“It was the most insane night ever”
As many students return back to school after a much deserved November Break, we can’t help but reminisce about our days of rest and relaxation. While catching up with my friends, we talked about the shows we binged, new fall recipes we experimented with, and all the studying we (did not) accomplish. However, one specific story stood out from the rest.
Read on to discover how this Calgarian teen got the chance of her lifetime after she was plucked out of the crowd to perform alongside a famous band. She turned fantasy into reality thanks to her passion, perseverance, and talent.
Years in the Making: Ainsley’s Journey
Meet Ainsley Frasca. Like most teens, she enjoys hanging out with friends, reading books, and over-quoting the newest Kurtis Conner video. Unlike most teens, however, she spends her free time performing at an almost sold-out stadium in front of an audience of over 5,000 people while rocking out on the drums.
Ainsley started her journey as a drummer 5 years ago. Inspired by her and her dad’s favourite band, The Eagles, she picked up the drums after seeing Don Healy (drummer for the Eagles) live in 2014. Now, at age 16, Ainsley has wowed people across the world by performing alongside the Canadian Rock Band, The Arkells, at Prospera Place in Kelowna on November 16, 2024, for the Big Feelings Tour.
One Thing I Know: How to Rock with the Stars
As a gift for her 16th birthday, Ainsley and her mom got tickets to see the Arkells perform in Calgary, her hometown. Before attending the concert, with determination in their hearts, they reached out to the Arkells on Instagram, hoping to get Ainsley on that stage to perform with the band.
Despite all odds, they got a response! Before the concert, the band ran through their sound check and invited Ainsley to run through their song “Oh! The Boss is Coming”. Exhilarated with the memory of playing with the Arkells, the young drummer was content and enjoyed a memorable concert, singing and dancing the night away.
But the story doesn’t end there. 2 weeks later, Ainsley’s family was in Kelowna to see the Arkells again! While waiting in a cafe for a quick snack, Ainsley spotted a familiar face. Max Kerman, singer for the band, was waiting at the same cafe, and, much to her astonishment, recognized her. The pair reconnected and recalled the unforgettable sound check.
Flash forward to the concert. Pushing up against the barricade, singing her heart out, the band had just finished playing “Oh! The Boss is Coming” when Kerman spotted Ainsley and beckoned her to come up to the stage.
In our interview, Ainsley recalled her adrenaline rush as the crowd cheered for her as she made her way up to the stage. With a little help from security, she crossed the barricade and soon was standing beside Max, introducing herself to the crowd. After her unbeatable performance, she returned to the crowd, met with high fives and cheers all around.
After a video the Arkells posted with Ainsley went viral with over 800,000 views, Ainsley is booked and busy with interviews from notable journalists such as the CBC Eyeopener, CTV, and now Youth Are Awesome 😉
You Can Get It: Advice from Ainsley
“If you’ve started playing an instrument but aren’t connecting with it, don’t be afraid to try something else. You don’t have to be tied down to one singular instrument. I played many different instruments before the drums, and even now, I still like to branch out and try different things.”