Canadian country duo Leaving Thomas have announced that they are ending their musical journey together. On January 24th, the duo played their last show in Calgary.
At the end of 2019, Annika and Bryton made an emotional and very sudden announcement that they would no longer be performing as Leaving Thomas, but would perform one last show in 2020. They made the announcement on Instagram:
On Instagram, they took the time to explain why this decision was made, and individually address the parting of ways to their fans. The announcement read
It is with full hearts that we are announcing the end of our journey together as Leaving Thomas. We are eternally grateful for all the people that have supported us and loved our music along the way. We are thankful to our team, the ones who believed in us from the beginning, whose faith in us never wavered, and the fans and friends that stood by us through the ups and downs of the music industry. We are both extremely grateful for the opportunities and experiences that Leaving Thomas has given us over the years and we will forever look back fondly on this chapter of our lives. As a thank you to our fans, we are will be performing one final Farewell show in Calgary in early 2020, so stay tuned for show details. ❤️
Bryton’s message went into more detail as to his reasonings for leaving Leaving Thomas:
I am so grateful for the chapter of my life that is Leaving Thomas. The experiences that Annika and I were able to share together certainly were dreams come true and I will treasure those memories for the rest of my life. As we both move into new chapters in our own individual lives, I came to the realization that the sacrifices that come with being an artist in this crazy industry were not inline with my personal definition of success. Although music will still hold a special place in my heart, I am excited to begin a new chapter with my loving wife and continue to pursue my other passion, business. I am beyond grateful for Annika’s support and friendship not only through this time of transition, but also throughout our years of partnership in Leaving Thomas. I’m looking forward to seeing what amazing musical project she creates next and wish her all the best in the next chapter in her musical career. Thank you Annika, for sharing this crazy journey with me. -Bryton
Annika’s message was a little shorter and didn’t go into any real details as to her feelings about Bryton deciding to step back from the music industry:
Leaving Thomas has been an incredibly rewarding musical journey for the past 5 years. Bryton and I have shared so many laughs, tears, and adventures that I will cherish. I wish him all the best in this next chapter of his life and am so thankful for the years he dedicated to our musical projects. As I figure out what’s next for me, I hope you will continue to follow my journey and support us both as we pursue opportunities that ignite passion and excitement within us! – Annika
On the surface, it appears as though the disbandment of Leaving Thomas was not a mutual decision, but these two best friends are supportive of one another – and judging by the pictures from their farewell show in Calgary there is definitely no hard feelings.
Their final show drew a sizeable crowd and included an emotional farewell from the duo.
These two are seriously friendship goals, and while we’re sad to see them take their final bow, and exit stage left, their amazing catalogue of work will forever be immortalized and enjoyed for years to come. Cheers to Leaving Thomas, and best of luck in whatever is next for both members of this incredible band.
In country music, the Front Porch has long been a place of reflection. A place where you can look at the life you have inside that front door. A place where time almost seems to stand still, where you can get away. It’s also a place where you can go to observe the world as it passes by you. To think about your place out there beyond the driveway.
