Brett Kissel LIVE at Meridian Place - Saturday, September 6th at 8:30pm
Saturday, September 6 – BRETT KISSEL
Brett Kissel has spent the past decade cementing his place as one of Canada’s most celebrated and dynamic country entertainers. With an undeniable charm, a powerful stage presence, and an unwavering dedication to his craft, Kissel has carved out a path as a top-tier entertainer, earning multiple accolades along the way. His impressive career boasts 23 CCMA Awards, 3 JUNO Awards, 2 Gold-certified albums, 11 Gold singles, 5 Platinum singles, and an astonishing 18 Top-10 radio hits, including four chart-topping #1 singles. Whether captivating sold-out crowds on his own headlining tours or sharing the stage with legends like Brad Paisley and Garth Brooks, Kissel’s ability to connect with audiences remains at the heart of his success.
Beyond his celebrated radio hits, Kissel has forged a reputation as an artist unafraid to push musical boundaries. His collaborations with a diverse roster of talent, including Grammy winners Charley Pride, Dave Mustaine, Nelly, 98°, and TikTok star Cooper Alan, showcase his versatility and willingness to explore new creative avenues. His recent four-album collection, The Compass Project, demonstrated his artistic evolution, taking fans on a year-long journey through a range of sonic landscapes, all tied together by Kissel’s signature storytelling and heartfelt lyricism. The accompanying cross-Canada tour reinforced his status as a must-see live performer, delivering electrifying and deeply personal performances night after night.
Now, Brett Kissel embarks on a bold new chapter with Let Your Horses Run, an album that signals an evolution in both sound and spirit. First introduced with the release of the title track, the project marks a deeper return to Kissel’s country roots, infused with a fresh perspective and a matured sense of artistry. “It seems weird to say, but I feel like a different person on this album,” Kissel reflects. “Maybe it’s because I’m getting older and my priorities have changed. I’ve always been from the farm, but I never really dove into the country lifestyle as much as I have on this project—and it feels so good.”
Blending heartfelt storytelling with rich instrumentation and a reverence for traditional country influences, Let Your Horses Run captures Kissel’s growth as both a songwriter and a performer. “The title track is such a special song, and it deserves to be part of a collection that shares the same values,” he explains. “It’s heartfelt, it’s fun, and it is really country.” With this album, Kissel not only reaffirms his place at the forefront of Canadian country music but also opens a new chapter that speaks to both where he’s been and where he’s headed.
As Brett Kissel continues to evolve as an artist, his passion for music, storytelling, and connection remains stronger than ever. With Let Your Horses Run, he invites listeners to join him on this next leg of his journey—one that promises authenticity, emotion, and an unwavering dedication to the heart of country music.
Local Opener Showcase Series begins at 6:30pm!
Johnny Anderson: Johnny Anderson is a singer-songwriter from Barrie, Ontario. He grew up playing hockey and baseball until he picked up a guitar and taught himself how to play! He’s never looked back. From open mics, to gigs, to shows, Johnny has opened for big acts such as; Tebey, Alan Doyle, Blue Rodeo and more! Johnny plays upbeat Country (rock/pop) with some classic rock splashed in. Country fans and non Country fans will both become Johnny Anderson fans after a show.
Cam Galloway: Cam Galloway is quickly becoming a rising star in the world of Canadian country music, thanks to his dynamic performances and infectious energy.Hailing from Muskoka, ON, Cam has captured the hearts of fans with his distinctive voice and a knack for creating catchy, memorable tunes. His sound showcases his ability to blend heartfelt lyrics with vibrant melodies, establishing him as a fresh new voice in the genre. His shows are known for their high-energy atmosphere and his undeniable charisma. The summer of 2024 marked a major milestone in Cam’s career as he took to the stage at the renowned Boots and Hearts Music Festival. With his debut year setting a solid foundation, Cam is already looking ahead. As he prepares for the next chapter of his career, He remains dedicated to delivering music that speaks to the heart and energizes the soul.
Dayna Reid: Hailing from Elmvale, Ontario, brings powerhouse vocals, inimitable lyricism, and a fearless stage presence—and she’s quickly becoming one of Canada’s most exciting rising country talents. Since releasing her debut EP Back To The Trailer on Open Road Recordings, Dayna has captivated audiences nationwide. Her debut single, “She’s Me,” broke into the Top 40 radio charts and earned her titles including iHeartRadio’s Future Star and Stingray Radio’s Trending Track. In 2023, Dayna gained national attention as a Top-8 finalist in the SiriusXM Top of the Country contest, and she continued to turn heads by opening for top-tier artists such as Tim Hicks and Hunter Brothers. With the fall 2024 release of her debut full-length album She’s Me, featuring hit singles like “The Way You Lie” and “This House,” Dayna’s streaming numbers rose past 2 million, alongside features on editorial playlists—and her music video graced the cover of Amazon Music’s Breakthrough Country platform. Her spirited live performances have made her a standout at major festivals like Calgary Stampede, Boots & Hearts, Cavendish Beach Music Festival, and more in Summer 2024. Dayna’s work has earned her nominations at the CMAOntario Awards, including Breakthrough Artist of the Year (2024) and Female Artist of the Year and Breakthrough Artist of the Year (2025). Most recently, her vibrant new single “Better Than Blue” dropped in Spring 2025 and is poised to make waves on country radio this summer.
