Hitting all the right notes in downtown Barrie with free outdoor concert

After months of preparation the stage is set for the first outdoor concert in downtown Barrie this summer. Emerging local artists will rally the crowd before headliner Dean Brody takes the stage.

Craig Stevens, executive director of Downtown Barrie BIA, said the downtown core is ready. “I think they can expect just a really cool downtown urban experience with live music,” he said. “You know, go back in history of literally, that’s where the community comes together”.

• Extended | Troubadour Festival Summer Concert Series

Out of 50 submissions, Lance Dobinson, Rebekah Hawker, and Cam Brown were announced as the winners of the local talent showcase ready to roll Saturday night.

Chaz Hay, promoter of the Troubadour Festival, said all the artists were extremely talented, with the three winners of the showcase standing out against the rest.

“They’re all singer/songwriters and they write their own music and recorded their own music and are at a younger level on their way to hoping to do bigger and better things,” said Hay.

The chance to open for a county music star is an opportunity not many would pass up.

Jason McCoy, Pure County 106 morning show host said the opening acts are extremely important for the headliners, and on a personal level for the artists.

“As an opener, you’re just getting your career going and you maybe not able to play in front of a large crowd to get the word out about what you do,” said McCoy. “This is the perfect opportunity (for them) and the perfect opportunity for us to support that homegrown talent.”

The openers are a large part of the troubadour festival, which takes pride in supporting local musicians.

“The important part of a supporting artist or a local artist is in any community,” said Hay. “In order to have a healthy live music community, you need to have a grassroots community of artists that are working their way up.”

Crews are hard at work Friday setting the stage for Canadian country music star Dean Brody who is ready to ‘bring down the house.’

“Dean Brody, 34 top 10 singles, eight number ones,” said McCoy. “I mean, you know, every word, every song is part of our Canadian DNA, so get on down to the waterfront in Barrie and sing along.”

The concert will be free to attend with festivities beginning on Dunlop Street starting at 1:00 p.m. Saturday

Shuttle buses will be running from the Tiffin Street waterfront parking lot starting at 4:30 p.m., with six pick-up spots between the Allandale GO Station and downtown.

Businesses by the waterfront are ready for the large crowds of people.

Steve Ricalis, owner of Donaleigh’s Irish Public House and Dunlop Street Diner, said the downtown is trying to attract a variety of crowds.

“We’re trying to entice people to come downtown by doing things like this (Troubadour Festival) and reinvesting in it back into the downtown,” said Ricalis, adding there is plenty of parking available.

Ricalis, also vice-chair on the BIA, said Barrie is ready to show off its downtown this summer.

“We believe doing things like this and bringing people downtown and people say, ‘hey, yeah, that’s great down here. We should come down here more often. Oh, look at the waterfront, we have one of the best waterfronts in the world. It’s gorgeous’,” said Ricalis. “ So I think that people just have to come and just explore and have a good time.”

Saturday’s Dean Brody concert kicks off the start of the festival’s four open-air free concerts as part of the summer series. Also headlining this summer are The 99s, Hawksley Workman and Brett Kissel.

The Troubadour Festival Summer Concert Series is presented byCTV Barrie,Pure Country 106,BOUNCE 104.1, and theDowntown Barrie BIA.