Boots and Hearts Music Festival shaping up to be Canada’s hottest country music event
Republic Live, organizers of Boots and Hearts Music Festival, are pleased to announce that Dierks Bentley, Aaron Lewis, Joe Diffie, Chad Brownlee, Jason Blaine, Colt Ford, High Valley, Kira Isabella, The Stellas, Parmalee and Dee Jay Silver have all been added to the 2013 event. The three day country music festival which takes place this summer August 2 – 4th at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario is shaping up to be the hottest country music event in Canada this summer with headliners Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Miranda Lambert, The Band Perry and Dean Brody previously confirmed to perform prior to today’s announcement.
Three day general admission tickets are on sale now for $229.99 exclusively at www.bootsandhearts.com.
“To be able to add a multi-platinum selling artist like Dierks Bentley, coupled with Aaron Lewis, who is ready to blow up in country after an already amazing rock career, along with a legend like Joe Diffie, we are just so thrilled,” said Shannon McNevan, Executive Director, Partner, Republic Live. “Delivering the best performers in country music from both sides of the border is so important to us and it’s great to have Canadian artists such as Chad Brownlee, Jason Blaine, High Valley, The Stellas, and festival darling Kira Isabella, who after last year’s performance at Boots and Hearts went on to tour with Carrie Underwood. I think our audience is also going to go crazy for Colt Ford, who co-wrote Dirt Road Anthem, recorded by Jason Aldean, and we know how much our fans love Aldean. Country rockers Parmalee are a great addition and Dee Jay Silver is going to be a huge crowd pleaser for our late night party crowd. Once again this batch of tickets at the $229.99 price point won’t last forever and we are encouraging fans to buy now while tickets are still available at this price.”
Multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley has forged his own brand of country music, combining classic country songwriting, influences of bluegrass instrumentation and the energy of rock ’n’ roll. Bentley’s sixth studio album, Home, debuted at No. 1 and has spawned three consecutive chart-topping hits, marking 10 career No. 1 songs for Bentley as a singer and songwriter. Home also garnered Bentley a nomination for “Best Country Solo Performance” at the upcoming 55th Annual GRAMMYs where is scheduled to perform. His five previous studio albums have sold more than five million copies and earned him an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry.
Aaron Lewis
Aaron Lewis made his journey to the country scene in 2011 with the release of his debut EP, Town Line, and the success of the gold-selling single “Country Boy,” featuring legendary George Jones and Charlie Daniels. The seven-song EP reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and No. 7 on the Billboard Top 200. Lewis finished the year with nominations from the Academy of Country Music for “Vocal Event of the Year,” as well as two CMT nominations for “Breakthrough Video of the Year” and “Collaborative Video of the Year.” Building upon the demand from his fans for a full-length solo album, Aaron Lewis proudly shares his country roots with the release of The Road, which hit stores on November 13, 2012, debuting in the Top 10 on Billboard Country Albums chart. The Road features nine powerful, pensive and unforgettable new Lewis compositions, as well as the first song Lewis has ever recorded by an outside writer, the Rhett Akins/Dallas Davidson/Bobby Pinson-penned “Granddaddy’s Gun.” With seven studio albums released totaling sales over 15 million units throughout his 17 plus year career, country listeners will find a true work of art as Lewis honors traditional country, a genre the singer/songwriter was raised on as a child. For more information, please visit www.aaronlewismusic.com
Joe Diffie
Starting in 1990 with his first hit-single Home, Joe has had twelve #1’s, twenty top 10’s, and released 13 albums. Some of his hits include If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets), Pickup Man, Third Rock from the Sun, John Deere Green, and Bigger Than the Beatles. He is also a prolific songwriter whose songs have been recorded by many of his fellow artists including Jo Dee Messina, who’s recording of My Give a Damn’s Busted became a #1 hit. Diffie has won a Grammy, CMA Awards, and been honored as Humanitarian of the Year by the Country Music Broadcasters. He’s a member of the Grand Ole Opry and has toured the country numerous times. Fellow country star Jason Aldean has recently recorded a song entitled “1994” that pays tribute to Joe Diffie. The song appears on Aldean’s Night Train album (release date Oct. 16, 2012) and was written by Thomas Rhett, Barry Dean and Luke Laird. There are numerous Youtube video clips of fans singing the song and “doing the Diffie.” www.JoeDiffie.com
Chad Brownlee
Chad Brownlee (MDM Recordings Inc./Universal Music Canada) has had a showcase year in the country music world, recently topping things off with a 2012 Canadian Country Music Award (CCMA) nomination for Male Artist of the Year, and performing on the live national CBC TV broadcast of the awards show on Sept. 9, 2012. Since the release of his new album Love Me Or Leave Me on February 14, 2012, the talented singer-songwriter has shown the industry that his place in country music is on the rise; quite literally as he was also the recipient of the 2011 Rising Star Award at the CCMA’s. With his mesmerizing live performances, in addition to his rugged good looks, Brownlee has increasingly been stealing the hearts of his fans.
Jason Blaine
Jason Blaine picked up a guitar at age 8 and started writing songs at 16, around the time he joined his father and brother onstage in their “hobby” band. “My parents always had country music on,” he says “so Country was a natural direction for me.” Signing a publishing deal and relocating to Nashville, Jason learned a lot about song writing — or at least the way he feels most comfortable composing songs. 2012 saw Jason win the CCMA Single of Year for his top ten hit They Don’t Make Em Like That Anymore, followed by Cool, the most played Canadian song at country radio according to chart source BDS. For his latest album, Life So Far, Jason has pushed himself more than ever before. “I feel like I’ve been given some really great gifts musically, like this is really what I’m meant to be doing. It’s very satisfying to look back at the work I’ve done knowing that I’ve been creating it, building it and to see the way that songs touch people. There isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not thankful for being able to live my dream.” Life So Far is indeed a collection of songs about family, relationships, good times and memories that reflect an air of maturity in writing craft from one of Canada’s bright new stars.