The Downtown Culture Crawls begins at 10am!
Join us for the first ever, Troubadour Culture Crawl. From live performances, an artistic market, to cultural activations, join us for the cultural event of the season.
Make a day of embracing Barrie arts, by taking a self-guided tour/savenger hunt or visiting local art installations as well as cultural businesses and institutions in the area.
– 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Barrie Farmers Market (Featuring Performances by Sean Durraugh & David Walsh)
– 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Nook Yoga – Classic (All Levels Hot Yoga) with Anna Griffiths
– 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Nook Yoga – Kids Yoga (ages 3-12) with Du-Ann Wright
– 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Barrie Public Library (Downtown Branch) – Play Learn Grown
– 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Barrie Fire Education Team – Fire Truck
– 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM – Nook Yoga – Flow (All Levels Unheated Yoga) with Sarah Lanoe
– 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Francesca Panetta Homestead Bakery Performance
– 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Culture Crawl
– 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Barrie Food Bank – Food Drive
– 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Scary Company “Corn”Elius Meet & Greet
– 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Jason George Photography – Environmental Presentation
– 2:00 PM – 3:40 PM – Barrie Public Library (Downtown Branch) – Lego Drop-in
– 6:00 PM – Spare Room – Monsta Guts Comic Book Launch
– 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Local Opener Showcase
– 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM – Brett Kissel Live at Meridian Place
Dean Brody LIVE at Meridian Place - Saturday June 14th 8:30pm - 10:00pm
Multi-platinum, iconic Canadian artist Dean Brody is celebrating the biggest years of his career. No country artist has owned the Canadian “Live” stage more than Dean in recent years with three national arena tours (2 breaking national ticket sale records), an acoustic national tour and as the only Canadian country artist to hold a 7-year residency at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage.
Not one to ever slow down, Brody has been busy setting records and marking major career milestones. 2021 saw the acclaimed artist land his sixth and seventh number ones at Canadian country radio on back-to-back duets with his history-making track “Boys” feat. country music’s fastest rising star Mickey Guyton and “More Drinkin’ Than Fishin’” with labelmate Jade Eagleson. He also secured his 18th CCMA Award, landing the “Top Selling Canadian Single” with his #1 track feat. The Reklaws, “Can’t Help Myself.” He kicked off 2022 by earning a JUNO Awards nomination for Country Album of the Year and securing his first TRIPLE-PLATINUM single with “Bring Down The House,” making him only the second artist in Canadian history to ever achieve this status on a single. He also landed his eighth #1 with his single “Where’d You Learn How to Do That.” Brody celebrated these moments with fans throughout the year with headlining stops across the country including Budweiser Stage (Toronto), Festival Country Lotbinière and Dauphin Country Fest, a 10-night residency at the Calgary Stampede as well as a show in his hometown of Fort Steele with the NHLPA.
A passionate storyteller and unmatched lyricist, Dean has risen and continues to remain at the top of the Canadian country landscape with an impressive 34 Top-10 singles (including 8 #1’s), 18 CCMA Awards, 2 JUNOs, more than 425+ million global streams and numerous gold and platinum certified singles (including 1 triple platinum and 3 double platinum). Only Shania Twain has more Canadian streams than Dean when looking at Canadian country artists “lifetime” results.
While a consistently celebrated entertainer, Dean also dedicates a large part of his life to philanthropic efforts through his charity, The Dean Brody Foundation. To continue his foundations’ mission, Dean has recently entered into a partnership with International Justice Mission (IJM), a global organization that shares the core values and goals of The Dean Brody Foundation. Working together to prevent violence and exploitation before it happens, the multi-year partnership with IJM will provide Dean the opportunity to work as an IJM Canada Ambassador and highlight his decade-long fight for justice on a global scale.
