Boots & Hearts 2013 Exclusive Q&A: Mackenzie Porter

23 year old Mackenzie Porter may just be getting started in her country music career, but don’t be fooled into thinking that she’s just started to work. Born into a talented family in Alberta, Mackenzie has been singing and acting for years, touring with her brother Kalen before going solo.

Winner of the 2011 the Nashville North Star competition and nominee for the 2013 Rising Star Award at the Canadian Country Music Awards, Mackenzie’s stock keeps on climbing.

This year Mackenzie hit Boots and Hearts like a storm, playing all day in the LUG tent on Friday and an afternoon slot on the Front Porch Stage on Saturday. We caught the Saturday set and loved it. During sound check you clearly hear her let fly some classical music, and 10 minutes later it’s not a violin, it’s a fiddle and this is country music.

Mackenzie’s sound is young, energetic and smooth. But it doesn’t alienate old country lovers. It’s music that you can listen to with your grandma, but can turn up and sing loud at home too. And the more shows that she and her band play and the more she writes and the more she sticks it out, the stronger she will get.

In the lead up to her performances at Boots and Hearts 2013 in Bowmanville we asked Mackenzie a few questions. Check it out.

Josh & Trish: You’ve had the chance to play shows and festivals with some of the biggest acts in country music (Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood), have you received any tips or tricks from anyone to help with your stage show? And whose show has entertained you most?

Mackenzie Porter: I try to go to as many live performances as I can and at times, I will incorporate something that really moves me into my show from the ones I love. One piece of advice that I really like is “Steal ideas and make them your own.” There are so many talented country acts that I’ve had the pleasure of watching and learning from. Miranda’s show was probably one of my favorites. LOVE THAT WOMAN!!!

J&T: With acting a big part of your life to go along with music, do you see yourself as the country music version of say, Selena Gomez – is that something that you hear a lot of?

MP: I’ve actually never heard that before, but I’ll take it :). No, really I just want to be creating music and telling stories. I’m so fortunate to be able to pursue both career paths because I truly have a passion for both….I find that they very much compliment one another!

J&T: If you could have 1 greatest hit record queued up on your iPod, whose would it be?

MP: BEATLES.. I grew up listening, singing, and performing their songs. They bring back so many memories of my childhood. GOOD AND BAD!! haha

J&T: You’re active on both Twitter and Facebook, what’s your favourite part of the social media experience: Sharing info with your fans, or hearing from them with encouragement and love?

MP: I do like social medias because of the instant feedback and interaction. I try to keep fans up to date with what I’m doing and try to show them who I am and what I’m passionate about. I also follow a lot of artists myself because I like learning more about the people I respect.

J&T: Congratulations on your CCMA Rising Star nomination, how does it feel to be up for an award that has had past winners like, Kira Isabella, Chad Brownlee, George Canyon, Amanda Wilkinson and Johnny Reid?

MP: Thank you!!! I’m so pumped. I went to the CCMA’s for the first time last year and NOBODY knew who I was. I hadn’t released any music and barely knew anyone in the industry. I remember sitting in the audience when they announced the rising star and I said to myself “I’m going to be nominated next year.” Of course I say that about the Grammy’s and Academy Awards every year as well.. so of course, I didn’t really expect it to happen!! I’m so grateful for being nominated among so many other stupidly talented artists.

Want to know more about Mackenzie Porter? Follow her on Twitter and Like her on Facebook and Peruse her Instagram!

Work Hard, Play Harder, Be Awesome.

Boots & Hearts 2013 Spotlight: Cassadee Pope

When rain pours down on a festival, some people run for cover. When lightning crashes down on the ground, it can delay things. And when things get back on track and it’s time for the music to start again it takes a talented and engaged performer to get things fired back up for the fans.

On Friday afternoon at Boots and Hearts, Cassadee Pope took that challenge and knocked it out of the park.

Winner of The Voice season 3 and member of Team Blake, Pope has a new album coming out in October and has been touring with Rascal Flatts this summer. It’s easy to see that her previous experience and exposure to headline acts has made her comfortable on stage. She walked the catwalk in the light rain to get closer to the fans crowded up against the rails. Talked to the audience and genuinely connected.

With her new album coming in just a few months, Cassadee is working with CMT on a “making of” documentary. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see appearances by Blake Shelton and perhaps Miranda Lambert when the finished product comes to the TV screen so keep your eyes peeled for details. And with the album in progress, the lead single Wasting All These Tears has hit the airwaves and the video is getting views and building momentum.

Let me say this, I don’t care what you think or feel about shows like The Voice, this girl can sing and should be a star. Her live performances will only get bigger and better as her catalogue grows and her fan base will grow too.

It may only be a coincidence, but during Cassadee’s set the rain stopped and the sun came back out. I don’t think it will be the last time that happens in her career.

Work Hard, Play Harder, Be Awesome.

Boots & Hearts 2013 Full Schedule and Set Times!

There have been more than a few people looking for the Boots & Hearts schedule online without any luck. It seems that as great as the app is, it is only available on ios and android devices (and not everyone has one) – so, I’ve taken screenshots of the entire schedule and stitched them together so everyone can see and plan and be ready for August 1-4 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park!

We’re gonna go, Front Porch Stage – Main Stage – Lug Stage. Ready? Here we go!

Front Porch Stage!

Main Stage!

LUG Stage!

It’s going to be a great festival – and if you don’t have an iphone or android device, I hope this helps you plan your time.

Have a great time – it’s only a week away!

Boots And Hearts Gets Bigger With An Added Night!

That’s right kids, the Boots & Hearts Music Festival just got bigger with more names added to the list of performers AND the addition of Thursday, August 1st to the weekend of music and festivities.

We’re seeing names like Tate Stevens (winner of  the X Factor), Tim Hicks (touring partner of Dallas Smith and Chad  Brownlee) and Parmalee (American Country act with a brother tandem with a cousin and childhood friend rounding out the group) added to the list of performers like Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean and The Band Perry that we already knew about.

It’s one of my favourite things about Boots & Hearts, the chance that some of these new and emerging groups are getting to perform in front of a crowd that loves country music and is there to enjoy everything that the stage has to offer. Here’s hoping that all of the new additions are pumped up and ready to go when August comes! However, in my eyes the biggest name added to the list of performers and headlining the newly added Thursday night is Canadian Country act, Emerson Drive. These guys make some really catching country music, they sing some powerful ballads and they have a reputation for being great on stage performers. I can’t wait to see them up there in front of the crowd. In fact, I’m so excited to see them that I can’t pick 1 song that I look forward to hearing them sing most. So here are 2!

She’s My Kind Of Crazy

I Should Be Sleeping

The new additions bring us to a total of 21 named artists.
They Are:
Miranda Lambert
Jason Aldean
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Joe Diffie
Dierks Bentley
Emerson Drive
Dean Brody
Jason Blaine
Chad Brownlee
Aaron Lewis
Colt Ford
High Valley
Kira Isabella
The Stellas
Dee Jay Silver
David Nail
Tate Stevens
Tim Hicks
Tebey
Parmalee

For a breakdown of who will be playing on which day, click the image below and use the Sort By Day tool in the upper right.
We are now 120 days away from the start of the festival – and it’s going to go quickly.

If you’re going, it’s time to start getting excited. If you’re still thinking about going, it’s really time to get on the ticket buying!

Stay tuned for more news and info as we get even closer to August!