Texas country music artist Charley Crockett has called off his Canadian tour, which included a Saskatoon stop, as he was refused entry into the country over a prior drug conviction. Originally, he was set to perform at Saskatoon’s TCU Place before continuing to Winnipeg, Windsor, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Niagara Falls, and Calgary. In a message on his Instagram account, the 41-year-old singer-songwriter acknowledged his troubled past haunting him.
The denial of entry stemmed from Crockett’s 2016 felony conviction in Virginia for marijuana possession and trafficking. Despite attempting entry through Vancouver and Kelowna, British Columbia, he and his band were turned away under section 44(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Act due to the previous conviction.
Crockett expressed regret to his fans, recalling his previous successful Canadian tours, including Toronto and Saskatchewan appearances in recent years. Saskatoon-based musician Jake Vaadeland, who was slated to open for Crockett at various tour stops, also expressed disappointment over the missed opportunity.
Known for his country-folk style and a discography of 15 albums since 2015, Crockett’s upcoming release, “Age Of The Ram,” part of his Sagebrush Trilogy following the 2025 album “Dollar a Day,” is scheduled for April 3. His ongoing 2026 North American tour, which commenced in Seattle, will resume in Pennsylvania on March 7.
Regarding the local impact, Kirby Wirchenko, TCU Place’s director of theatre and programming, highlighted the repercussions on the local arts, culture, and economy due to the tour cancellation. Despite TCU Place acting as a rental venue for Live Nation, Wirchenko emphasized the wider community impact, affecting artists, local staff, and fans. Refunds are being processed for ticket holders, with Wirchenko lamenting the missed opportunity for an “Americana roots week” featuring Crockett, Matt Anderson, and William Prince at TCU Place.
