Our Mission
Bringing dynamic entertainment to communities.
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to provide people with innovative entertainment in music and beyond.
Our Vision
Our vision is to strengthen communities through unique entertainment founded in music.
Value
Our Values are to be the solution to entertainment, provide an unforgettable experience, and build community.
Bringing dynamic entertainment to communities.
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to provide people with innovative entertainment in music and beyond.
Our Vision
Our vision is to strengthen communities through unique entertainment founded in music.
Value
Our Values are to be the solution to entertainment, provide an unforgettable experience, and build community.
Social Media Links
The Way Backs is more than a band!
The group formed in about June of 2023 as a group of musicians looking to do something different in music. Though, it didn't all start here. Marshall, Jaime, and Liam had already a band formed together and each were in numerous other bands as well. Jeffrey was the only odd duck out as a independent artist.
Late 2022, Jeffrey Wright took a chance and auditioned for a role as Johnny Cash in a local production of the Million Dollar Quartet put on by the West End Theatre Project. To think, he almost didn't audition! After getting the role, Jeffrey met Marshall Jaaskelainen, Jaime Jacques, and Liam Seymour who would later form the core group, The Way Backs. The play was an amazing experience! So amazing, that the question was asked, "how do we keep it going?"
Like a switch, something clicked in Jeffrey's head. Spearheading the formation of the group in June of 2023, Jeffrey wrote, directed, and produced their first show called HURT - A Tribute to the legend, Johnny Cash and set a date for September 2023.
With some time to go before the event, Jeffrey decided to get a spot at Rotaryfest, The Sault's Summer Festival on the "big stage" as a first time major performance playing many of the songs from the Million Dollar Quartet show.
Rehearsals were underway for Rotaryfest and the group was working hard. Prior to the performance, Marshall lined up their first debut gig which was for Long & McQuade (Sault Ste. Marie) family appreciation BBQ. Only three members of the group (Jeffrey, Marshall, and Jaime) performed for L&M.
However, Jeffrey brought on stage to Rotaryfest with him; Tom Peer, Leo Moore, Liam Seymour, Marshall Jaaskelainen, Mark Mizzi, and Chelsea Vossos (Jaime Jacques was of on a honeymoon... ). It was an amazing performance which only built the desire to go bigger and do more to bring entertainment.
It was then The Way Backs proved that they can adapt to any stage, bringing in performers for any event or show when needed. It was slowly moving away from "a band" to becoming the entertainment group you know them as today!
With the original four, The Way Backs would perform many gigs around Sault Ste. Marie and Area until it was time for the HURT show. To their surprise, the first show sold out a week before the event. The hall was packed!
The rush of putting on a show like this sparked a fire and the group quickly decided to put on another show in the Sault at a larger venue.
The second Hurt: A Tribute to the Legend, Johnny Cash was booked for December 10th, 2023. Again to their astonishment, this show sold out a MONTH before the show!
Blown away by the support of the community, The Way Backs couldn't stop there. Jeffrey is now planning eight HURT shows in 2024, booking halls across Ontario to bring the show to people in smaller communities. "They [smaller communities] don't often get to have an experience like this." Says Jeffrey. "A long time ago, people used to go to these halls to go dancing and watch a young Johnny Cash perform. I want to bring it back, even for one last time."
More than just the one show, Jeffrey has started writing new shows called, The Highwaymen Live Forever, and The Devil Wants His Dues, which he plans to bring in 2024 along with other festivals, events, and performances.
The group has also began working with communities to bring new and exciting events and festivals. The soonest event on the horizon is the 1950's Valentines Day Dinner & Dance at the Marconi Club on February 14th 2024. Tickets are on sale now! They have some amazing performers lined up for the show: Jay Case, George Wright, and Rachel Jaaskelainen, to name a few in the line up.
You can expect a lot of amazing events and shows for 2024 and they have no intention of slowing down!
The picture is after the December 10th 2023 HURT show with cast and crew.
