NEWS RELEASE
DOWNTOWN BARRIE BIA
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Get ready for an electrifying summer of music as the Downtown Barrie BIA, in collaboration with Hey Bear Productions, unveils the much-anticipated Open Air Dunlop live music lineup for the upcoming season.
This year, we’re thrilled to introduce five exciting new themed Open Air Dunlops, each featuring captivating live music performances right in the heart of Meridian Place.
With over 50 performances lined up so far, including Grammy-nominated and Juno Award-winning artists alongside talented local performers, Meridian Place has truly become a musical haven. Thanks to its natural outdoor acoustics and stunning waterfront backdrop, it’s no wonder that bands from all corners are eager to take the stage in downtown Barrie.
Here is the 2024 Open Air Dunlop live music schedule:
Daniel Romano’s Outfit: Open Air Dunlop air show — Friday, June 14
Daniel Romano’s Outfit is a Canadian indie rock band shrouded in mystery, and known for their high-intensity live performances. The band, which has garnered a reputation as a powerhouse supergroup, is led by Daniel Romano and consists of Carson McHone, Julianna Riolino, Roddy Rosetti and Ian Ski Romano.
The Outfit have made appearances at many major music festivals, including Bonnaroo, Azkena Rock Fest, End of the Road, Roskilde Festival, among others.
“The Outfit’s live shows are nothing short of explosive, leaving audiences in a state of awe and wonderment.” (Paste magazine)
Elliott BROOD: Open Air Dunlop Canada Day — Monday, July 1
From the mountains of Utah to the trenches of Vimy Ridge, Elliott BROOD’s songs have travelled the gore and glory of history in equal measure for nearly a decade. With the stomp and thrash of their early albums, Elliott BROOD carved their niche drawing from history and memory. As heavy and harrowing the past can be, for Elliott BROOD, it is also a generous companion, giving the gift of appreciation for times of peace and grace.
With Keeper, Elliott BROOD’s seventh album, the trio deals with the past in more personal terms. The title, which speaks to loyalty and longevity, sets the tone for an album that explores the strength of conviction, and how that strength is tested, again and again, over time. Thoughts of worthiness and dedication, and their emotional flip sides, inform a collection that sees the band exploring those battlefields much closer to home.
From the Polaris Music Prize shortlist breakout album Mountain Meadows to the Juno Award-winning Days Into Years, the well-travelled trio of Mark Sasso, Casey Laforet and Stephen Pitkin have created a body of work that is at once meticulous and boisterous, substantial and entertaining.
Terra Lightfoot: Open Air Dunlop Butter Tart and More Festival — Saturday, July 13
Healing Power is further evidence of Lightfoot’s ability to do just that. To describe her decade-plus musical evolution as astonishing is something of an understatement. Along the way, Lightfoot’s marathon tours have touched down in eight countries across four continents (including support slots for Bruce Cockburn, Blue Rodeo, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Posies, The Sheepdogs, and Willie Nelson).
She also conceived, created, curated, produced and co-headlined The Longest Road Show, an all-female touring revue. In October 2020, Lightfoot released Consider the Speed, recorded by Grammy-winning producer Jay Newland at Memphis’s legendary Royal Studios. In early 2022, Lightfoot launched her own label, Midnight Choir, with a cover of Leadbelly’s Where Did You Sleep Last Night? and fan-favourite original composition Sleepyhead, covered by Sarah Blackwood of Walk Off the Earth.
Lightfoot herself has been given her share of flowers — a pair of Juno nominations, a long-list Polaris nod, lead single Paradise soundtracking the CBC’s first 2018 Winter Olympics wrap.
From The Hip (The Tragically Hip cover): Open Air Dunlop Car Show — Saturday, July 27
Celebrating The Tragically Hip’s 40th anniversary, From The Hip will be performing the greatest hits of Tragically Hip’s long-standing career.
Five guys just looking for a place to happen and makin’ stops along the way. Having the courage and wherewithal to play The Hip as they remember the actual band, live and raw with will and determination. Oh, and grace, too. Killer Whale Tank and Double Suicide (iykyk) renditions have made their way onto shows when the weight comes down. It’s a beautiful thing, really. With a front man that honours Gord Downie, not with imitation but inspiration, not to mention a guitarist virtuoso, they’ve been known to jam and rant and then jam and rant again. Sorry, eh.
“This is how we’ve watched them since we were kids. How else are we supposed to do it?” We play music From The Hip. Get it?
OMBIIGIZI: Open Air Dunlop Eats on the Streets — Saturday, Aug. 24
OMBIIGIZI — pronounced om-BEE-ga-ZAY, meaning this is noisy — is a collaboration between Zoon (Daniel Monkman) and Status/Non Status (Adam Sturgeon), Anishnaabe artists who explore their cultural histories through sound. Their music together is a rumination on family, a celebration and holistic cleansing, with a strong sense of unity and loving support. An amalgam of their Indigenous heritages and personal musical architectures, Daniel and Adam imbue their lyrics with their families’ storytelling, revealing truths and finding common ground amidst their differences.
The debut album, entitled Sewn Back Together, is a fusion of individuality — a reflection on Adam and Daniel’s commitment to each other as collaborators and distinct members of community.
Chas Hay of Hey Bear Productions exclaims, “Meridian Place’s natural acoustics and picturesque setting make it a dream venue for performers. We’ve received rave reviews from artists who have marvelled at the sound quality and atmosphere. It’s no surprise that downtown Barrie is becoming a hotspot for live music.”
But it’s not just about the music — live performances are a powerful force that drives tourism, fosters community connections, and stimulates the local economy. Chris Gerrard, owner of The Queens Hotel and BIA board member, enthuses, “Live music brings people together like nothing else. With over 50 bands and performers gracing the stage at Meridian Place, our community has been treated to unforgettable experiences, attracting visitors and energizing our downtown. And we’re only getting started.”
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