Tag Archives: indie music festival Canada

Gussapolooza Reveals Full 2026 Lineup

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Gussapolooza Music & Arts Festival returns to the Georgian Bay Steam Show Grounds in Cookstown, Ontario on August 21–23, 2026 for its fifth annual edition. What started as a backyard gathering has grown, year after year, into one of Southern Ontario’s most distinctive independent music weekends — three days of live music, original art, and community built entirely from the ground up. 

Built by musicians, for musicians — and the community that keeps showing up for them. 48 acres of open grounds, three stages, and a lineup drawn entirely from the independent Canadian music scene. 

2026 Lineup 

Headlining Saturday night is Feral Minks — the Kitchener rock outfit who have been building serious momentum across the Canadian independent scene. Produced by Jay Emmons of The Glorious Sons, their breakout single “Matador” cracked the Top 25 on the Canadian Active Rock charts, and the band earned HTZ FM’s Rock Search title in 2024, joining a lineage that includes Finger 11, The Trews, and The Glorious Sons. Multi-year Gussapolooza alumni and the festival’s 2025 Band of the Year, the Feral Minks return to close out Saturday night and receive a gold vinyl award on stage. 

Also on the 2026 bill: Propter Hawk — the Toronto five-piece fronted by Malorie Jo Blake, whose horn-drenched rock and roll has earned features in the Toronto Star and placement on Sportsnet’s Hockey Night in Canada; Taming Sari, the bilingual Ontario-Atlantic rock outfit whose single “Crazy” hit 50,000 Spotify streams and 50,000 YouTube views within weeks of release; HARKNESS, Toronto’s psych-pop solo artist known for a commanding live presence and building a loyal following across Canada and beyond; Cabin Fever, the southwestern Ontario folk/roots trio whose single “Devil Is A Friend” was featured on Season 3 of “The Trades” on CraveTV, and whose music has landed on CBC’s Alt Country and Canadian Country playlists and drawn coverage from outlets in the UK and New Zealand. Returning to the Gussapolooza stage: The Manic Boys and Girls Club — the Toronto alt-pop/rock sibling duo whose EP was produced by Gavin Brown, the award-winning producer behind Billy Talent, Metric, and The Glorious Sons. 

The full 40+ artist lineup spans rock, country, folk, and alternative, and includes Tony Rust & the Mudhorses, The Thick, Feura, Suzi Kory, Dumb Crush, Kill/Death Radio!, Black Paint, Coco Rose, The Meringues, Joanna Bronson, The Connors Brothers, and many more. Full lineup and schedule at gussapolooza.com. 

About the Festival 

Gussapolooza is an all-ages, three-day independent music and arts festival rooted in community, creativity, and connection. Since 2022, it has created a gathering space where independent and emerging Canadian artists play to the families, music lovers, and loyal regulars who have made this weekend part of their summer. 

Programming spans three music stages — the Main Stage, Barn Stage, and Side Stage — alongside a dedicated Kids Zone, Health & Wellness Zone, Vendor Village, Creator’s Convention (an outdoor podcast and media activation space), and Artist Alley. 

New in 2026: WonderGround, an immersive art zone featuring large-scale installations. 

A Platform for Independent Canadian Music 

At a time when independent artists face shrinking venue circuits and consolidating festival rosters, Gussapolooza represents something built differently. The festival was started by a musician who wanted to create a stage worth playing — and has grown entirely on word of mouth, community investment, and a commitment to keeping the lineup independent. 

For many artists on the 2026 bill, Gussapolooza is one of their largest stages of the year — and the crowd that fills those grounds came specifically to find them. 

Festival at a Glance 

  • Dates: August 21–23, 2026
  • Location: Georgian Bay Steam Show Grounds, Cookstown, Ontario
  • Format: All-ages, three-day outdoor music & arts festival with camping
  • Stages: Main Stage, Barn Stage, Side Stage
  • New in 2026: WonderGround — immersive art zone
  • Tickets: Available at gussapolooza.com

Vote Now to Shape This Year’s Gussapolooza Lineup!

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While we’re on the topic of exciting, community-based August music festivals, we’ll also be taking our third trip up to Ontario for Gussapolooza, the three-day extravaganza featuring some of the best up-and-coming talent from across Canada — and the globe!

Our friends up there have received so many submissions this year that they need a little bit of help sorting through them. That’s where you come in!

Introducing Sound Check, a chance to discover new artists and help shape the Gussapolooza 2026 lineup. Every few days, they will be unveiling a new genre category with a fresh batch of artists from around the world. Your job is to head over here, listen, and vote for the artists that you want to see perform at Gussapolooza. The artists with the most fan support move forward in the selection process.

Want your vote to go even further? You can access 3x voting power by purchasing a Gussapolooza Insider Pass. The Insider Pass costs only $25 CAD, lasts throughout the 2026 Gussapolooza season, and includes even more perks, including giveaways, exclusives, and more.

It’s all in the name of creativity and community, as Gussapolooza comes our way August 21-23 at the Georgian Bay Steam Show Grounds in Cookstown, Ontario. Get those tickets here!

