CANMORE – Kieran Lehan has been crowned the winner of the Valley Sound Off.
The Canmore-based artist, also known as Two Knees, took the top place in the five-week long inaugural event.
“His guitar playing is absolutely phenomenal. It's like the guitar is a part of his body,” said Julie Chang, contest organizer and musician.
The five competitive Saturdays of music at the Canmore Legion wrapped up on Saturday (March 30). The competition took nine musicians before whittling it down to the five finalists of Lea McCroy, Jason Letcher, Kael Macloed, Carlyn Reilly and Lehan.
The competition was judged in five categories: musicianship, showmanship, audience engagement, style and originality.
“All the performers, in my opinion, did incredible. They're all just such good, such good musicians and they all stepped up every week and improved,” said Chang.
Lehan took the stage with his original songs from his debut album, Through Seasons, which was released in mid-December 2023.
“I think it was week two or three. He played all original songs, and it was one of the best performances I've ever seen,” said Chang.
Two Knees is a project Lehan began during the COVID-19 pandemic and after a non-cancerous tumour grew on his right knee.
“It just put certain things in perspective and made me slow down and think about what was important and what I've missed, and we all have the, like, isolation and that was a bit of a time of reflection as well. That just became the genesis for that project,” said Lehan.
Lehan reflected on feedback from the judges and listeners and how it was helpful in his growth.
“Hearing the feedback was also really helpful to hear how people are listening to what you're doing and what they think you could do better and what is connecting and that kind of thing. It's, like, a little mini boot camp,” he said.
As per the grand prize, Lehan will be back on stage for a headlining show at artsPlace. Chang, the judges and the runners-up – Reilly and Letcher – will be opening for Lehan. The show is tentatively set for May 24.
More than 400 people took in the sounds, which supported Canmore Minor Hockey Association.
Bigger than feedback, however, was the friendships Lehan made through the competition.
“I think the biggest thing is that there were some friendships that seemed to have come out of this and it's like a great way to meet some other musicians in the valley,” said Lehan.
