Amanda Marshall steps on stage, throws her arms wide open and mouths: "Oh, my god."
The Juno-winning soulful songstress was impressed that Red Bird Brewery was packed to the rafters on a Wednesday afternoon at 3 for her free surprise pop-up concert.
"Aren't you kids supposed to be in school?" she asked the crowd in reference to the mid-afternoon, mid-week timing.
Since the audience was 19+ and it was at a brewery, Marshall noticed most people had a pint in their hand.
"Nothin' wrong with a little day drinkin'," she told everyone with a laugh.
And then, the Toronto-based singer launched into her 1996 hit 'Fall from Grace'.
Her distinctive voice was slightly husky, crystal-clear and an incredible blend of soulful pop-rock.
And she looked cool with her signature long, curly hair, wearing big sunglasses and a white satin baseball jacket.
Marshall's pop-up at Red Bird was supposed to be somewhat hush-hush.
But, word got out (you've heard of Facebook and Instagram, right?) and it became Kelowna's worst-kept secret.
Fans flocked (pun intended) to Red Bird, the brewery quickly hit capacity and those that arrived too late had to listen from the sidewalk and street.
The stage set up was simple, three stools with Marshall in the middle, flanked by two guitarists.
Red Bird was persistent in pursuing Marshall to do the pop-up.
"I hardly ever do this kind of thing," said Marshall in reference to the impromptu afternoon set.
"Usually I save my voice for the concert (she was opening for Bryan Adams just a few hours later at Prospera Place). So, if I have no voice tonight, I'm coming after you Kelowna."
By the way, everything went off without a hitch last night at the sold-out Marshall-Adams gig.
Since Marshall was only playing a 45-minute set at Red Bird, the mini-concert was definitely all killer and no filler.
In rapid succession, she also sang her 1995 smash 'Birmingham', 1998's 'Believe In You', 1997's 'Sittin' On Top of the World', 'Dark Horse' and finally what's considered to be her biggest hit -- 1995's 'Let it Rain'.
'Believe in You' featured an extended riff in the middle, which Marshall referred to as "taking it to church" due to its gospel-vibe and sing-along with the choir (audience).
Before Marshall burst into 'Dark Horse' she told the story of how superstar Elton John mentioned on the Rosie O'Donnell talk show that he was listening to a fantastic new artist called Amanda Marshall.
Marshall didn't think much more of it because she was on tour promoting her 1995 self-titled first album -- the one that spawned seven Top 10 hits.
It was also before smartphones, so there was no social media to perpetuate the Elton John buzz.
And then, while the band was having dinner at a restaurant in Whistler while on tour, the maitre'd said there was a phone call for her.
She had to get up and go to the restaurant's good-ole landline to answer it.
And Elton John was at the other end, he complimented her, encouraged her and said her new single 'Dark Horse' would go to No. 1.
Indeed, it did, topping the charts in 1997.
Marshall was the opening act at only Adams' Kelowna show and his upcoming concert at Calgary's Saddledome on Friday.
Adams' 'Roll with the Punches' tour started in Kamloops on Sept. 11 before going to Vancouver, Victoria, Prince George and then Kelowna.
The Sheepdogs are opening for Adams at all other Canadian shows, which continue across the country through mid-October.
Then Adams hits the US for numerous concerts until the end of November with Pat Benatar as the opening act.
In the new year, Adams will play through Europe before wrapping up the tour in South Africa in April.
