The Blackstones

By chance we stumbled across these guys in the early stages of wedding planning. We spoke mainly with Bryce to set everything up however, every member of the band were very easy to talk to. They were professional and made sure we had the right atmosphere for our day. The acoustic duo is ideal for ceremony but when all is said and done and everyone is ready to let their hair down, these guys know how to bring it! Every guest commented just how awesome these guys sounded, it was like having our own mini concert. Would highly recommend going with these guys regardless of how big or small the performance needs to be.

We booked The Blackstones for our wedding on October 14th 2023. Originally, we had just booked the duo for ceremony & cocktail hour, but ended up securing the 4-piece band. BEST DECISION EVER.

From the initial inquiry stage Gavin was quick to respond & quite helpful. Leading up to the wedding we ran into a timing concern with the venue, Gavin was quick to set my mind at ease ensuring that everything was going to be ok and that they would work with the new timeline.

Day of they were amazing - from the ceremony to cocktail hour, to what felt like a private concert after dinner, they truly were incredible. The range of songs played captured multiple audiences; the talent of the musicians floored us. Switching from a DJ to the full band was 100% the right call.

We can not thank them enough for such an incredible evening and I look forward to working with them in a more corporate setting moving forward.

We booked them for our corporate Christmas party. They are talented, proifessional musicians who knew how to get the party going. Just a pleasure to work with and have at our event. Thank you gentlemen!

We hired The Blackstones Duo for our wedding ceremony and cocktail hour for November 4/23 at the Timber Barn in St. Jacobs and they were absolutely incredible!

It was the best and easiest decisions we made. We were searching for acoustics for our ceremony and cocktail hour and booked with them January 2022. We saw them perform in Niagara that summer at Bench Brewing and were even more excited for them to be at our wedding. They were so easy to deal with and they put on an amazing show!! There were so many songs to choose from (both country and rock) and they even learned a new song for our ceremony weeks before. We had great compliments from every single guest on their performance and how talented they are. If you’re thinking about hiring a live band for your big day (or any event), hire The Blackstones! We cant wait to come back to Niagara to watch them perform again

Bryce and Gavin from the Blackstones did an exceptional job getting everyone up and dancing at our wedding reception. The duo + fiddle combo played hits all night and engaged with our guests to ensure it was a great experience. Both the host venue and guests mentioned that it was some of the best live wedding music they had ever heard. These guys are personable and professional, and I can’t recommend them highly enough.

We had Gavin and Bryce play as the acoustic duo at our Catholic wedding ceremony and our cocktail hour/during dinner at our reception. They knocked it out of the ballpark! We got so many compliments from our guests about the music and how it was such a nice add to the wedding. They worked flawlessly with the music director at the church (who played the organ for part of the mass, alternating with Gavin and Bryce) and with our DJ who played for entrances and our dance floor portion. They completely customized their set based on our preference and even learned a few new songs for us to make our first dances extra special. Overall, they were responsive and super easy to work with. They were our favorite part of our wedding! Can’t wait to see them again at their future public performances!

We had The Blackstones duo for our wedding at Honsberger Estates and they were amazing! They were so easy to deal with leading up to the day and always available to answer any questions we had! They played at the ceremony, cocktail hour and for the reception. We had 60 people at our wedding and just the duo was enough to get everyone up dancing! We had so much fun with them and can’t thank them enough for making our day perfect.

Awesome band!! Saw them at the Niagara wine festival and they were amazing!!! Such a talented and professional band. They were singing all the hits and has everyone dancing. Can’t wait to see them again!

The Blackstones are an absolutely fantastic Band to hire if you’re looking for people that can really create a great, friendly atmosphere! Would highly recommend to anyone!

Caught this awesome band at the Niagara Grape and Wine festival. Fantastic! Always looking to see where they are playing.

We were very fortunate to have Bryce Moore perform at a memorial service for my mother and stepfather. He even took the time to learn a few new pieces to accommodate our musical requests for the ceremony. Professional, friendly, and a wonderful musician and singer. Thank you Bryce!

