Seven Seasons in the Sun (and Song)
By Levi Kreis
Seven seasons. Seven completely different shows. Two live albums. And more musical moments than I can count—each one belonging wholly to Puerto Vallarta and no other audience.
This has always been a place where I could write a song in the morning and try it out on stage that very night. A place where I unexpectedly discovered my own kind of Canadian pride, diving deep into the music of legendary Canadian artists who helped shape not just my musical instincts but my personal journey. (IYKYK.) For the uninitiated, Puerto Vallarta has long been a favorite vacation destination for Canadians—and it shows.
I won’t go too deep into what this city means to me personally. I did that recently over on my Substack, in a piece that explores what it really means to go where the love is. But in short: it’s a grind. It’s unforgiving. It stretches me harder than any other gig I do. And yet, the synergy I’ve found with these audiences is soul-filling—proof that showing up with your whole heart is always worth it, even when it’s hard.
The Changing Face of Puerto Vallarta
But here’s the truth: it’s getting harder.
Puerto Vallarta is changing. The venue where I first performed opened a sister location this year, doubling the number of acts and setting off a scramble for prime time slots. What was once a spirit of camaraderie is slowly giving way to personal politics and creative competition.
And more broadly, the vibe of PV is shifting. It’s turning into P-Town—and if you know, you know. My audience has never been the party crowd, and that’s okay. I played P-Town once, and… let’s just say the vibe didn’t fit. With PV leaning hard into that same energy, I find myself wondering: Is there still a place here for what I do?
Gratitude for the Good
Knowing all of this, I made it a point to be really present this year. Jason and I soaked up the time with friends, took in some incredible shows, and had the kind of real, soul-nourishing conversations that remind you why you came in the first place. There are good people here. Good-hearted performers. And good memories of watching a scrappy, talented crew spin magic from the stage.
A Gift from the Archives
I could turn this into a long-winded retrospective—seven years is a lot to reflect on. But instead, I’d rather let the music do the talking.
So here’s a gift: two full-length live concerts recorded in the early years of my time in PV, at The Red Room Cabaret. These shows represent a moment in time—intimate, off-the-cuff, and electric. While my recent seasons have been performed at The Palm Cabaret, which has its own unique magic, these recordings capture a very particular kind of synergy that’s worth revisiting.
Pour a glass of wine, and take a seat with me in the room where it all began. Let’s remember what made it magical.
You will have to download each track individually – Soundcloud will not let you download the entire playlist in one click.
Pour a glass of wine, and take a seat with me in the room where it all began. Let’s remember what made it magical.
Because that’s where the real story lives. Not in my words here—but in the raw, unfiltered banter. In the laughter. In the quiet moments between the notes. This is where I’ve always felt the most myself: intimate, exposed, honest. And endlessly grateful.
Enjoy the music, my friends. And enjoy the photos below.