Country music fans at Country Thunder in Winnipeg are in for a local surprise — Niverville singer-songwriter Catie St. Germain is joining the weekend lineup after a whirlwind 48 hours that even she still can’t believe.
St. Germain will hit the stage alongside long-time friends and collaborators, the country-rock group Petric, after headliner Nate Smith pulled out due to vocal issues. Petric was added to the bill to help fill the gap, and they brought St. Germain with them.
“I can't even believe it,” she said, still buzzing from the call she got from her manager, Jason Petric, who’s also a member of the band. “He said, ‘I know you're not feeling great, but can you sing two songs on Thursday?’ I was like, ‘What are the details?’ And he said, ‘It's a big country show.’ Then it hit me — I was like, did you guys get on the bill for Country Thunder?”
The answer was yes — and St. Germain is joining them on stage to perform a few tracks, including one of her own.
From the audience to the spotlight
Just like many fans, St. Germain already had plans to see the show. “My girlfriends and I had tickets to go,” she said. “I got to text them and say, ‘By the way, girls, I’m gonna be on the stage.’ They were like, ‘you’re kidding!’”
Despite the sudden schedule change and a sore throat earlier in the week, she’s ready to step up and make the most of the opportunity. “We were all bummed about Nate Smith, and then it just became this bittersweet moment,” she said. “We're going to try to make the most of it and give everyone a good show.”
When asked about the biggest challenge of a last-minute booking, St. Germain laughed: “Honestly? Figuring out what to wear! I’m scrambling right now. I went and bought a tambourine and might need to play a shaker or something on stage. I also need to find an outfit. It’s going to be 33 degrees!”
Proud to represent Manitoba
St. Germain says stepping onto a major festival stage so close to home is pretty special and she is honoured to represent Manitoba talent.
She knows there may be some disappointed fans in the crowd with Nate Smith having to cancel, but St. Germain is embracing the pressure.
“We’re just trying to shake off the nerves and get excited. As long as we're having fun, I feel like the crowd will feel that. I’m just so grateful to be a part of it. This is crazy!”
Busy weekend ahead
Thursday night’s show is just the beginning of a full weekend of performances. On Saturday, St. Germain will play a free afternoon show at Grant's Old Mill on Portage Avenue in Winnipeg, followed by an evening performance at the Carman Fair.
By Sunday, she says she’ll be ready to unplug completely. “Honestly, my phone will be off. No one can get ahold of my, I’m going to just be on the couch snuggling my babies.”
Even with the last-minute scramble and excitement, St. Germain is focused on one thing: showing up and shining on stage. “I hope to make you proud,” she said. “And I’m just so thankful.”
-With files from Carly Koop.