We can’t say enough about The Blackstones. They just played for our daughter’s wedding and we had everyone on the dance floor all night. Song choices were great and they created such a positive energy. I would highly recommend them for any event.

Bryce reads the room well. The music is tailored to make people happy and is completely appropriate for whatever age group is in the room.

We were fortunate to have Bryce Moore provide music at my father’s funeral/ celebration of life. Throughout the organizing to the end of the event, Bryce was exceptional. He offered suggestions and also took the time to learn new music on a very short time frame. I would highly recommend him. Very pleasant experience.

The Blackstones helped make our event a success. They were easy to work with and performed well. They are talented musicians and I would definitely recommend.

We had Bryce from the Blackstones play at our ceremony and cocktail hour and he did a fantastic job! Great communication from the start, amazing set-list, and he was able to prepare a couple songs not on the set list that we wanted during the ceremony - and did so beautifully. We received many compliments on the music! I would definitely recommend him for your wedding needs :)

Planning a wedding is a lot of work with so many decisions and The Blackstones were certainly one of our easiest choices we made during the planning process! They were the perfect acoustic duo for our ceremony and cocktail hour to really set that causal outdoor summer vibes. They had a great list of song choices to choose from it was really hard to narrow it down! Great voices too!! Easy to work with and they accommodated our special song requests! 10/10 recommend!

The Blackstones played our wedding in the summer of 2022. They were super easy to work with prior to the event, accomodating of the small space that we had set aside for them, and extremely talented musicians who had so much fun with all of our music loving guests.
I would highly recommend them for any event.

My husband and I knew that we could not have our special day without live music and Gavin, Bryce and the rest of the band truly superseded our expectations. They played during the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and reception....and truly it was not enough! They really brought the energy to match our foot stompin', partying friends & family who could not stop raving about how great they sounded! The ease in commination/planning only added to this unforgettable experience and we are looking forward to any excuse to work with them in the future!

My husband and I hired the Blackstone's for our wedding this past November and they were amazing. The guests couldn't stop raving about the band! Gavin was so easy to work with, making sure that everything was just to our liking. He even went out of his way to learn a song specifically for our first dance. He performed solo for our cocktail hour and through dinner and then his full band came on later on in the evening. Their sound and energy were amazing, such a fun group of guys! Between their range of music selection and their lighting set up you won't be disappointed. We would hire them again in a heartbeat!!

It was a short notice when i reached out to Gavin as my previous hire was sick and got a reply right away. They showed up early to set up everything and did a great job. Took requests from guests and made people feel special. Overall it was a great experience and I’d recommend the band to everyone!

We booked the blackstones based on their promo video and their reviews on this site and neither disappointed. They were so great to work with and the performance the day of was amazing. Worth every penny. Thank you !!

I booked The Blackstones guitar duo for a year-end celebration dinner for our Senior Exec Team and spouses at a winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake. They were a pleasure to deal with from start to finish. I originally booked them to play during the cocktail portion of the evening, but our group was enjoying their music so much that I asked them to stay for the whole evening. Luckily, they were able to accommodate. They have a great sound and are very professional - they know what style of music to play for the audience they have. Don't hesitate to book them!

As a wedding venue owner we try and recommend musicians that can please a wide variety of tastes. The musical preferences of a couple’s guest list isn’t going to be as streamlined as like minded people going to a concert, so variety is key. When I first asked The Blackstones what type of music they played they said, “everything” and then listed off what each of their band members specialized in (classic rock, pop, country, etc.).

I also love that they do a two piece band for events like ceremonies and cocktail hours. It gives guests the opportunity to go on a developing musical journey with the band throughout the event. Things start off calm and tranquil for ceremonies, then they get a vibe going during cocktail hour and lastly they get people hyped up on the dance floor during the reception.

