Kathleen Edwards, September 19, 2025, The Warehouse at FTC, Fairfield, Connecticut
A Night of First Impressions and Lasting Impact
Walking into Fairfield Theatre Company’s Warehouse on a cool September evening, I carried with me curiosity. Despite her long career and critical acclaim, I had somehow never listened to Kathleen Edwards. By the time she and her band wrapped up with a moving tribute to Tom Petty, I realized I had been missing out on one of Canada’s most compelling singer/songwriters.
The show began promptly at 8 p.m., with no opener, a rarity in today’s concert scene. Edwards walked out, guitar slung casually over her shoulder. There was no easing in or warming up the crowd, instead, the band went straight into “Glenfern.” Immediately Edwards set the tone with confidence and a setlist that spanned her entire catalog. For someone like me, brand new to her music, it was the perfect primer to her storytelling, wit, and her ability to balance vulnerability with humor. Over the course of the evening, Edwards played selections from each of her albums. Highlights included “IOne More Song The Radio Won’t Like,” “Options Open,” and “Six O’Clock News.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be September in Connecticut without a little hockey talk, and Edwards leaned right into it. She asked the crowd which team reigned supreme in this corner of New England, a question that naturally sparked a mix of Bruins, Rangers, and even Islanders loyalties. After a bit back and forth Edwards recounted how an ex had taken her skates and, with them, a piece of her, then flowed into “Hockey Skates.” Hockey was a lighthearted thread that ran through the show, culminating in “Little Red Rangers,” a song she dedicated to her drummer, the self-professed biggest Toronto Maple Leafs fan. With a mischievous grin, she quipped that the tune should really be called The Maple Leafs Still Stink, a line that drew laughs from the audience.
The band behind her was tight, effortlessly shifting between tender ballads and more rollicking numbers. The band gave each member room to stand out, but never at the song’s expense. Gord Tough drove it home on guitar, mixing subtlety with raw power.
The Warehouse’s acoustics only amplified their chemistry, the sound was clean, filling the room without overwhelming it.
Edwards encored with Tom Petty’s “Crawling Back to You.” Before launching into it, she dedicated the song to Petty’s sister, Janie Mae Petty, who she claimed lives in the area, thanking her for “sharing her brother with the world.” It was a touching moment, as Edwards spoke about Petty’s profound influence on her own music and the quiet sacrifices families make in sharing their loved ones with the world.
By the end of the night, I felt deep admiration. Kathleen Edwards is the kind of artist who can win over a first-timer, weaving together equal parts humor, heartbreak, and humanity. At Fairfield Theatre Company’s Warehouse, she performed songs, shared stories, jokes, and pieces of herself, creating the kind of experience that lingers long after the performance’s encore.
Kathleen Edwards will be touring throughout the end of the year.
https://www.kathleenedwards.com/
Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Kathleen Edwards “Billionaire”