On October 18 2025, Jesse Welles played Toronto’s DANFORTH MUSIC HALL, taking the stage in the ever famous Canadian tuxedo.
Welles has been making music for over a decade now, and went viral online in 2023. His popularity has been gaining rapidly ever since. Fans online have labelled him as a contemporary Bob Dylan, and even likened him to Woody Guthrie.
Words and photos by Mason Marreiros
The folk star took the stage with his beautiful acoustic Rockbridge guitar and harmonica, and played a great mix of songs both solo as well as accompanied with his band. The crowd loved every song, whistling and whooping along.
The troubadour played over 30 songs, including favourites such as United Health, Red, Walmart, and wrapped the night with his most popular War Isn’t Murder. Welles has a way of delivering any message with ease, playing songs on a wide range of topics from war, drugs, and assassinations to lighter topics of bugs and Halloween. His songs have been described as “the kind of music that heals a little part of our broken hearts”, and I couldn’t agree more.
Welles is touring around America for the duration of November, before heading to the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia shortly afterwards. He returns to Toronto in March, taking the stage of Massey Hall. Find out more on his website or Instagram.