We had Bryce and Gavin entertain us at the Pillar & Post on July 11, and could not have been more pleased. In fact, our group wanted them to play past the contracted time. They set up in the Rose Garden for our cocktail reception, and were very happy to accommodate a move to the private dining room for dinner.
Bryce was a pleasure to work with leading up to our event as well. He was very responsive and also helpful in creating a playlist with a great mixture of music for all to enjoy. We will definitely reach out to Bryce for future events, especially since he and Gavin travel outside the Niagara region.

I have worked with The Blackstones for other events before and they were amazing which is why I decided to hire them for my wedding in September. They did not disappoint! We have became huge fans of theirs. They sound great, their set up is amazing (lights/sound), and they are such a fun group! We communicated a lot with Bryce who was always very professional and prompt in his respondes. He made the process very easy by sending us an entire list of their songs (which was alot!) and we essentially narrowed it down with the ones we wanted them to play (which was difficult as there were so many amazing songs on their list). We had so many of our guests compliment the band and how good they were! We would 100% recommend them for any event (whether thats a corporate event, wedding, etc). They were awesome and I am hoping to use them again in the future!

Can't say enough good things about the Blackstones. Really enjoyed their playlist. Played to the crowd (company event). Great vocal harmonies. Thanks guys!

We had the Blackstones join us for our backyard wedding in September 2022. They were an awesome addition to our event and our guests LOVED their music! Bryce and Gavin were easy to coordinate with before the wedding, showed up on time and looked/sounded the part so perfectly! They played the best music selections for our cocktail hour, ceremony, dinner, special dances and for our guests all night. They even took the time to learn a few special requests for us. We can’t recommend them enough! Awesome job, Blackstones!

Golden Nugget hired them for our country jamboree and they were a huge hit with the customers. We would definitely hire them again. This band does not disappoint.

Derrick and I would like to give a MASSIVE Thank you to The Blackstones for an amazing performance at our annual Labour Day party!! From country, to GNR and even Sublime, they brought the energy and the wide range of music that had everyone up dancing all night. They are such a friendly, fun bunch of guys! Thanks again, you really did make the night.

Bryce and Dan preformed at our laid back, backyard engagement BBQ. Bryce was a pleasure to work with! He responded quickly, was very open to music requests and was adaptable to the environment that he was working in. Both Bryce and Dan were the perfect fit for our event and all of our guests wondered where we found these ‘gems’. We will most defiantly be using The Blackstones in the future!

Gavin and Bryce helped to make our day perfect ... they took the time to learn a song that was important to us for our ceremony and they kept everyone entertained and engaged throughout the evening. They were easy to work with for planning as well. Looking forward to continuing to see you guys play throughout Niagara. Thanks so much for helping us create such special memories.

Great band, very friendly, guests loved them. Created a wonderful mingling atmosphere.

Gavin and the Blackstone's were absolutely fantastic for our prelude and cocktail hour! We could not have asked for anything more as everyone at our wedding had nothing but amazing things to say! We would recommend you guys to anyone!

We hired Gavin and Bryce for our corporate summer event.

From the onset of my communication with Bryce, he was polite, professional and asked all the important questions to ensure he and Gavin were able to meet our needs.

I was looking for a duo that was able to play recognizable songs from different genres to a group with varying tastes in music and they did just that. From the classics to contemporary hits, Gavin and Bryce performed something for everyone to enjoy. They are incredibly talented and very genuine people. We were pleased to have them be a part of our event!

In addition, their professional promo video was a great touch for anyone who appreciates getting a feel for a musicians style, talent and abilities before hiring.

Overall - a great experience throughout the entire process + stellar vocals and musical talent!

Thank you Bryce and Gavin!

Gavin and The Blackstones are a must have at your next event. From the moment we started planning our wedding and talking with Gavin we knew this was going to be the talk of the wedding. Gavin was easy to get in touch with and very relaxed with great input on ways to ensure the day went smooth for us as well as making sure the band was able to elevate the experience as well.

