Big Name Actors in a New-Old Place

Hugh Wilson is a musician from Pictou County, NS. Hugh moved back to his hometown in recent years and formed the band Big Name Actors, a band name he brought with him from Toronto. Big Name Actors has their first show in Antigonish coming up at Candid Brewing on November 22nd, and so I spoke with Hugh to learn more about the band and ask about their upcoming show. 

Harrison Stewart: Could you give our readers a short history of Big Name Actors? 

Hugh Wilson: Yeah, certainly. It was a band I started in Toronto in 2011, just as I was finishing up audio recording school. I ended up getting some free recording time helping out one of my teachers. I recorded a quick EP with 2 friends of mine. They were already in an active band, so I couldn’t really nail them down to the lineup. But I ended up getting some local pals, one I went to school with at Harris Institute Toronto for audio production, and the other was a local pal I met at an open mic, that I eventually ended up hosting. We ended up being a band there basically from 2011 until about 2015. The bass player left and he was replaced with another guy named Darren. We were pretty active until 2019. Things kind of slowed down in 2019, but in that time frame we put out 3 EPs, and played all over Toronto, London, Kitchener, Waterloo, and a few places like that, but mostly in Toronto, mostly in the downtown scene, then the pandemic hit. Me and my Mrs. moved back to Nova Scotia, I’m from here, and she’s from up there. We settled here in 2020 and then I just got this line up together, Big Name Actors 2.0, the Nova Scotia version just kicked off this summer.  

HS: What is your role in the band? 

HW: Well, I’m the primary songwriter and the singer. I also play guitar, and that’s my role. I’m just happy to have dudes on board who are game to play the songs. I’m very grateful.  

HS: Who are the other musicians in Big Name Actors, and what are their roles? 

HW: We have Dwayne Kenny on drums, Jason Delorey on bass, and Mike Smeltzer on secondary guitar. It’s actually the first time we have a second guitar in the band. It’s always been a 3-piece band up until this year.  

HS: What genres of music do you guys typically play? 

HW: I’d say a very 90s style of alternative rock. Little elements of power pop. We really like pop structured songs, but you know, with loud guitars and intensity. 

HS: With Big Name Actors originally being from Toronto, are there any standout shows the band played further west? 

HW: Just some of the staple venues in downtown Toronto. It was always a privilege to play the Horseshoe Tavern, very legendary spot. The Rivoli, is just down the street from the Horseshoe Tavern is also a cool spot. That’s where the Kids in the Hall (Canadian sketch comedy group) first started. And also, Lee’s Palace, Nirvana played there before, so you know that’s a resumé item for me for sure. 

HS: What led to you reviving the band in Nova Scotia? 

HW: I moved back in 2020, and I played a couple Christmas shows with some local musicians, and I just sort of got into doing solo shows. I never really performed solo a ton in Toronto, it was mostly band stuff up there, but I figured I’d give it a go. I didn’t really have access to as many musicians; I had to sort of start from scratch again. I started making my way around the scene and meeting more musicians and just sort of feeling out the scene a bit more and seeing what’s available. After a few years playing solo, I got tired of being on my own, I sort of missed that band dynamic. 

HS: What’s it like being a musician hoping to play live in Pictou County music scene? 

HW: Honestly, it’s been great. I grew up here. So, you know, I was playing in bands right out of high school and there was always an active, healthy scene, but now I think it’s just a little more established. There’s a little more skin in the game, you can actually sing for your supper, so to speak. There’s actually venues willing to pay, and you’re not just volunteering basically. It’s nice that there’s venues that are very accommodating in trying to curate a local scene, and help touring musicians as they pass through as well. 

HS: Outside of Pictou County, how often does Big Name Actors play in other cities or towns, as part of festivals, concerts, etc.? 

HW: At the moment we’re just primarily based in Pictou County, just keeping the opportunities as local as we can. I think with winter coming up, we’re more inclined to stay in and write and rehearse rather than travel around in the dregs of winter. But I think next year is looking promising. We’re definitely making more connections and there are bands that pass through town that we’ve become friendly with me playing solo shows and playing band shows. I think next year is going to be where we really try to stretch our legs and get out and see the province a little bit more with this project. 

HS: With you guys having a show coming up at Candid Brewing on the 22nd of this month, if you had one minute to entice a group of people to come to the show, what would you tell them to bring them in? 

HW: I’d say if you’re not hearing enough rock music live in your life, it’s definitely worth a look. I think we bring a very high energy show with a healthy mix of originals and covers, so there’s going to be a few songs everyone probably knows. We guarantee to put everything into our performance every time, we really pride ourselves in being a fun, energetic band.  

Big Name Actors plays Candid Brewing on November 22nd, 2025. Admission: $10, $5 for students. Tickets available through www.tickettailor.com/events/candid