Gussapolooza 2025 Countdown: Visit the UMC Media Booth!

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The excitement is building toward this weekend, as we get set to make the trip up to Cookstown, Ontario for our return to Gussapolooza!

Of course, you can tune into our YouTube and Instagram channels for updates throughout the weekend, and you can expect recap galleries to make their way onto The Blog the following week. However, we felt this year was a perfect time to kick things up a notch…

Enter the UMC Media Booth!

We’ll be onsite all weekend, welcoming artists, organizers, vendors, and guests to join us at the UMC Media Booth. There, we’ll have our 12-channel mixer at the ready to record short interviews and acoustic performances our Official Podcast, The Quinn Spinn. Swing by throughout the weekend and schedule a time to chat with us!

In addition, we’ll have information available on UMC and our UnderDogs Across Borders campaign, and a couple of special, this-weekend-only deals on select UMC merch and fall BRANDCAMP enrollment. It’s an opportunity for all those in attendance to tap in with us, as we develop a creator-centric music industry throughout the rest of 2025 and beyond!

Still need your weekend passes for Gussapolooza? Find ’em here!

Gussapolooza Tier 1 Tickets Available Until June 1

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Imagine a weekend where the music never stops, creativity fills the air, and strangers feel like friends. That’s Gussapolooza — and Tier 1 tickets for 2025 are only available until Sunday, June 1.

Set in the heart of Cookstown, Ontario from August 22–24, Gussapolooza is more than a music festival. It’s a three-day escape into a vibrant, welcoming world where artists, dreamers, and music lovers come together to share unforgettable moments.

Expect late-night jams by the campfire, hands covered in paint, dancing barefoot in the grass, and moments of pure connection with people who just get it.

Here’s what the Gussapolooza experience looks like:

  • A packed weekend of live music from incredible rising talent.
  • Camping with your crew (or making a new one).
  • Wild paint parties, immersive art, and spontaneous magic.
  • Food trucks, fresh air, and wide-open fields full of music and movement.
  • A creative energy that flows from stage to sky.

“There’s nothing quite like it,” says Festival Director Valerie Robson. “It’s not just a festival — it’s a feeling. If you know, you know.”

Tier 1 passes are the best deal you’ll get — and they’re only available until June 1 at midnight. Grab your tickets now, and don’t miss your chance to be part of something unforgettable.

Gussapolooza Announces Lineup Featuring Bleeker & Grant Boyer

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The Gussapolooza Music and Arts Festival is back—and the official 2025 lineup has just been announced!

Taking place August 22–24, 2025 in vibrant Cookstown, Ontario, this year’s festival features special guests Bleeker and Grant Boyer, alongside returning Gussapolooza award winners Manic Boys and Girls Club, Harley Olivia, and Cudbear. They’ll be joined by an eclectic lineup of emerging artists from across the country for a weekend packed with creativity, energy, and inspiration.

More than a music festival, Gussapolooza is a family-friendly celebration of community, creativity, and connection. Guests can explore immersive experiences like the Kids Zone, a tranquil Health & Wellness Zone, interactive art installations, local artisan vendors, and more—offering something for everyone.

Festivalgoers can also enjoy a full weekend stay with a variety of camping options, including RV power sites, designated family camping, and access to onsite showers—ensuring a fun and convenient festival experience for all.

“We’re beyond excited to welcome Bleeker, Grant Boyer and so many incredible artists to Cookstown this summer,” said Russell Robson, Founder and Organizer of Gussapolooza. “Gussapolooza has always been about more than music—it’s a community-driven, family-friendly celebration where people of all ages can come together, connect, and be inspired by the arts. We can’t wait to share this experience with everyone again in 2025.”

Gussapolooza is also proud to announce a meaningful new partnership with Stevenson Memorial Hospital. A portion of all ticket sales will go directly toward funding the hospital’s new state-of-the-art facility, strengthening access to healthcare in the surrounding community.

Tickets are now on sale and the full artist lineup is available at www.gussapolooza.com. While there, you’ll find information on how to get involved as a volunteer, vendor, or member of the media.

Gussapolooza, Day 3: We Are Guss!

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The final day of Gussapolooza 2024 was a special day for me, personally. Before a note of music was performed, I had the opportunity to present my Perfect Your Pitch seminar to the artistpreneurs in attendance on Sunday morning. Thanks to the team behind the scenes at Gussapolooza and MTAV for making this amazing opportunity possible!

Once my seminar concluded — and after I had the chance to chat with few folks in attendance — it was time to grab my camera and get back out there for Day 3’s action-packed lineup.

Day 3 was bittersweet. It was a joy to appreciate the community that had gathered throughout the weekend in support of emerging artists. At the same time, we knew that our time together for 2024 would soon come to an end — which meant that we had to get as much out of the final day as possible.

And, as we had come to expect, the final day delivered. As the late summer sun glistened over Ontario once more, artists from across the Canadian music landscape offered us a snapshot of the creative world that awaits all those willing to explore. As the sun set and the festival’s final performances took shape, the die-hard Gusses soaked in every last minute of this year’s festival.