Let me me tell you they do not disappoint. From my father in law having their promo video on every household TV when friends and family were over weeks leading up to listening to them all through out the night. They Blew the roof of the place and keep the party rolling song after song.

The band them self are the most respectful, polite, easy to get along with group of guys. So if you need them for an event whether its acoustic duo or you want the band to rock you into the night or like us went for the whole package from wedding ceremony, dinner, first dance, reception (full package highly suggested) you will be amazed by the talent this band brings. So if I was you look no further and send Gavin a message and get them booked into your next event as they book up quickly and take your event to the next level.

Look forward to working with Gavin and The Blackstone's again even if we have to get them to drive all the way back down to Kingston Ontario. It was well worth it

Thanks again for the amazing time you made our wedding even more amazing with your performance and entertainment.

The Blackstone's provided all the music for the whole day for our June wedding and they were more amazing than we could have imagined. They were soft and elegant for guest arrival and the ceremony, fun and engaging for cocktails, and energetic and fun for dinner and dancing! I would hire them again in a heartbeat and would recommend them to anyone looking for some amazingly talented and fun band for their wedding or event.

Every bit of the experience working with the band was exceptional. They were super professional and easy to work with, and wildly talented. I ended up getting hurt during dinner (I’m a klutz!) and they adapted to changing the schedule and music line up with a breeze. We booked them for the whole wedding day and have no regrets, it was worth every penny and can’t wait to hear them live again.

Bryce Moore together with the other members of The Blackstones made the entire process seamless. From planning to implementation we can't think of anything that could have been done differently/better. They provided suggestions regarding the music selections for pre-ceremony, ceremony, dinner and dancing. We identified what we liked from their list and shared our suggestions, which they integrated and in some cases learned. Whenever we had a question we received prompt responses. They were beyond patient and flexible in generating a final play list for each segment of our wedding. They met in advance with the Event Coordinator at our venue to discuss process, arrived early to set up, and had everyone of all ages dancing. Bryce Moore & Gavin Ray played during the pre-ceremony, ceremony and dinner. They were wonderful. The entire band (two additional members) joined for the dancing. We were outdoors at a vineyard which presents certain challenges but they more than rose to the occasion. These men are extremely talented musicians; we still have guests complimenting them as well as asking for the wedding play list. We cannot thank them or praise them enough for what they gave us on our Wedding Day!

We had Bryce & Gavin play for my husband's 50th Birthday Party at a local winery and they were amazing. Great music, very chill vibe and were super great to deal with. Will definitely use them again! Thanks again guys for an awesome evening!!

I’ve had the privilege of seeing Bryce perform many times, both solo and with his band and/or other musicians. Not only is he talented but he’s engaging and has the ability to perform based on the crowd’s response. I’ve seen him cover everything from country (my personal fav) to classic rock to fun little ditties that engage younger children. He’s one of the best local artists around and I encourage everyone to catch one (or more) of his performances!

We have been booking Bryce for corporate events for two plus years now. He is a favourite of our staff and customers, of all ages!

Bryce covers a range of genres and always brings down the house. If you are looking for some to play an event, book him NOW!

I hired Bryce to play at our staff Christmas event as he was highly recommended by a few of my colleagues. He did not disappoint! Bryce is a very professional, kind and talented musician. Everyone enjoyed listening to him sing and play the guitar. We will definitely reach out to him again for future events!

My husband and I had Bryce and his band for our wedding. They were amazing for everything! We couldn't have asked for a better group to play for us on our special night. Bryce played for our ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and after glow and it was perfect! Everyone of our guest keep raving about it saying it was so unique to have a live band play for our wedding it was like a concert!

We have seen Bryce perform many times. He is a great musician who engages the crowd, interacts with his audience and makes the event fun. We have seen him play solo and with his bands and it's always a great night out. He is very talented and plays many genres of music. Definitely recommend him for your event.