The group formed in about June of 2023 as a group of musicians looking to do something different in music. Though, it didn't all start here. Marshall, Jaime, and Liam had already a band formed together and each were in numerous other bands as well. Jeffrey was the only odd duck out as a independent artist.
Late 2022, Jeffrey Wright took a chance and auditioned for a role as Johnny Cash in a local production of the Million Dollar Quartet put on by the West End Theatre Project. To think, he almost didn't audition! After getting the role, Jeffrey met Marshall Jaaskelainen, Jaime Jacques, and Liam Seymour who would later form the core group, The Way Backs. The play was an amazing experience! So amazing, that the question was asked, "how do we keep it going?"
Like a switch, something clicked in Jeffrey's head. Spearheading the formation of the group in June of 2023, Jeffrey wrote, directed, and produced their first show called HURT - A Tribute to the legend, Johnny Cash and set a date for September 2023.
With some time to go before the event, Jeffrey decided to get a spot at Rotaryfest, The Sault's Summer Festival on the "big stage" as a first time major performance playing many of the songs from the Million Dollar Quartet show.
Rehearsals were underway for Rotaryfest and the group was working hard. Prior to the performance, Marshall lined up their first debut gig which was for Long & McQuade (Sault Ste. Marie) family appreciation BBQ. Only three members of the group (Jeffrey, Marshall, and Jaime) performed for L&M.
However, Jeffrey brought on stage to Rotaryfest with him; Tom Peer, Leo Moore, Liam Seymour, Marshall Jaaskelainen, Mark Mizzi, and Chelsea Vossos (Jaime Jacques was of on a honeymoon... ). It was an amazing performance which only built the desire to go bigger and do more to bring entertainment.
It was then The Way Backs proved that they can adapt to any stage, bringing in performers for any event or show when needed. It was slowly moving away from "a band" to becoming the entertainment group you know them as today!
With the original four, The Way Backs would perform many gigs around Sault Ste. Marie and Area until it was time for the HURT show. To their surprise, the first show sold out a week before the event. The hall was packed!
The rush of putting on a show like this sparked a fire and the group quickly decided to put on another show in the Sault at a larger venue.
The second Hurt: A Tribute to the Legend, Johnny Cash was booked for December 10th, 2023. Again to their astonishment, this show sold out a MONTH before the show!
Blown away by the support of the community, The Way Backs couldn't stop there. Jeffrey is now planning eight HURT shows in 2024, booking halls across Ontario to bring the show to people in smaller communities. "They [smaller communities] don't often get to have an experience like this." Says Jeffrey. "A long time ago, people used to go to these halls to go dancing and watch a young Johnny Cash perform. I want to bring it back, even for one last time."
More than just the one show, Jeffrey has started writing new shows called, The Highwaymen Live Forever, and The Devil Wants His Dues, which he plans to bring in 2024 along with other festivals, events, and performances.
The group has also began working with communities to bring new and exciting events and festivals. The soonest event on the horizon is the 1950's Valentines Day Dinner & Dance at the Marconi Club on February 14th 2024. Tickets are on sale now! They have some amazing performers lined up for the show: Jay Case, George Wright, and Rachel Jaaskelainen, to name a few in the line up.
You can expect a lot of amazing events and shows for 2024 and they have no intention of slowing down!
The picture is after the December 10th 2023 HURT show with cast and crew.
(Left to right)
Leo Moore, Jeffrey Wright, Chelsea Vossos, Jaime Jacques, Liam Seymour, George Wright, and in true Marshall fashion... Mashall Jaaskelainen.
Second picture is debut performance as The Way Backs!
Leo Moore, Jeffrey Wright, Chelsea Vossos, Jaime Jacques, Liam Seymour, George Wright, and in true Marshall fashion... Mashall Jaaskelainen.
Second picture is debut performance as The Way Backs!
From Hurt, May 18, 2024
(Left to right)
Sarah Jacques, George Wright, Meggy Lee, Jaime Jacques, Liam Seymour, Hayden Jackson, Leo Moor, Laura Wright, Lily Wright, Jeffrey Wright, Mariah Case, Laurel Klazinga, and in the back... Marshall Jaaskelainen.
