Blog Articles
“Dean Brody to Brett Kissel: Troubadour Festival Headlines Downtown Barrie’s Biggest Summer Yet”
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Barrie, ON – The Downtown Barrie BIA is proud to announce this year’s exciting Troubadour Festival Summer Concert Series, a four-part celebration of live music and community spirit set to light up Meridian Place this summer!
With a stellar lineup of award-winning Canadian artists and the launch of a new Local Opener Series, this year’s series promises to be bigger, louder, and more inspiring than ever before.
Headlining Performers
Saturday, June 14 – DEAN BRODY
One of Canada’s most celebrated country music artists, Dean Brody is a 2x JUNO Award winner and has earned 18 Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs), including Entertainer of the Year and Male Artist of the Year. He has an impressive 34 Top Ten singles (with eight #1’s) including “Bring Down the House” and “Canadian Summer”. In total Brody has generated more than 425 million + global streams. Brody’s storytelling and dynamic stage presence makes him a fan favourite coast to coast.
Saturday, July 26 – THE 99s
The 99s are a super dynamic 8-piece band that plays huge hits and sing-a-longs from across eras and genres with jaw-dropping talent and positive energy. They are loaded with top tier talent, including lead vocalist, Barrie-native, Carleigh Aikins. The band is musically directed by party band heroes Dwayne Gretzky. Cutting across eras and genres, their repertoire is vast enough to include hits from the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s, for a show that can range from Tina Turner to The Killers, ABBA and Avril Lavigne.
Saturday, August 16 – HAWKSLEY WORKMAN
A critically acclaimed singer-songwriter, Hawksley Workman is a multiple Juno Award winner known for his theatrical stage presence and eclectic musical style that fuses rock, pop, and cabaret. With more than 15 solo albums, hits like “Striptease” and “Jealous of Your Cigarette” have cemented his place as a Canadian music icon.
Saturday, September 6 – BRETT KISSEL
Closing out the series is Brett Kissel, a country artist known for his charismatic personality, dynamic stage presence, and unique music style. With 23x CCMA awards, 3x JUNO awards, 2x Gold-certified albums, 11x Gold singles, 5x Platinum singles and an impressive track record of 19x Top-10 radio hits (including 4x #1 singles), his talent and popularity are undeniable. Kissel is one of Canada’s most celebrated and beloved entertainers.
Opening for Kissel will be Elmvale, Ontario’s own Dayna Reid. With powerhouse vocals, one-of-a-kind lyrics, and a tenacious attitude, Reid has been captivating audiences nationwide since the release of her debut country EP “Back To The Trailer”.
Troubadour Festival “Local Opener Series” – Spotlighting Homegrown Talent
New this year, the Local Opener Series will offer a career-shaping opportunity for local youth and house bands to perform as openers for each of the Troubadour Festival main stage headliners. Selected through a local jury process, these emerging artists will take the stage in front of thousands at Meridian Place, gaining invaluable exposure and the chance to perform in a true “rockstar” atmosphere.
Submissions for the Local Opener Series open on May 8, 2025, and close on May 23, 2025. Full details on eligibility and how to apply will be available at www.downtownbarrie.ca.
Secondary Announcement: 2025 Open Air Dunlop Event Series
Downtown Barrie will also come alive with a full summer of Open Air Dunlop events—signature pedestrian-friendly Saturdays and holiday celebrations designed to bring the community together while showcasing local businesses, culture, and creativity.
2025 Open Air Dunlop Schedule:
- – Open Air Dunlop AirShow – June 6–8
- A thrilling weekend featuring vintage and modern aircraft displays, flyovers, and aviation-themed family activities.
- – Open Air Dunlop Canada Day Celebrations – Tuesday, July 1
- Celebrate Canada’s birthday downtown with live music, family zones, and a sea of red and white.
- – Open Air Dunlop Butter Tart Festival – Saturday, July 12
- A deliciously sweet day with Ontario’s best butter tarts, artisan vendors, and live entertainment.
- – Open Air Dunlop Classics In The Park (Cars, Boats & More) – Saturday, July 26
- A showcase of classic vehicles, modern watercraft, and recreation vehicles —paired with live music and local eats.
- – Open Air Dunlop Eats On The Streets – Saturday, August 16
- A culinary crawl through downtown’s food scene, featuring restaurant specials, street food, and licensed patios.
Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall shared his enthusiasm for the events, stating:
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to come together, celebrate, and enjoy some amazing music all summer long,” shared Mayor Alex Nuttall. “It’s a wonderful boost for the vitality of our downtown and we are especially excited to have Dean Brody joining us in Barrie – it truly shows that our city is not to be overlooked when it comes to incredible entertainment.”
Justin Rydell, News Director at CTV News Barrie, added:
“The Troubadour Festival Summer Concert Series promises to be a vibrant celebration of music and community, drawing fans from across Barrie and the surrounding region. A key part of our mission at CTV Barrie, BOUNCE 104.1, and PURE COUNTRY 106 is to inform and entertain audiences across this great community each and every day, and this concert series perfectly embodies that spirit.”
Both series are free to attend and represent Downtown Barrie’s commitment to making arts, culture, and community accessible for all.
LOCAL PARTNERS
The Downtown Barrie BIA thanks its sponsors, volunteers, local partners, and participating businesses for helping make these events possible. Including:
- Bell Media’s CTV Barrie, BOUNCE Radio 104.1 and PURE COUNTRY 106
- Meridian Credit Union
- City of Barrie
- Tourism Barrie
- Inside The Music
- If you are interested in participating as a local partner in this exciting summer event line up that will connect with over 350,000 people, contact us at [email protected].
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