Bryce made our special day even more memorable, a very talented musician. He played exactly what we asked of him including our first dance and it was perfect. We highly recommended him for your future events. He will not disappoint. Also if he does not know a song he will gladly learn it for you, and another plus he is in a country band if country music is what you like.

We hired Bryce for our wedding in 2014. We weren't sure at first a about hiring a singer but once we heard Bryce perform there was no doubt. His voice and personality was so warm and welcoming that it was a pleasure working with him.

We had a fairy tale themed wedding at the Alton Mill Art Centre which was a considerable drive for Bryce as he was located in Niagara, he was so accommodating, and we were so appreciative of all his efforts.

Looking back now 7 years from the day we got married one of the most prominent memories from the day was Bryce's performance and they way he interacted with our guests. He is versatile with a vast music knowledge and his voice speaks for itself.

To anyone looking to Hire a Singer just meet Bryce and you will know.

Thanks again for the wonderful job you did for us, we will never forget it.

Not only is Bryce extremely talented, he is also extremely personable. It was so great to have him for a 30th birthday party. He even took requests, it was great! I would definitely have Bryce come to an event again.

Bryce and the band could not have been better! The music they played was perfect and right in line with what my Husband and I wanted for our wedding.
You could genuinely tell the band was having a great night as well.
Countless guests told us "this band is amazing!"
Bryce sang acoustic for our ceremony and it was perfection.
Thanks so much guys, we can't wait to see you play again!

Our small winter wedding at the Inn on the Twenty and Cave Springs Cellars was made so much more perfect by the excellent musical accompaniment for the procession and pre dinner festivities. Bryce is a superbly talented individual and consummate professional. We would strongly encourage any couple to meet with Bryce and see for yourself the vast book of songs available, and absolute care for the small details to help make your occasion as perfect as possible. Truly a pleasure to deal with from beginning to end.

Bryce was attentive to our requests and did not disappoint! He was professional and punctual.
He performed at our friends wedding a couple of years after ours.

Bryce played acoustic guitar and sang for our wedding ceremony and cocktail hour in September 2020. He's a super nice guy and was easy to work with. He was very flexible which took a lot of stress off us planning a wedding during a pandemic. His musical skills are unbelievable. He even went as far as playing some kid songs that our infant/toddler niece and nephew loved. It was a pleasure working with Bryce.

We hired Bryce to play at our wedding ceremony and our reception.
Bryce was an absolute treat leading up to our wedding. He accommodated every song request we had and even taught himself a specific cover that I requested.
His rates are very reasonable and he is a very talented young man. I would reccomend him to anyone looking for a guitarist with a great voice! He has a very friendly personality that made it very easy to have him apart of our wedding.

My wife and I saw Bryce play last year at the Hilton Fallsview, and not only could he play any song we requested but he took the time to chat with us. I'd highly recommend Bryce to anyone who likes good music.

My fiancé (at the time) and I had come across Bryce playing at a local establishment for a friend’s birthday. We were blown away with his performance. We knew in that moment we wanted him to be a part of our special day (our upcoming wedding). During our correspondence prior to the wedding, Bryce was amazing to work with. He was easy to reach, flexible and very accommodating. He took the time to learn two very special songs for the event and we were so pleased when we heard them. He performed during our cocktail hour and afterwards we had so many guests come up to us and compliment his performance. If you’re looking for some great entertainment to add your event, BRYCE IS YOUR GUY!!!! Thanks again for being a part of our wedding and making it that much more special for us and our guests! :)

The Miseners

Our agency had the pleasure of having Bryce provide musical entertainment for our Christmas Banquets over the last two years. Bryce was able to appeal to a wide age group by providing a wide genre of music and styles. He has an absolutely beautiful voice and his guitar talents were superior. On stage he projects a warm and engaging personality, with a sense of humour. Bottom line, he provided a great show that appealed to the whole crowd who at the end were begging him for a few more songs (which he did provide.) I wold recommend Bryce for any event that you may be having . He is in tune with the crowd and knows how to please plus he instinctively knows when to lay back (during dinner), and when to 'crank it up'. He provides a great time for all and engages the audience. It is rare to find a musician of his calibre that can appeal to so many different tastes. You will not go wrong by booking him for your party or event.

