Penrith chef steps in to save country musician's UK tour

Tenille Townes is currently on a European tour and after playing a sell-out gig on Monday, October 17 she and her team pulled in to stay at the Penrith Premier Inn before travelling to Bristol the day after.

Townes' tour dates (Image: Tenille Townes)Unfortunately, her tour bus driver was suddenly taken ill leaving Townes and her whole team stranded over 250 miles away from their next gig.

The staff of the Premier Inn went above and beyond their everyday duty to make sure that the show stayed firmly on the road.

Townes asked employees if they knew anyone who may be able to drive the van from Penrith to Bristol before coming back only a few minutes later with a willing volunteer; breakfast chef Catalin Toma.

Toma had volunteered to take equipment, Townes, all the Columbia Nasville and Sony Music Management crew and band members to Bristol then on to London to enable legs three and four of the European tour to be completed.

“You guys, it just makes me want to cry” said Townes as she was relaying the remarkable story to fans at her gig at the Fleece in Bristol.

“He’s the kindest soul and just came to us like a knight in shining armour when he said I’ll drive you (down to Bristol and London) so thank you so much for making this show happen tonight”

“There are so many good people out there and there’s friends everywhere you go, we’re so far from home and he took care of us, it’s just amazing.”

Despite being only 28, Tenille Townes is one of the biggest names in Canadian Country music and was nominated for a Canadian Country Music Award at just 17.

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