Boots and Hearts Festival is continuing to champion young country artists.
Republic Live has announced the eight finalists for the 2025 Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase (EAS).
This year’s showcase finalists includes singers from across the country. Annika Catharina and Amanda Couture hail from out west, while Sean Michael Ryan resides in New Brunswick. The other five artists, including School House and Jade Hilton, are scattered across Ontario.
Boots and Hearts' showcase has become a rite of passage for many Canadian country artists who have since gone on to big things. 2022 winner Owen Riegling took home the 2024 Canadian Country Music Award for Breakthrough Artist, while 2017 winner Josh Ross is currently sitting No. 6 on the Billboard Canada Country Airplay chart with “Leave Me Too” and just scored his first top 10 hit on the U.S. Country Airplay chart. The showcase has played a role in the launch of other notable artists including The Reklaws, James Barker Band and Tim Hicks.
The finalists will perform on Thursday, August 7, to open the Oro-Medonte, Ontario festival’s kickoff party featuring headliner Justin Moore, Canadian chart-topper Tyler Joe Miller and last year’s showcase winner, Sarah Vanderzon.
Since winning the contest, Vanderzon signed with RLive Management. On her 2023 independently released EP, Same Sad Eyes, the Quebec-based artist charmed audiences with her relatable storytelling, and now has a platform to reach more listeners.
“The journey through the music industry is rarely easy, but with the support of my newfound collaborators, the road ahead feels a lot less intimidating, and I can’t wait to bring my vision to life,” Vanderzon said in a statement.
Along with the chance to perform on the festival’s main stage, the 2025 showcase winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize, a single release with Universal Music Canada, artist development sessions with RLive Management, a Gibson J-45 Special guitar and a VIP tour of the Gibson Garage in Nashville.
The showcase event keeps Boots and Hearts connected to rising Canadian talent, while bringing in superstar American acts to Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, like this year's headliners, Bailey Zimmerman, Sam Hunt and HARDY.
Boots and Hearts runs from August 7 to 10. Tickets can be purchased here.
The 2025 Emerging Artist Showcase Finalists
Amanda Couture – Medicine Hat, AB
Annika Catharina – Deroche, BC
Jade Hilton – Toronto, ON
Lake Porter – Kingston, ON
Lowell Lawson – Toronto, ON
School House – Ottawa, ON
Sean Michael Ryan – Riverview, NB
Warren Hargraves – Komoka, ON
Stephen Macklam (left) and Sam Feldman.Courtesy Photos