TORONTO, Ont. — Live from Budweiser Stage… it’s Nick Nurse!
The Raptors coach made a surprise appearance at Hamilton band the Arkells’ sold-out show at the lakeside Toronto venue on Saturday night.
Arkells frontman Max Kerman introduced Nurse, who earlier in the week paraded through downtown Toronto with his NBA championship team.
Canada’s hottest guitarist... Toronto @Raptors head coach Nick Nurse. pic.twitter.com/y3o8DwkCxV
— ARKELLS (@arkellsmusic) June 23, 2019
The 51-year-old Iowa native, who came on stage with an electric guitar slung around his shoulders, joined the band in playing a cover of Stevie Wonder’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours.
“The Saturday night thing was exactly like the (Raptors championship) parade but five hours shorter,” Nurse said Monday at press conference to announce he has been hired to lead the Canadian men’s national team when the FIBA Basketball World Cup starts Aug. 31 in China.
Nurse, who has said he likes everyone from Johnny Cash to Bob Dylan, was pictured with a guitar case while on the road with the Raptors.
The Arkells first threw out an invitation to Nurse to play with them right after the Raptors won the NBA title.
“Nick Nurse: You’re welcome to guitar solo at any Arkells show for the rest of time,” tweeted the Arkells account.
Afterwards, the Arkells tweeted: “Introducing the newest member of Arkells. (Plz note: he will not be able to tour during the NBA season.) Thanks @Raptors for letting us borrow him!”
Since the Raptors have won the NBA Championship, a makeshift shrine to Nurse — dubbed, “St. Nick” — popped up at Wellington and John Sts.
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019
