Juno Award winning country group rocks Downtown Barrie in Troubadour Festival kickoff

The fast-growing Troubadour Festival Summer Concert Series officially returned to Downtown Barrie on Saturday for the first show of its second season.

The Road Hammers

The Road Hammers, Juno and multi-CCMA award winning band, headlined the evening performances, rocking Downtown Barrie into the night. They got the thousands in the crowd on their feet with top hits ‘Till the Wheels Fall Off’, ‘Mud’, ‘Eastbound and Down’, and ‘I’m a Road Hammer’.

“I promised these guys the show of the year, and I think that’s what the audience gave us,” said Jason McCoy, lead singer and guitarist. “We had a great time.”

As a Barrie native, the performance was extra special for McCoy.

“You get to see a lot of friends and family and it’s kind of like a family reunion,” he added. “It’s just off the hook. Barrie’s one of the prettiest waterfronts around, so you can’t ask for a better night.”

The openers

Four acts warmed up the stage for the Road Hammers.

Mississauga’s Kendra Gabrielle kicked off the Local Opener Showcase with top hits ‘Steady’, ‘Drunk On My Own’, and ‘Red’.

“I like to write things that I’ve gone through, my friends have gone through and younger girls can look up to,” said Gabrielle. “That’s what I think connects with my audience. Just being honest and just going for it.”

Orillia’s Makinna Givens followed. As an artist and sound engineer, she displayed the art and science of country music, also in front of familiar faces in the crowd.

“It was really awesome because a lot of my family was on the outskirts,” confirmed Givens. “A lot of the time when you’re performing they don’t get to come, so this was really nice to have everybody in the front row. That meant a lot.”

Then it was Jammer’s Waffle House, a young up-and-coming indie rock band. Their set was extended after the crowd demanded an encore.

“We got the crowd singing our song ‘Shame’ which was an amazing,” said Matthew Hinojosa, Jammer’s Waffle House Lead Singer and Guitarist. “It was awesome to play ‘Fell Apart’. We got to sing a couple of covers today. ‘Take on Me’ is so much fun. We got to play a little bit of everything.”

Sam Polley and the Old Tomorrows set the stage as the Headliner Opener.

Full day of fun

The Troubadour Festival also brought expanded programming for all ages.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of kids sang along with Caitee and Tobee, beloved children stars.

Then there was a special afternoon performance from Paige Rutledge, a country artist from Oakville who writes most of her songs from her cottage off Lake Couchiching.

“That’s where the inspiration strikes.” said Rutledge. “What a peaceful place to do it, and so this place has always felt like a second home to me.”

The next show

The Troubadour Festival Summer Concert Series continues with the Watchmen Headlining Night Two on Saturday July 25.

Which will also take part during the Classics in the Park Car show.

The Troubadour Summer Concert Series is presented by Paul Sadlon Motors, CTV News Barrie, PURE COUNTRY 106, BOUNCE 104.1, Hey Bear Productions, Lemmon Entertainment, City of Barrie and Tourism Barrie.