that in each city they support a local organization, directing a share of their merchandise sales toward it. The initiative is inspired by the theme of their album “I Can See the Future,” reflecting their efforts to support our shared future. Nashville’s organization was Nashville Launch Pad, which provides shelter to young adults in the area to promote “street-free sleep.” Ross then played the title track, “(I Can See) The Future.”
Ross “closed” the set with the fan — and personal — favorite “(You) On My Arm,” which had the crowd dancing and singing along, chanting “I don’t wanna wake up” during the verse. Ross then scurried off the stage for an “encore,” stepping away for only a moment before returning alone. They told the audience to prepare for one minute and 40 seconds of exactly what you think will happen,alluding to the beloved “We’ll Never Have Sex.” As soon as the guitar riff began, the audience gasped, instantly captivated by the performance.
Leith Ross shared several intimate moments with the audience, taking us through a rollercoaster of emotions as they told the stories of their life. Their impact was profound, leaving fans with an experience they won’t forget.
