Boots & Hearts Will Change You

Please note that this show was originally photographed and written for Sworn By Sound. This is a cross post with permission from Red Umbrella PR. Links to the original post are below.

If you know me really well, you would know that if a country song comes on the radio, or on shuffle, I skip it. My best friend would try showing me new country songs, and I would tolerate it, but I wouldn’t be too enthusiastic. Fast forward to this summer, after my work with All Your Friends Fest, I was invited by Red Umbrella PR to come shoot Boots & Hearts country music festival in Oro-Medonte, Ontario. I wasn’t sure if I should accept the invite at first due to my stance on country music, although my god mother insisted that I give it a try, and go in with an open mind. I’m so glad I took my god mothers advice, as now I have embraced my “yee-haw” and will admit that I now have a appreciation for country music thanks to the amazing line up at Boots & Hearts 2025. 

Boots & Hearts is a four day festival that takes place in an open field about an hours drive North of Toronto. Headlining this year was Justin Moore on Thursday, Bailey Zimmerman and Tyler Hubbard on Friday, Sam Hunt and Chase Rice on Saturday, and closing things up on Sunday was Hard and Koe Wetzel. With a mix of different artists, and genres (while mainly focusing on country of course), Boots & Hearts brought out the real soul searching, electric seeking individuals who were there for a great time, to create memories, see their favourite artists, and above all, enjoy the music that was being played. If you thought the headlining artists were already amazing, attendees were lucky to catch glimpses of performances from artists Daughtry, The Band Perry, Meghan Patrick, High Valley and so many more.

If you were hungry, there were row upon row of food trucks to try, different brands showing off their products, and Circle K had probably the longest line there, where guests could feel refreshed from the wicked sun with sweet and flavourful slushes. Personally I found my favourite spot to be this little poutine truck where I grabbed the most delicious popcorn chicken poutine that had honey garlic sauce drizzled on it and topped with sesame seeds. Not to mention that the amount of food given was overflowing and I couldn’t even close the lid to take it back to the media tent. If music wasn’t enough to stimulate your senses there were carnival games where you could win prizes like stuffed animals and memorable keepsakes, and a ferris wheel for you to ride giving you the most stunning view of both stages from the top. The spectacle to watch your favourite artist from the top of the ferris wheel as the stage lights beamed into the night sky would be a breathtaking sight to see. If you thought the music ended after the headliners too, you’d think wrong as Monster Energy hosted the late night party half hour after each headliner where guest could crowd around to see performances by Vavo and Down With Webster letting the music continue into the early hours of the morning.

I may have been wrong about my stance on country music, and I’m glad Boots & Hearts gave me a better more sincere insight into the culture behind the genre. I feel changed, and have a better understanding and appreciation of everything that goes into the country music scene. Boots & Hearts returns to the Burls Creek campground in 2026, so be sure to keep an eye out for tickets and line up announcements on their socials and their website. 

SATURDAY GALLERY

SUNDAY GALLERY