I didn’t know Mark Ambor, and it was with eager ears that I was led to discover him on the Rivière stage: he wasn’t on my schedule for the day, as I’m not particularly well versed in country-folk music. And yet, something in his catchy melodies, as well as in the vulnerability of his voice, immediately captivated me.
It happened right from the first chords of “Good To Be,” a masterful start to a short set of around ten songs. The good vibes continued with “I Hope It All Works Out,” which went very well with the sunshine, then with “Curls In The Wind,” which was somewhat reminiscent of Justin Timberlake’s early days. On “Hair Toss, Arms Crossed,” hands inevitably began tapping out the beat, and it wasn’t long before legs followed suit.
“Sky is the Limit” calmed the crowd for a moment, then “Don’t You Worry” got them going again. “Someone That’s Better” came like a ton of glowing bricks to pave the way for the catchy “Who Knows,” one of his best-known songs, for which all hands were raised in the air. They stayed there for a while because, right after that, came “Our Way.” Mark Ambor ended his visit to the metropolis with his hit “Belong Together,” played to perfection.
A remarkable and luminous performance by the Armenian-American in Montreal, who we hope will return soon!
