Festivals
Boots And Hearts Music Festival Is Coming To Alberta
Republic Live, the internationally acclaimed and multi-award-winning live entertainment company behind the Boots and Hearts Music Festival and OEG Sports & Entertainment (OEGSE), a North American leader in sports and entertainment, are bringing the iconic Boots and Hearts brand to Western Canada. Boots and Hearts West officially arrives in Edmonton on August 28 and 29, 2026, in Fan Park @ ICE District.
This exciting expansion marks a significant moment for the festival’s evolution, bringing the beloved Boots and Hearts experience—known for its unmatched fan community, immersive festival atmosphere, and world-class performances—to an all-new audience in Western Canada. The move reflects the brand’s growing national presence and the deep affinity fans have built over 15 years with the #BootsLife: unforgettable weekends rooted in connection, celebration, and country music culture.
To kick off its inaugural year, on the heels of his multi-week #1 hit at Canadian country radio, Platinum-selling artist Russell Dickerson will headline on Friday, August 28, followed by Grammy Award–nominated and genre-blending trailblazer Shaboozey on Saturday, August 29. The full festival lineup will be revealed at a later date.
Tickets will be available for pre-sale on Wednesday, December 3 at 10 a.m. MT, with public on-sale beginning Friday, December 5 at 10 a.m. MT exclusively at www.bootsandhearts.com. Fans can also take advantage of flexible payment options through PayPal or Klarna.
For over a decade, Boots and Hearts – Canada’s largest camping and music festival –has built a passionate, loyal fan base drawn to the festival’s signature mix of music, community, and memory-making. An eight-time CCMA Country Festival of the Year winner and recognized by the Academy of Country Music for Festival of the Year, Boots and Hearts continues to set the standard for world-class festival experiences. Boots and Hearts West will build on that legacy by bringing the same spirit to Western Canada—expanding reach, deepening the brand’s national footprint, and offering fans new ways to experience the festival they love.
“Boots and Hearts has always been about living the lifestyle of country music & celebrating its community. It is a feeling of connection and belonging. Bringing BootsLife to Edmonton is incredibly meaningful for us and is the perfect place for our next chapter,” shares Eva Dunford, Boots and Hearts Music Festival Co-Founder. “Alberta’s deep country roots and honest, grounded culture feel naturally aligned with the spirit our festival has cultivated over the past fifteen years. We are honoured to partner with OEG, a trusted leader in sports and live entertainment whose track record makes this possible. We can’t wait to share our stories, friendships, and music with a community that lives this spirit wholeheartedly. Our boots are on, and we’re heading west!”
“We’re excited to welcome Boots and Hearts to Alberta for its first-ever music festival outside of Ontario,” said Adam Oppenhiem, SVP, Live Entertainment and Events, OEGSE. “Boots and Hearts West combines one of Canada’s premier country music events with the unmatched energy, vibrancy, and excitement of ICE District—and some of Canada’s most passionate country music fans. These types of world-class festivals are exactly what venues like Fan Park @ ICE District and the future Event Park are made for, and Boots and Hearts West is yet another example of our tireless efforts to make Edmonton a must-stop destination for the biggest events in live entertainment. We look forward to delivering an unforgettable experience for country music fans from across Western Canada.”
Festivals
FIFA Fan Festival™ Vancouver – Simple Plan & JJ Wilde
The weather did everything it could to keep people away from the the FIFA Fan Festival™ in Vancouver on July 2, but fans had other ideas. Heavy rain lingered throughout the day, yet by the evening the amphitheatre at the PNE Grounds was packed with concertgoers ready to enjoy live music alongside the excitement of the FIFA World Cup.
The day’s schedule featured Round of 32 matches on the big screen between performances from local and international artists. Vancouver’s own JJ Wilde took the amphitheatre stage in the early evening, bringing her trademark mix of gritty rock vocals and confident stage presence. Her performance gave the crowd plenty of energy before the night’s main attraction, and showed everyone why she became the first woman in 25 years to win Canadian Rock Album Of The Year prize at Junos Awards.
Closing out the night was Montreal pop-punk veterans Simple Plan, who showed exactly why they continue to be one of Canada’s most reliable live bands more than two decades into their career. Rain-soaked fans sang along from the opening notes of “I’d Do Anything” as the band wasted no time getting the audience involved. Their set moved quickly through fan favourites including “Nothing Changes,” “Shut Up!,” “Jump,” “Jet Lag,” and “Welcome to My Life,” with nearly every chorus echoed back by the crowd.
The setlist balanced nostalgia with newer material, featuring songs like “Nothing Changes,” “Loser of the Year,” and “Million Pictures” alongside classics that have become staples of the band’s live shows. “Summer Paradise” brought a welcome reminder of sunnier days, even if the skies over Vancouver refused to cooperate.
One of the night’s most entertaining moments came during “What’s New Scooby-Doo?” Better known by fans simply as the Scooby-Doo song, the band continued its long-running concert tradition by inviting several people dressed as Scooby-Doo onto the stage.
The energy never dipped as the band powered through a party medley before closing with “Where I Belong,” “I’m Just a Kid,” and, fittingly, “Perfect.” Thousands of voices filled the amphitheatre, creating one of the loudest singalongs of the festival so far.
July 2 served as another reminder of what has made the FIFA Fan Festival such a success throughout the tournament. Football may bring people together during the day, but the nightly concerts have become just as much a reason to gather. Even under grey skies and persistent rain, Vancouver fans turned out in force, and Simple Plan rewarded that dedication with a high-energy performance that left the crowd smiling long after the final note.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full galleries of Simple Plan and JJ Wilde!
SIMPLE PLAN
JJ WILDE
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Festivals
Montréal Jazz Festival 2026 – Naïka
If you caught Naïka at MTelus just a few months back, you already know how incredible her live energy is. But seeing her step onto the huge outdoor TD Stage at Jazz Fest on June 29th was something else entirely. She went from playing an intimate venue to looking out at a sea of about 30,000 people. You could tell she was genuinely moved by the turnout, and how could she not be, considering the crowd was more than ten times the size of her last show in the city.
She started the set in this beautiful, draping white dress that paid tribute to her French-Haitian roots. It looked amazing, but right after the opening track, she shed the layers for a short skirt and a white top so she could actually move around, dance, and really own the massive stage.
The setlist felt like a perfect journey through her catalog. She hit some of her biggest tracks like “Ma Chérie” and “1+1,” and then completely flipped the mood by playing a gorgeous, soulful cover of “Killing Me Softly” that had us all swaying and singing along to every word. The absolute highlight, though, was when she surprised everyone by bringing Jessie Reyez out to perform “One Track Mind.” The chemistry between them on stage was so cool to see live.
Beyond the music, just standing in that crowd felt special. Looking around, it was a massive mix of people from every background and culture imaginable. It really reminded me of why Montreal’s melting-pot vibe makes festival season so unique. For an independent global artist like Naïka, the whole night felt less like a standard festival set and more like a major milestone moment in her connection with the city.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
NAÏKA AT JAZZFEST MONTREAL
All Photo Credit: Andres Amaya