Stan D.

The decision to book Bryce for our wedding actually occurred long before there was talk of marriage when my then girlfriend and I saw him playing a patio gig in Niagara Falls. Booking Bryce was 100% the right decision. He learned the songs we wanted for our first dance and my wife's dance with her Father. He kept our guest thoroughly entertained and dancing. We received so much praise for booking Bryce and fielded so many questions about how we found him, it was tremendous. Beyond being a great singing guitarist, he is a true professional. As stated he made our best day even better. We couldn't have been happier.

Bryce has played for us on a number of occasions including back yard BBQ's for people of all ages and a couple of Teenage girl Birthday parties. He never disappoints. He aims to please all and does a very good job of it. It isn't always easy to impress teenage girls, but they all loved him! He is able to perform a wide variety of genres and he is a great entertainer. Thanks Bryce for never letting us down!

Bryce played at our wedding in September and was awesome!

We hadn't actually met in person til the big day but all went perfectly. We emailed prior to the event and discussed which songs, start times etc and all responses were timely.

Bryce played the ukulele during the ceremony which sounded wonderful for our outdoor ceremony and was even better than I expected. I had some specific songs in mind and he learned them for the wedding.

We had requested he change to guitar for cocktail hour and played songs from our list as well as others that fit the vibe. Many of my guests commented on how good he was.

All in all, I highly recommend Bryce for your next event!

We hired Bryce to play at our wedding on September 18, 2015. He was amazing to work with leading up to our wedding and on our wedding day our guests loved having Bryce play during our ceremony. The only thing I would have changed would have been booking Bryce for our reception as well. Thanks again Bryce!

Bryce recently provided the entertainment for the cocktail hour for a family wedding. The bride and groom sent him several song requests and he did not disappoint. Everyone enjoyed his easy musical style and he was a compliment to a lovely evening.

I found Bryce through the internet to play at my daughter's wedding service this past weekend. It was a country themed wedding so he played country songs accompanied with his guitar. He also played Canon in D, to my surprise, which my daughter requested for the procession. Bryce did a wonderful job and the guests loved him! He was very accommodating and was definitely the right choice. Thank you Bryce

Bryce played at our Quest Community Health Centre annual BBQ this past June. He has done so for the last five years. Everyone to a person (and there were over 625) clearly enjoyed Bryce's musical skills on the guitar, his great voice, and his truly engaging personality and style. His positive energy was present throughout the afternoon as he spoke with the crowd and responded to requests for a wide variety of songs, and as those who attended swayed, clapped, sang, and even danced to his music. The quote "music, the greatest communication tool in the world" certainly comes into play here. The Quest CHC BBQ has become a special community event for many reasons, one of those is definitely Bryce Moore.

I contacted Bryce about a month before the day I wanted to ask my long time girlfriend "the question." Right off the bat, I could tell that Bryce has a passion for what he does. I explained the plan and he also offered some more suggestions to make it even more special. On that day, he gave us a beautiful serenade of "Marry me" by Train while I gave my little speech then later dropping to one knee. She said "yes" and now we have a beautiful memory. Guys, I highly recommend calling Bryce if you are thinking about popping the question!

Bryce Moore was more than just a component of our event. His music resonated with our entire party. It was a mix and mingle atmosphere and the music was the perfect accompaniment. Bryce tailored the type of music and volume to the crowd so that it was not intrusive..but was very complimentary. I already have plans to book him again. Thanks BRYCE!!!

I work at Community Living in a group home setting. Bryce performed for a very small group and was 100% professional. He even encouraged the residents at the group home to participate in playing instruments and sing alongside him. His professionalism and adaptability, not to mention his extensive knowledge was uncanny . a great time was had by all.

