Classic Albums Live has spent more than two decades making a case that the album deserves to be treated like a concert event — and on November 28 they bring that philosophy to Kingston with a full performance of The Stranger, Billy Joel’s 1977 breakthrough that took home two GRAMMY Awards and placed four tracks on the Billboard 100.
About the Show
Founded in 2003 by Craig Martin, Classic Albums Live built its reputation on one firm promise: note for note, cut for cut. No impersonations, no costumes, no theatrics. Craig Martin puts it plainly: “No cheesy costumes, no bad impersonations, just the purity of the music.” As for the performance itself, he has said: “All of our energy is put into the music. We want the performance to sound exactly like the album.” The ensemble draws from a roster of musicians who have recorded and performed with some of rock and pop’s most recognizable names. Several core members have been with the organization since its founding; the company describes itself as “the first call for professional musicians who are looking for perfection.” The organization logs over 200 performances a year, and the press notices reflect the track record. The Bradford Telegraph called a production “A stunning note for note recreation — enthralling.” The Toronto Star: “Joyful and Thrilling.”
The Stranger is Billy Joel’s fifth studio album, released in September 1977. Four of its tracks reached the Billboard 100: “Just the Way You Are,” “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song),” “She’s Always a Woman,” and “Only the Good Die Young.” The album won two GRAMMY Awards the following year for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Classic Albums Live will perform it in full before continuing with a set of Billy Joel’s greatest hits. That format (the whole album, then the catalog) is the company’s signature approach, and it is what makes the night worth planning around.
This Kingston show closes out the Ontario leg of a 2026 tour that has moved through Ottawa, Parry Sound, St. Catharines, Oakville, Richmond Hill, and Kitchener since October. The November 28 Kingston date is the final stop before the tour continues into 2027.
Venue & Logistics
Kingston Grand Theatre’s Rosen Auditorium is at 218 Princess Street in downtown Kingston, a performing arts theater well suited to an ensemble that treats sonic precision as the whole point. Kingston, Ontario is accessible from the North Country and the upper Ottawa corridor. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets
Tickets are priced from $44.50 to $59.50, plus HST and applicable fees. Buy tickets.