Colt Ford
Colt Ford is back with his best album ever and all it took was a return to his roots. Declaration of Independence, released on Colt’s own Average Joes Entertainment, will no doubt go down as one of the most noteworthy releases to date, which is saying a lot for a man who has already sold over one million albums, and 3 million downloads. The former professional golfer and collaborator with Jermaine Dupri is used to adversity, taking country music by storm at a time when Nashville labels deemed him “not pretty enough” and country radio sees him as too distinct to add to their playlists. The fact Colt Ford is hard to categorize is exactly why he’s been successful. His fans appreciate his diverse musical talents by the boatloads, as a visit to one of his shows will prove. Colt’s list of guest superstars on Declaration of Independence is an impressive one. Jason Aldean, for whom Colt co-wrote the #1 smash “Dirt Road Anthem,” lends his vocal talents to “Drivin’ Around,” while Jake Owen adds his unique spin on “Back,” the album’s first single. Colt also co-write Brantley Gilbert’s #1 hit, “Country Music Be Country Wide.”
High Valley
When it comes to illuminating simple truths and tapping into universal emotions, there’s nothing like a great song and country music has long been known for its rich legacy of powerful story songs. When a great collection of songs merges with a band of gifted communicators, the impact is considerable. It’s that one-two punch of powerful songs and potent performances that makes High Valley one of the most impressive new acts on today’s competitive country scene. “The overall goal of the record is to make people think,” says lead vocalist Brad Rempel, who along with his brothers Bryan and Curtis comprises High Valley. “You don’t have to listen to too many songs on the record to see that there are songs about challenges. We want people to think about their lives and to think about their loved ones and to ask: ‘What am I doing with my life?'”
Kira Isabella
Canadian newcomer, Kira Isabella is a charming young singer who won the 2012 Canadian Country Music Association Rising Star Award. The Ottawa native recently toured with Carrie Underwood, and this spring will be hitting the road with Terri Clark. Kira released her debut album, Love Me Like That, this past October where it debuted at #2 on the Canadian Country Music charts. Her current single, Songs About You, is available on iTunes now.
The Stellas
Of course The Stellas can duet! The married couple has been together for 16 years, playing in bands and writing country-pop that highlights their strong lead vocals and complimentary harmonies. On their self-titled album for EMI Music, Marylynne and Brad Stella serve up personality-driven songs that range from the sprightly pop single, “Perfect,” to gun-toting attitude of “The Game,” oh-so-low “Woe Is Me” and true childhood tale “Life of Riley.” The pair, whose 2009 audition for Country Music Television’s Can You Duet?, prompted judge Naomi Judd to yell “Shows over! Give them the contract now!” performed weekly for millions of American viewers and earned fourth place as well as a reputation as ‘the ones to watch’. The Stellas self titled major label debut is a country record with the hallmark sound of classic records, an authentic record comprised of the duo’s many influences. “We have a love of all music. There’s very little music out there that we don’t appreciate. Our entire motivation is the love of what we do and we will continue to make music for audiences big and small – from the kitchen to the stage.”
Parmalee
Parmalee’s country rock sound has its roots in the bluegrass, traditional country, southern rock and blues covers the guys grew up hearing their families play. From this tiny town that’s home to a gas station, two blinking yellow lights, and a small tin-roofed barn dubbed Studio B, country rockers Parmalee launched their long journey to Nashville. The near-fatal robbery Parmalee experienced after a show would have destroyed most bands. But brothers Matt and Scott Thomas, cousin Barry Knox and longtime friend Josh McSwain didn’t call it quits. Instead it reinforced their intense motivation and dedication to one another and to their determination to succeed. All of Parmalee’s hard work, dedication and perseverance are paying off in a big way. Last year, Country fans voted the band’s debut single, “Musta Had A Good Time,” #1 for 4 consecutive weeks on SiriusXM’s “The Highway,” and the song was a Top 40 hit on mainstream country radio. The fun-loving party anthem has been featured in national sporting event broadcasts from the PGA to MLB. The single placed #7 in the Top 10 Country Dance Hits of 2012. Parmalee has been highlighted in USA Today, AOL’s The Boot, Country Aircheck, Country Weekly and been named a “Bubbling Under Artist” by Billboard magazine. Parmalee’s highly-anticipated follow up single “Carolina” will impact country radio on Feb 4.
Dee Jay Silver
Dee Jay Silver has been a top touring dj/remixer/producer for over 10 years, having played in premier venues in virtually every major market in the US, Mexico and Canada. Touring with the like of Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Thompson Square, Chris Young, The Jane Dear Girls, Rascall Flatts, Sarah Evans, Easton Corbin, & Justin Moore in 2011, Dee Jay Silver has entertained millions of listeners with his unique brand of party rock country style of music mixing. More than a DJ, Dee Jay Silver was the first DJ to ever play the Academy of Country Music Awards this past year in Las Vegas, Dee Jay Silver has also performed at the Sundance Film Festival, Winter Music Conference in Miami, Wet Grooves “Largest Pool Party in the World,” National Lampoon Spring Break Tour, Viva La Bam Spring Break Tour, Jackass World Tour, House of Blues – Los Angeles & Las Vegas, Hard Rock Café, New York Time Central Square & Las Vegas, SXSW Music Festival – Austin, Tx, Austin City Limits Music Festival & thousands of major nightclubs, celebrity parties and venues across the world. Dee Jay Silver recently launched his own clothing brand, “Silverwear™ Currently available at www.DeeJaySilver.com & all Tour Dates World Wide
