Texas country music artist Charley Crockett has called off his tour in Canada, including a planned show in Saskatoon, after being refused entry into the country over a previous drug conviction. The 41-year-old singer-songwriter expressed his disappointment on social media, acknowledging the repercussions of his past actions.
Crockett, who was slated to perform in various Canadian cities before returning to the U.S., disclosed that he and his band were denied entry in Vancouver and Kelowna, British Columbia, under section 44(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Act due to a 2016 conviction for marijuana-related offenses in Virginia.
The artist, known for his country-folk music and numerous album releases, including the upcoming “Age Of The Ram” from his Sagebrush Trilogy, had previously toured Canada in 2024 and had a successful performance in Toronto last summer. However, this time, the cancellation of his Canadian tour disappointed fans and impacted local artists like Jake Vaadeland, who was set to open for Crockett at multiple tour stops.
Jake Vaadeland, along with his band, expressed regret for missing the opportunity to perform and hoped for future chances to connect with their audience. The cancellation also had broader implications on the local arts and culture scene, affecting TCU Place’s theatre director Kirby Wirchenko, who highlighted the economic and emotional toll of such disruptions on artists, staff, and fans.
Despite the setback, Crockett’s North American tour continues, with the artist resuming performances in Pennsylvania following the tour cancellation in Canada. The local impact of the cancellation at TCU Place led to refunds being issued to disappointed ticket holders.
