Langenburg was alive with pride as hometown star Jess Moskaluke took the stage at the George Layh Theatre on October 16th and 17th, performing two sold-out shows that blended gratitude, nostalgia, and powerhouse vocals.
Jess’s family includes Rhonda Moskaluke and Robert Vanneste. Her father, Tim Moskaluke, passed away in 2006. She has one brother, Dylan Moskaluke.
The award-winning artist has long been celebrated as a trailblazer in Canadian country music. She was the first female country artist since Shania Twain to achieve Canadian Platinum status with her breakout hit “Cheap Wine and Cigarettes”, a song that recently marked its 10th anniversary with a reimagined release. With Canadian Gold certifications for “Take Me Home,” “Kiss Me Quiet,” “Knock Off,” and her chart-topping “Country Girls,” Moskaluke has solidified her place as one of the most successful country artists of her generation.
Her accolades include a 2017 JUNO Award, multiple CCMA Awards including three consecutive Female Artist of the Year wins, and recognition from SOCAN, WCM, and a nomination at the 2024 Women in Music Canada Honours. For Moskaluke, coming home to perform in Langenburg meant far more than just another stop on the tour.
“There’s always a lot more that goes into the hometown shows; more people to see, more people to thank, more pressure to get everything just right, more love, more care,” Moskaluke said in an interview after the concert. “It’s pretty cool to look out in the crowd and see a sea of so many familiar faces that have influenced your life in so many ways. It’s truly a unique feeling.”
A Homecoming Steeped in Heart and Local Pride
Opening for Moskaluke was Megan Kelly of Rocanville, who set the tone for the evening with an emotional performance. “I’m speechless with how thankful I am for being here on this stage,” Megan said. “I know a lot of Langenburg people and a lot of people in the area growing up around here, so I’m just so thankful for Jess Moskaluke and her team and how great and welcoming they’ve been to me.”
When Moskaluke took the stage, she immediately connected with the crowd, reminiscing about her roots and early career. “GX94’s Star Search is where a lot of you remember my career starting,” she told fans. “But things really started to take off when I began putting songs on YouTube, mostly covers at first, while I learned to write my own songs. Remembering where I came from means remembering how I got my start.”
She spoke about the dreams that fueled her journey. “When I was about 14 or 15, my ultimate goal was to have a backup singer,” she laughed. “I’m a simple girl. I just wanted a backup singer. Now, I have two, sometimes three. A big bucket list item for me was to do a tour where I’m the one selling the tickets, where I get to create the show, put everything together just how I want it. This is now my third headline tour, and it’s so cool to be able to do this.”
When asked how her hometown roots influenced her in the country music industry, Moskaluke responded, “It should come as no surprise that my songwriting is one of the bigger things that’s been influenced by my hometown roots as demonstrated in such songs such as “Mapdot” and “Life for Me” to name a few. But I think the country music industry is one giant small town in itself, so being prepared for that dynamic right from the get-go has probably helped in more ways than one!”
Music With Meaning
Moskaluke’s performance featured a mix of chart-toppers and surprises, including a cover song that fans voted on during the concert, Heart’s “Alone”. This song was a nod to her competition days from her youth. The concert also included a special tour-exclusive CD featuring six unreleased songs available only to attendees, along with limited-edition Langenburg-themed shirts.
She took time to reflect on her relationship with fans, acknowledging the challenges of the music industry and the messages she’s received. “I’ve gotten so many messages from people saying, ‘Hey, that song really got me through a difficult time.’ If you need a sign that things can and do get better, consider this night, this whole night, your song.”
Giving Back and Lifting Others
Beyond the spotlight, Moskaluke has built a reputation for giving back. She supports MS Canada in honour of her late father, Tim Moskaluke, and founded the Jess Moskaluke Youth Award with the Saskatchewan Country Music Association to encourage emerging talent. She’s also mentoring up-and-coming Canadian artists, using her experience to open doors for others.
“I know that you’re supporting me because I’m your hometown girl and that means so much to me,” she said from the stage. “But I also think it’s so important for us to support all the arts locally in general. We can make real jobs out of this, but only when people show up. That’s how you make a difference in an artist’s life.”
A Message of Gratitude
In a heartfelt note shared after the shows, Moskaluke thanked her community:
From the bottom of my heart — thank you, Langenburg.
I can’t even put into words how special it was to bring the Life For Me Tour home. Thank you to Rob and Patti and the whole LAC team for working so hard to bring this show home. Thanks to Megan Kelly and Shaya Istace for lending their incredible voices to open the shows. Thanks to every sponsor, everyone who bought (or tried to buy!) a ticket, Cre.ate and Golden Bowl for keeping our crew so well fed, Kadaizy for the gorgeous flowers, the school and students who wrote those suuuuper sweet letters, and all of the generous volunteers who worked so hard to make it all happen. It truly takes a village, and I’m so proud to call this one mine. Getting to show off my tiny little mapdot to my team was a dream come true. I’ll never forget it.
xoxo,
jess.