Boots and Hearts 2026 Review
Welcome to Oro-Medonte, Ontario. Yes, I needed to look up where it was too! The small community 100km north of Toronto is home to 25,000 residents until 45,000 country music fans descend on the township every year for the Boots and Hearts Music Festival.
Leaving Toronto behind, heading north on Highway 400, and merging onto Highway 11 in Barrie, the Burl's Creek site is certainly one of the easiest festival grounds to find. Turn right at the highway exit—the car park entrance is just 50 metres ahead!
The three-day festival welcomed some of Nashville's biggest names right alongside local Canadian artists looking for their big break. The schedule for the festival is delightfully simple: an artist plays on the Front Porch Stage; a 5-minute break; an artist plays on the Main Stage; a 5-minute break; repeat until the end of the night. It was perfect. Because the lineup doesn't squeeze into microscopic print just to cram every artist on earth onto the bill, you don't need to create a complex spreadsheet to decide who to see—you can see everyone. Aside from a Ferris wheel, there is no carnival, no cooking competition, no hidden stage in the woods, and no sprawling marketplace. Boots and Hearts is a pure music festival: they want you watching live music, and that is exactly what you do. Outside of the main schedules, there were only a few pop-up stage performances hosted by Coors, plus live interviews and meet-and-greets with SiriusXM.
Oh, and a quick note: people in their camping chairs sit politely at the back!
My only real question for Boots and Hearts is: how many poutine vendors is too many? If you aren't familiar, this iconic Canadian dish consists of three main ingredients: chips, cheese curds, and gravy. Of the fourteen food vendors on site, at least four were heavily pushing poutine on their menus. Clearly, Canadians love their poutine!
Leaving Toronto behind, heading north on Highway 400, and merging onto Highway 11 in Barrie, the Burl's Creek site is certainly one of the easiest festival grounds to find. Turn right at the highway exit—the car park entrance is just 50 metres ahead!
The three-day festival welcomed some of Nashville's biggest names right alongside local Canadian artists looking for their big break. The schedule for the festival is delightfully simple: an artist plays on the Front Porch Stage; a 5-minute break; an artist plays on the Main Stage; a 5-minute break; repeat until the end of the night. It was perfect. Because the lineup doesn't squeeze into microscopic print just to cram every artist on earth onto the bill, you don't need to create a complex spreadsheet to decide who to see—you can see everyone. Aside from a Ferris wheel, there is no carnival, no cooking competition, no hidden stage in the woods, and no sprawling marketplace. Boots and Hearts is a pure music festival: they want you watching live music, and that is exactly what you do. Outside of the main schedules, there were only a few pop-up stage performances hosted by Coors, plus live interviews and meet-and-greets with SiriusXM.
Oh, and a quick note: people in their camping chairs sit politely at the back!
My only real question for Boots and Hearts is: how many poutine vendors is too many? If you aren't familiar, this iconic Canadian dish consists of three main ingredients: chips, cheese curds, and gravy. Of the fourteen food vendors on site, at least four were heavily pushing poutine on their menus. Clearly, Canadians love their poutine!
What happens on the buildup night before a major festival starts? Well, for Boots and Hearts, it involves an ice hockey game! The Boots and Hearts Barn Burner is an annual charity game held in nearby Barrie. The sold-out event raised over $700,000 and featured superstar players from the NHL and PWHL. Oh, and Taylor and Bobby from James Barker Band got an invite too!
When talking with artists and fans beforehand, much of the conversation naturally turned to the Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase. The showcase has launched the careers of some of Canada’s biggest country acts in recent years, including past winners School House, Owen Riegling, Jade Eagleson, and Sunday main stage performers James Barker Band. This year, eight semi-finalists kicked off Friday’s live music proceedings with short sets before two finalists—Ontario natives Jackson Klippenstein and Leah Holtom—were selected to step up to the main stage on Sunday. Leah Holtom emerged victorious in the final and will return to Boots next year with a dedicated performance slot alongside a single release contract with Universal Music Canada.
As the crowd filtered into the grounds throughout Friday evening, you could feel the energy building towards a headliner that had many fans debating the choice beforehand. Over on the Front Porch Stage, School House shared their gratitude for their whirlwind year, Emily Anne Roberts was left speechless by the crowd's warmth, and Brett Kissel openly wondered why it had taken him 14 years to return to Boots. On the Main Stage, the party got started early with massive singalong sets from Dasha and Russell Dickerson before The Jonas Brothers closed out night one. While many had questioned why a pop group was headlining a country-pop festival, they proved their sound belongs on either stage. Even if a few purists remained skeptical, the crowd energy suggested most were thoroughly won over.
When talking with artists and fans beforehand, much of the conversation naturally turned to the Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase. The showcase has launched the careers of some of Canada’s biggest country acts in recent years, including past winners School House, Owen Riegling, Jade Eagleson, and Sunday main stage performers James Barker Band. This year, eight semi-finalists kicked off Friday’s live music proceedings with short sets before two finalists—Ontario natives Jackson Klippenstein and Leah Holtom—were selected to step up to the main stage on Sunday. Leah Holtom emerged victorious in the final and will return to Boots next year with a dedicated performance slot alongside a single release contract with Universal Music Canada.
