Every year we look forward to the packed schedule of country music that takes place at Boots & Hearts. We also sit and think and guess at who we're going to see on stage when the festival rolls around in August... so, we're back with our 2019 predictions.
This year my list has grown to 20 artists that I think have a legitimate chance to be booked to play at B&H in August 2019. Some of them may be longshots, but I truly don't think that any of them are out of the question.
At the top of the list there are four legit headliner possibilities, and then we start to get into openers and afternoons and Front Porch stage slots that make for a complete weekend of good times. I've got bands and solo artists, women and men, and Canadians and Americans. It's a full list, and we'd be happy to see all of them at Boots & Hearts.
There were also 10 or more other artists that would have been really easy to put on this list. It wasn't easy to do this. So, if you have any predictions for Boots & Hearts 2019, leave a comment, and we can get some more names flowing!
Little Big Town
We're still waiting for LBT to make their Boots & Hearts debut... and the time is right. Since their cancelled 2015 appearance, the award-winning quartet has become even bigger stars.
Their smooth harmonies and monster hits make for a great show, and they would make fantastic headliners any night of the festival.
Jason Aldean
It feels like a long, long time ago that Jason Aldean headlined Boots & Hearts. In reality, it was a rainy day and night in 2013, and we'd do it all over again.
The guitar-driven rockin' country music of Aldean and his band bursts through the speakers and makes for a great party. And with 20 #1 singles and a long list of fan favourites on his resume, there would be no shortage of songs he could play that the crowd would love.
Sugarland
They're back and we love it. And we would love it even more if Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush came north to play Boots & Hearts for the first time.
With classic hits like Baby Girl, Settlin', All I Want To Do to go along with new jams Still The Same and Babe - we know Sugarland has got everything that 40,000 country music fans in Ontario could want on a summer night.
Darius Rucker
The Grand Ole Opry member and former Hootie and the Blowfish frontman has never played Boots & Hearts, and we think it's about time.
Darius Rucker has some big, big hits that tens of thousands of country music fans could sing along to at the main stage. We'd love to be part of that choir.
Chad Brownlee
With a new team behind him and new music on the way, Chad Brownlee is ready for the Boots & Hearts main stage once again. The Canadian country star has always played to a warm reception at B&H, and we believe he'd get it again in 2019.
If we get more songs like Dear Drunk Me, this has gotta happen!
Maren Morris
With a second album on the way to follow up the success of 2016's Hero and her huge 2018 hit The Middle with Zedd, Maren Morris is ready for Boots & Hearts if they're ready for her.
Imagine yourself standing in a crowd of 30,000 or more country fans singing along to My Church and tell me you don't get the goosebumps I get.
Cam
Her follow-up album may have been delayed, but if the Burning House singer has more new music like Diane to offer, we're all in. And after her 2016 performance on the front porch stage, we would LOVE to see Cam on the main stage in 2019!
Dear Cam, please come back.
Luke Combs
Luke Combs light continues to shine brighter and brighter in Nashville and beyond. Fans are flocking to his shows across Canada and the United States, and as his songs burn up the charts and streaming services he is becoming a bonafide star.
He's already got three #1s with Hurricane, When It Rains It Pours, and One Number Away, and by the time Boots & Hearts 2019 rolls around he could double that number!
Dan + Shay
After a crazy thunderstorm washed out Dan + Shay's 2016 Boots & Hearts set on the Saturday night main stage (though they did come out and play with Keith Urban as special guests, and took over the late-night dance party) we wouldn't be surprised to see the Tequila singers back at Boots.
With their career success only growing, and their fanbase in love with what they do, misters Smyers and Mooney would be welcome additions to the 2019 lineup.
Carly Pearce
The Hide The Wine and Every Little Thing singer is on her way to becoming a big, big, big star and Boots & Hearts would light up for her. We've seen her play stripped down and acoustic, and we've seen her on the Budweiser Stage in Toronto - and now we want to see Carly Pearce at the biggest festival of the summer.
There's also time for one or two, or maybe even three singles to be released between now and then. And that means folks are going to know the words and be able to sing along loud!
Tebey
When we talked to Tebey backstage at Boots & Hearts 2018, he told us that he'd love to be back on the big stage for a full set. And we'd love to see it!
With Denim On Denim and Who's Gonna Love You becoming two of his biggest hits, there's momentum on Tebey's side. And if that keeps up, there would be a whole lot of buzz in the air if he hit the stage in 2019.
Lauren Alaina
One of country music's rising stars, Lauren Alaina is ready for Boots & Hearts. We've seen her up on stage, and she's a lot of fun. She's got a setlist that will get a summer festival crowd going. And, fans recognize her from country radio.
We could imagine Lauren Alaina in a late afternoon slot on the Front Porch stage, or an early evening spot on the main stage before the headliners get up in front of the big crowd.
Alee
In 2017 we saw Alee play on the main stage in the early afternoon. Since then she's heard her name at the CCMA awards as a Female Artist of the Year nominee, she's released new music, and we're ready for more.
Alee is a Canadian talent that we should all be ready to hear more from and see on big stages from coast-to-coast.
Nice Horse
Nice Horse puts in work. Katie, Brandi, Krista, and Tara are full speed ahead on stage, online, and everywhere in between. They're making a name for themselves with great shows, fun content, and award nominations.
And in 2019 we can see Nice Horse back at B&H doing their thing, and hopefully playing some new music.
Dan Davidson
Dan Davidson is a good time on stage. He's got songs like Found and Barn Burner that get a crowd fired up and singing along. He exudes good vibes with a ton of energy and enthusiasm. And, we can very much imagine Dan playing at the Thursday night kick-off party.
That would be a lot of fun.
Hunter Brothers
If we're going to talk about fun, we better talk about the Hunter Brothers.
These five brothers have all of the pieces and make great music together. Their harmonies are tight. Their playfulness is fantastic to watch. And with more and more recognition coming in the form of radio plays and tour spots with artists like Paul Brandt, the Hunter Brothers are putting themselves in a great position for a big jump.
Tenille Townes
Tenille Townes is blowing up on both sides of the border, and we should all expect more of that in the very near future. The Alberta native has made fans out of the Canadian country music crowd, and that's not all.
The Grand Ole Opry loves Tenille Townes, and if casual observers are looking for a hint that they should get in on this, that's it right there!
JJ Shiplett
JJ Shiplett has been talked about new music coming on social media... and we can't wait. And we know we're not the only ones excited, so it makes perfect sense to us for JJ to come back to Boots & Hearts, get on stage and play new songs and favourites from Something To Believe In.
You'll catch us singing along for sure.
Tyler Rich
Tyler Rich is ready to make waves. He's on the charts right now with The Difference, and it's climbing. Folks are digging 11:11 and we're anxious to see it rise as well. And the California native just dropped a four-song EP that we're sure will grab some attention.
With a great team around him, Tyler Rich is on his way to big things, and what better way to do it than play at Boots & Hearts next summer?
The Dungarees
These Alberta boys are putting in work, and it's paying off. With a growing reputation for great songs and a fun-loving attitude to go with them, we're all in.
We first met The Dungarees during Canadian Country Music Week 2016, and in 2019, we're ready for them on stage at Boots & Hearts. You should be too.