Saturday, June 14 – DEAN BRODY
● 1:00pm – 10:00pm – TROUBADOUR FESTIVAL BEER GARDEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY FLYING MONKEYS, DONALEIGHS, THE QUEENS AND KENZINGTONS
● 6pm – 8pm – LOCAL OPENERS SHOWCASE
■ OPENER #1 – LANCE DOBINSON
■ OPENER #2 – REBEKAH HAWKER
■ OPENER #3 – CAM BROWN
● 8:30pm – 10:00pm – DEAN BRODY
Lance Dobinson – These past few years having written and recorded “But It Ain’t That Easy,” “No One Else,” “Long Road” and “That Was All Part Of Me,” have certainly been great experiences for Lance Dobinson. Not to mention, having the opportunity to have “Long Road” being featured on “Sirius XM’s CBC Country” just a few years back, was certainly a milestone for Lance. Looking back from the year 2019, Lance had the privilege of singing with Country Music Artists, “Aaron Pritchett” and “Jamie Warren”, which certainly again, were milestones for Lance. This summer, Lance is truly honoured to be one of the supporting acts for Dean Brody, at this year’s “Troubadour Festival Summer Concert Series.”
Rebekah Hawker – Country-folk singer-songwriter Rebekah Hawker infuses stories of loss—of family, lovers, youth—with wisdom and resilience. Having established an impressive career at lightning pace through her late twenties—opening for acclaimed acts like The Good Lovelies, Rum Ragged, and Jim Cuddy; winning Mariposa Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist Showcase; and gracing world-class stages like Massey Hall—her latest EP Quit My Habitsees Hawker slowing down and reckoning with what really matters. Rooted in the rural stillness outside Barrie, Ontario, the EP features both powerful ballads and full-blown 90s country bangers. “I wanted to make songs my sisters and I could sing in the car together,” Hawker explains. Her open-hearted sound runs the gamut of country styles—from John Prine’s lore-spinning to Kacey Musgraves’s honeyed vocals to the vulnerable strength of Kathleen Edwards.Hawker’s music has been heard nationally on CBC and is currently in rotation on Sirius XM’s North Americana station. Known for her emotionally charged live sets—equal parts vulnerable and hilarious—she crafts songs meant to be belted with your friends or quietly felt alone. She finds herself at the intersection of country and folk, embracing the full spectrum the genres have to offer.
Cam Brown – Born and raised in Barrie, Ontario, Cam Brown performs across local establishments, resorts, and private events throughout Simcoe County, York Region, and the GTA. Drawing inspiration from artists such as John Mayer, Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, Justin Timberlake, and Morgan Wallen, Cam fuses his passion for country music with his Pop/R&B background, creating a modern country edge with a sound that feels both fresh and unique. 2025 marks a major step forward as Cam shifts his focus to original music, starting with his debut single, “Pretty Lime Margarita,” which hit #1 on the Canadian Indie Country Countdown (CICC). With more releases on the way and a growing presence on streaming platforms and radio, he’s fully leaning into the next phase of his career—bringing his unique sound to a wider audience.
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
Hawksley Workman is a JUNO Award-winning and Gold Record certified singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Since his ground-breaking self-produced indie debut For Him and The Girls (1999) through to chart-topping singles of 2020, Hawksley has careened between major label international smash hits to Canadiana soaked indie releases. Boasting a catalogue of 17 solo records, Hawksley’s genre defying style strings together folk, chart pop and irrepressible cabaret. His show-stopping vocals on songs about weather, love, heartbreak and tales of end-times have garnered him a league of devoted fans.
Performing over a thousand shows worldwide, Hawksley has headlined prestigious venues like Massey Hall and The Olympia in Paris. For a uniquely Canadian artist Hawksley has built loyal fan bases in the UK, France, Norway and Australia launching many successful tours, demystifying and delighting fans while drawing on an enviable catalogue of mischievous favourites, glammy stompers and heartfelt hymns to small town Canada.
- Tia Nova: Tia Nova is a standout powerhouse—an electrifying 17-year-old singer who brings a fresh vibe to the music scene. With her ability to blend genres and connect emotionally through songs, she captivates audiences everywhere. Tia uses music as a way to release emotion and relate to the personal experiences of others, making her performances feel both honest and impactful. As a passionate songwriter and performer, she’s making her mark and inviting everyone to join her on this exciting journey.
- Smokey & The Bones: Vigorous, Bustling and Buoyant; A songwriter for the ages, Smokey & the Bones is a modern rock group with a classic essence. With an eclectic and cycling crew of collective members, Smokey brings an exciting and authentic experience each and every show. Hailing from Barrie ON, the vision is to keep audiences and band members alike on their toes, forming a genuine connection and present experience for those willing to surrender to the music. Sounds like/Inspired by: J.J. Cale, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, The Strokes, Wilco, The Tragically Hip, Sam Fender, Gary Clark Jr., and many, many more…
Ritch Mitchell: Ritch Mitchell is a pop-punk infused country artist returning to music after a 20 year hiatus. He gave up a rising career to care for his mother during her fight with cancer, later becoming a paramedic himself. Now, he’s back: wiser, louder and more honest than ever. Turning pain into purpose, Ritch Mitchell is making the music he was always meant to.