Then, we met at the barn for the afterparty, where festival organizer Russ Robson deftly wove his story — and the story of Gussapolooza itself — into an enthralling, five-song acoustic set before opening the stage up to an open jam that lasted into the wee hours.

Now, we leave you with a collage, featuring the many parting glances we took toward this year’s festival. We thank everyone at Gussapolooza for their warm welcome, and we look forward to supporting this amazing, three-day experience again — in 2025 and beyond!

Gussapolooza, Day 2: A Full Day in the Sun

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The weather gods continued to favor Gussapolooza all weekend long. While the morning started off chilly by my standards — since moving to Nashville, I think anything below 70 degrees Fahrenheit is on the cool side — I woke up last Saturday morning to a beautiful day, without even the thought of a cloud in the sky.

There was a full day’s worth of music waiting to greet us across three different stages, and a series of seminars kicking off the day inside the MTAV Barn stage. After Friday provided us with a brilliant primer coat, we were prepared to take in the full Gussapolooza experience in all of its glory.

The beautiful weather, the opportunities to connect, and another diverse, talented lineup made Day 2 into a can’t-miss experience. Here, we got to appreciate the power of an idea, as we observed how a small festival that began in Russ Robson’s backyard has turned into a three-day celebration of creativity that brings people out in droves — not just from the surrounding area, but from across North America and beyond.

David July (IG | Spotify)

Melanie Peterson (IG | Spotify)

Alessandro Montelli (IG | Spotify)

Wild Bloom (IG | Spotify)

Old Soul (IG | Spotify)

Wishwell (IG | Spotify)

General Mojo’s (IG | Spotify)

Francesca Panetta (IG | Spotify)

Burning Bridges (IG | Spotify)

Tyler Lorette (IG | Spotify)

Harley Olivia (IG | Spotify)

The Blues Emergency (IG | Spotify)

Cigar Club (IG | Spotify)

Fortunate Losers (IG | Spotify)

Devious One (IG | Spotify)

PHOTOS: Gussapolooza, Day 1: We Arrive North

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The late summer sun was shining. Shades of sky blue and kelly green draped over the Canadian landscape, as I drove into Ontario by way of the Ambassador Bridge, connecting Detroit to Windsor.

I — and UMC — had never been here before. Not only did I find myself in another country, but I was there on behalf of this plucky little platform I started with a USB mic, laptop, and idea in my childhood bedroom 11 years prior. Surreal.

I still had a few more hours to go before I’d arrive to my destination: Cookstown, about an hour north of Toronto. Gussapolooza — an emerging festival for independent artists — was set to begin.

I arrived shortly after 5 p.m. ET, where I was greeted warmly by organizers and volunteers. After getting camp situated, I grabbed my camera and walked up to the festival’s dual main stage setup.

Suddenly, we were off to the races.

Throughout the evening, I found myself remarking at the talent and diversity on the lineup. It felt that, with each new performance, I had found my new favorite moment of the night.

Moreover, all of us in attendance were free and encouraged to create and enjoy it all. It became evident quickly that Gussapolooza is more than a festival; it’s a community that brings us back to the fundamentals, while providing meaningful opportunities for artistic expression.

Certainly, to build a career in this industry, there is a necessary emphasis on the business side that we all must embrace. However — if just for a weekend — Gussapolooza invited us all to drop the pretense, come as we are, and find unity in the art form that inspired our creative journeys.

Gussapolooza was here for another year, and it was ready to remind us why we do what we do.

Note: I tried to get to every performance, but there were a few I missed throughout the weekend, in the flow of things. If I missed yours, I offer my humblest apologies. Let’s make it up sometime!

Brigitte Eve (IG | Spotify)

In Your Walls (IG | Spotify)

Freightliner (IG | Spotify)

Usual Suspektz (IG | Spotify)

Cudbear (IG | Spotify)

Ashley Gilmore (IG | Spotify)

Feral Minks (IG | Spotify)

Jeff Gutteridge (IG | Spotify)

The Manic Boys & Girls Club (IG | Spotify)

CMAGIC5 (IG | Spotify)

Gussapolooza Music & Arts Festival 2024

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Based in Cookstown, Ontario, Gussapolooza is “a haven for artists, creators, and entrepreneurial spirits.” This unique 3-day camp-out extravaganza celebrates Canada’s emerging music and arts scene with live performances, seminars, networking opportunities, and an array of food and beverage options. More than 50 bands from across Canada perform on multiple stages and represent diverse genres like rock, country, folk, hip-hop, electronic, pop, and more.

Within this partnership, Underground Music Collective will provide media support for Gussapolooza before, during, and after this year’s festival — including live updates from the festival, and a recap photo gallery after its conclusion. In addition, UMC Founder Gerard Longo will present Perfect Your Pitch: Building Authentic Connections as an Independent Artist during the festival’s seminar portion, Sunday, September 15 at 11 a.m.

Tickets and camping passes to Gussapolooza 2024 are available now. Get yours below, and stay tuned here for updates!