We hired Bryce for our wedding ceremony and cocktail hour. Talking to Bryce and planning what music we wanted on our special day was very easy. It was like talking to a friend that we had known for a long time. He is also very adaptable and learned some songs for our ceremony. He played them flawlessly and was the perfect touch to our wedding. All of our guests loved him and loved how outgoing he was. Bryce is an amazing guitarist and vocalist and would make any occasion extraordinary. The best part is that you can see him play at bars and restaurants around the area, so definitely go see him play, you will not regret it! Thank you again Bryce for making our day!

Hired Bryce for a surprise marriage proposal at the butterfly conservatory in Niagara Falls in September of 2014 and was not dissappointed. He was amazing to work with during the intense planning stage. He was super flexible, studies the three songs I wanted him to play, made me feel totally at ease during this stressful time. He was there on time, dressed sharp, and ready to amaze. He play three songs flawlessly! She loved it and we will be including him at our wedding in the summer! Beautiful voice and an amazing musical talent on the acoustic guitar! There are moments in life we won't forget, Bryce made our proposal just that.... Unforgettable!!!! I am always ready to provide a reference for this rising star.

Samir and Reva from Ottawa

Bryce played an assortment of acoustic tunes for our beach wedding ceremony this past summer and it was exactly what we were looking for. He's the nicest guy and the whole booking process went very smoothly. Bryce has a list of songs/artists for you to choose from and I'm sure is very capable of learning anything else you might be interested in. Our guests also thought he was great and had fun chatting with him during cocktail hour. If you're in the Niagara region and looking for a talented guitarist/vocalist, I would highly recommend you contact Bryce for parties or weddings! He also plays at a variety of bars and clubs in the area, which helped out as we were able to go and hear him and meet him before finalizing things.

We visited Niagara Falls for 4 days in early June 2014. On our way to Clifton Hill from some touristy thing, we found a hidden public garden with beautiful, serene paths through a lush atmosphere of luxuriant greenery and shadow-dappled ponds.
While enjoying the ambiance of this setting, we heard the distinct sounds of live music from somewhere nearby. And off we went...
It was a Hard Rock Cafe, just behind a fence, out of the garden, and across a busy street.
There, on a Wednesday afternoon around 4 or so, we found a lively, enthusiastic and highly talented solo musician playing to a crowd of patio drinkers and tourists.
Clifton Street, (or Clifton Hill, who knows?) lost its allure as this guy charmed the birds out of the trees and the beers out of the taps with his very broad repertoire of contemporary tunes, and tunes that were contemporary 20 or more years before he was born. What an awesome discovery!
Bryce Moore, as it turns out, is a guitarist first, and a musician extraordinaire right along the way!
His mastery of the fretboard kept the crowd engrossed and happy. The wide range of requests he met, suggested that he has been studying music since several years before he was born.
Van Morrison would have been delighted to hear Bryce Moore's rendition of his tunes. The Dead? Yup. He was right there. Jimmy Paige? Mhmm. This guy knows, and lives, his music.
You would be hard pressed to find a more capable and appealing musician anywhere on the circuit. And he comes from somewhere close to Niagara Falls. Lucky locals.
He should be out promoting albums and touring, just so the rest of the country can enjoy the warm and personable nature of his performance. I've never met him, or heard of him before, but if I were planning a return trip, I'd make sure he was scheduled to play somewhere in town while I was there.
Clifton Street lost some tourist dollars that Wednesday afternoon, but the Hard Rock scooped them up, and my squeeze and I topped off a visit to the Falls that could have been equalled only by going right over the Falls in a shopping bag.
It was that engrossing and satisfying to have discovered by accident, a Bryce Moore afternoon on the very patio of complete musical satisfaction.
This guy is a major part of what makes Niagara memorable, and re-visitable, well after you've seen the falls.