As the crowd filtered into the grounds throughout Friday evening, you could feel the energy building towards a headliner that had many fans debating the choice beforehand. Over on the Front Porch Stage, School House shared their gratitude for their whirlwind year, Emily Anne Roberts was left speechless by the crowd's warmth, and Brett Kissel openly wondered why it had taken him 14 years to return to Boots. On the Main Stage, the party got started early with massive singalong sets from Dasha and Russell Dickerson before The Jonas Brothers closed out night one. While many had questioned why a pop group was headlining a country-pop festival, they proved their sound belongs on either stage. Even if a few purists remained skeptical, the crowd energy suggested most were thoroughly won over.
Saturday was the day Mother Nature decided to throw a spanner in the works. It rained. And rained! With severe weather warnings in place, the festival site was forced to remain closed for an extended period. Naturally, this required last-minute schedule adjustments, leading to shortened sets and a few full cancellations, including Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Tony Stevens. However, by the time The Chicks took the stage, any frustration over waiting hours in highway traffic evaporated. They held the crowd in the palm of their hands, rounding off what ultimately felt like a short-lived festival day. One thing you quickly notice at Boots is how seamlessly artists across both stages complement one another. While Sam Barber was a massive draw for the Front Porch Stage, Thelma and James and Jessi Murph did a fantastic job keeping spirits high. Mark my words: The Jack Wharff Band will be playing extended main stage sets in no time.
By the time Sunday came, the festival sunshine was back in time for an epic final day. A major highlight was the homecoming of James Barker Band—along with my personal realisation that a fellow media member I'd been chatting with (and was too polite to ask why he kept removing his shirt during interviews) was actually an actor from Trailer Park Boys. How was I supposed to know? Ashley Cooke kicked off Sunday's main stage proceedings in style, getting the memo by showing up in a full "Canadian tuxedo" (denim on denim). Meanwhile, rising Canadian talent Savannah Jade and Mitch Zorn treated a packed Front Porch Stage to incredible sets. Just when you thought Russell Dickerson and Brett Kissel had set the bar for hype sets earlier in the weekend, Tucker Wetmore and Max McNown said "hold my beer." Getting a crowd fired up on the final night after a weekend of baking heat, torrential rain, hangovers, and poutine overload is no easy feat, but both handled it effortlessly—sending a clear message to festival bookers that they'll be knocking on the door for headline slots very soon.
As the sun set over Burl's Creek for the final time this weekend, Rascal Flatts brought a heartfelt end to an unforgettable weekend. Wrapping up the festival with three decades' worth of fan favorites, they reminded everyone exactly why they fell in love with country music in the first place. As the last note echoed across the grounds, it capped off a weekend that proved once again why Boots and Hearts remains a crown jewel of Canadian summer music.
As the sun set over Burl's Creek for the final time this weekend, Rascal Flatts brought a heartfelt end to an unforgettable weekend. Wrapping up the festival with three decades' worth of fan favorites, they reminded everyone exactly why they fell in love with country music in the first place. As the last note echoed across the grounds, it capped off a weekend that proved once again why Boots and Hearts remains a crown jewel of Canadian summer music.
Many artists say Boots is one of their favourite festivals to play, and it’s easy to see why. A great festival needs non-stop hit music, and that is precisely what Boots delivers. The weekend flys by and you are left with many great memories. The music is great and the crowd is even better. Boots and Hearts is a festival that needs to be on your bucket list.
If you’re looking to venture beyond the UK festival scene, Boots and Hearts is the perfect starting point. While there are VIP options, general admission allows the crowd to get right to the front of both stages—and starting at around £200, it is exceptionally well-priced. With flights hovering around the £500 mark and hotels in Barrie at roughly £100 a night, a budget of £1,000 could get you to one of the biggest and best country music festivals in the world.
To conclude, we want to extend a massive thank you to the Boots and Hearts Festival team for hosting us at this year's event, as well as the wonderful media partners we worked with—and finally met face-to-face—including Red Umbrella, Strut Entertainment, Collabo, Alley Cat, and Universal Music Canada. Finally, a special thank you to Brett Kissel for taking the time after six years of Zoom calls to welcome us in person—and for gatecrashing our interview with James Barker Band!
See you next time Boots and Hearts
If you’re looking to venture beyond the UK festival scene, Boots and Hearts is the perfect starting point. While there are VIP options, general admission allows the crowd to get right to the front of both stages—and starting at around £200, it is exceptionally well-priced. With flights hovering around the £500 mark and hotels in Barrie at roughly £100 a night, a budget of £1,000 could get you to one of the biggest and best country music festivals in the world.
To conclude, we want to extend a massive thank you to the Boots and Hearts Festival team for hosting us at this year's event, as well as the wonderful media partners we worked with—and finally met face-to-face—including Red Umbrella, Strut Entertainment, Collabo, Alley Cat, and Universal Music Canada. Finally, a special thank you to Brett Kissel for taking the time after six years of Zoom calls to welcome us in person—and for gatecrashing our interview with James Barker Band!
See you next time Boots and Hearts