(Left to right)
Sarah Jacques, George Wright, Meggy Lee, Jaime Jacques, Liam Seymour, Hayden Jackson, Leo Moor, Laura Wright, Lily Wright, Jeffrey Wright, Mariah Case, Laurel Klazinga, and in the back... Marshall Jaaskelainen.
Gig Dates
- January 19, 2024 - 8pm, Sault Ste. Marie ON, The Whisky Barrel (No Cover Charge)
- February 24, 2024 - 8pm, Sault Ste. Marie ON, The Whisky Barrel (No Cover Charge)
- March 2, 2024 - 7pm (Doors at 6pm) Blind River ON, Legion Hall - Hurt: A Tribute to the Legend, Johnny Cash
- March 16, 2024 - 8pm Echo Bay ON, Elks Hall, Saint Patrick's Day Dance The Way Backs ft. Meggy Lee- Tickets Available ($15) email HERE for tickets
- March 22, 2024 - 8pm, Sault Ste. Marie ON, The Whisky Barrel (No Cover Charge)
- April 13, 2024 - 8pm-11pm, Sault Ste. Marie ON, The Tap Room (No Cover Charge)
- April 27, 2024 - 2pm (Doors at 1pm) & 7pm (Doors at 6pm) Neustadt ON, Neustadt Community Hall, Hurt: A Tribute to the Legend, Johnny Cash
- May 11, 2024 - 8pm-11pm, Sault Ste. Marie ON, The Tap Room
- May 18, 2024 - 7pm (Doors at 6pm) Elliot Lake ON, Collins Centre - Hurt: A Tribute to the Legend, Johnny Cash
- June 7, 2024 - 6-8pm - Echo Bay Family Day, Echo Bay, ON, Echo Bay Sportsplex
- June 15, 2024 - 2-4pm - Alzheimer Society - PRIVATE EVENT (Jeffrey Wright, George Wright, Meggy Lee, Marshall Jaaskelainen)
- June 30, 2024 - 12-2pm - Poutine Feast, Sault Ste. Marie, ON (Jeffrey Wright and Meggy Lee)
- June 30, 2024 - 6:30 -8:30pm - Poutine Feast, Sault Ste. Marie, ON
- July 1, 2024 - 8pm - fireworks, CANADA DAY (Headlining), Sault Ste. Marie, Bondar Pavilion.
- July 13, 2024 - 6pm - Desbarats, Johnson Township, ON. - Jeffrey Wright with Meggy Lee
- July 19, 2025 - 8-11pm - Sault Ste. Marie ON, The Tap Room (No Cover Charge)
- July 20, 2024 - 7:15-8pm - Rotary Fest, Sault Ste. Marie, Main Stage (Stage One - OLG)
- July 26, 2024 - 8pm - Sault Ste. Marie, Soo Blasters (Jeffrey Wright & Meggy Lee)
- July 27-28, 2024 - 12am (midnight) -Wawa Music Festival, Woodies, The Lakeview
- August 2, 2024 - 6:30pm, Bruce Mines, The Copper Bean Cafe. (Jeffrey Wright & Meggy Lee)
- August 10, 2024 - 7-11pm, St. Joseph Island, Royal Canadian Legion, Island Tri-Sport
- August 21, 2024 - 8pm, Sault Ste. Marie, Museum, Fringe North.
- August 31, 2024 - 6-11pm, Echo Bay, Sportsplex, The Way Backs End of Summer Concert (Tickets avail. at Echo Bay Co-op, The Copper Bean Cafe (Bruce Mines), email, or at the door)
- September 7th, 2024 - Algoma Steel Family Day, Algoma Steel
- September 28, 2024 - 8pm, (doors at 7) Royal Canadian Legion, 1534 10th Sideroad, Richards Landing, ON - Hurt: A Tribute to the Legend, Johnny Cash
- Nov 8, 2024 - 7:30pm Sault Ste. Marie Community Theatre Centre (White Pines) - Hurt: A Tribute to the Legend, Johnny Cash