2022 Canadian Summer Country Festival Roundup

After two years of announcements, delays and cancellations, Canada's country music festival organizers are gamely attempting to restore some order in terms of musicians on concert stages performing before people in the flesh! And while it's early spring, the festival season looks to be busy and bountiful for country music fans. Here then, in no particular order, are 10 of the bigger country music festivals still a go for 2022.

Shania Twain will headline Boots & Hearts

 1) Big Valley Jamboree (bigvalleyjamboree.com)

Where: Canmore, Alberta
When: July 28-31
Tickets: $245 for a three-day general admission ticket plus fees. Single day admission ranges from $50 to $120. 

The lineup for Big Valley Jamboree is very impressive with heavyweights Trace Adkins, Dallas Smith Tim McGraw and Eric Church headlining. Meanwhile Hardy, James Barker Band, Mackenzie Porter and Terri Clark are just some of the stellar support acts. As a bonus, the first 1500 people who enter the Kickoff Party show July 28 get a free meal!

2) Rockin River Music Fest (rockinriverfest.com)

Where: Merritt, BC
When: July 28-31
Tickets: $179 plus taxes/fees for a four-day general admission pass. But daily passes are also available. Camping and parking options are also detailed on the festival's site.

Rockin River Music Fest sees Billy Currington, Kenny Hess, Jo Dee Messina and others kicking off the festival July 28. But the ensuing three days are keepers with Hardy, Tim McGraw and Darius Rucker closing out Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Cam, Madeline Merlo, Chris Janson and Aaron Pritchett are just some of the acts on a beefy daily under card.

3) Country Thunder Saskatchewan (countrythunder.com/sk)

Where: Craven, SK
When: July 14-17
Tickets: $245 for a four-day general admission pass but daily passes are also available. Camping and tent options are also offered. 

While there's also an Alberta version of Country Thunder, the 2022 Saskatchewan edition features Blake Shelton, Chad Brownlee, Lee Brice, The Washboard Union, and Lindsay Ell. A special feather in the festival's cap is the legendary Tanya Tucker.

4) Dauphin's Countryfest (www.countryfest.ca)

Where: Dauphin, MB
When: July 1-3

Tickets: An early bird weekend pass will set you back $249 plus taxes/fees. 

Loyal ticket holders for the 2021 festival that never transpired will be rewarded with a special launch concert by Corb Lund. As for the Canada Day weekend it's shapes up to be great with Paul Brandt, Johnny Reid, Dallas Smith and Dean Brody some of the bigger names on this heavy Can-con roster. The Reklaws, Jess Moskaluke and rising star Jojo Mason are also slated.

5) Music In The Fields (www.musicinthefields.ca)

Where: Lucknow, ON
When: August 25-27
Tickets: A weekend pass will cost $186.45 plus taxes. As well camping options and passes are available. 

Located about a 90-minute drive northwest of Kitchener, Lucknow will be home to The Slocan Ramblers, Tenille Arts, Hunter Brothers and Chris Janson. The big catch here has to be Brothers Osborne although The Sheepdogs and other Canadian talent aren't too shabby either.

6) Boots and Hearts Music Festival (bootsandhearts.com)

Where: Burl's Creek, ON
When: August 4-7
Tickets: A general admission four-day pass is $342.51 taxes/fees included. Camping, tenting and RV passes are also available.

A video of Shania Twain made its rounds late in 2021 announcing her boots would be at this festival near her stomping grounds. But there are plenty of grade A stars over the four days including Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, Morgan Evans, Meghan Patrick, Walker Hayes and Dustin Lynch before Twain closes on Sunday evening.

7) Cavendish Beach Music Festival (cavendishbeachmusic.com)

Where: Cavendish, PEI
When: July 7-9
Tickets: Plenty of weekend passes and tickets have been grabbed but there are still general admission tickets available throughout the three-day festival. 

The Maritimes' big country extravaganza returns with a star-studded main stage including Luke Combs, Darius Rucker and Dustin Lynch on Cavendish Beach. A "kitchen stage" is also slated with a bevy of musicians such as Dave Sampson, Thad Cockrell, Tebey, and Nice Horse. Thrown in support slots by Maddie & Tae and The Cadillac Three and it's a lineup Anne of Green Gables would endorse.

8) YQM Country Fest (yqmcountryfest.ca)

Where: Dieppe, NB
When: August 26-27
Tickets: Two-day general admission tickets start at $199 plus tax/fees. 

Two headliners in Florida Georgia Line and Blake Shelton will make country fans east of Quebec take note. More talent will be announced in the coming weeks but additional talent confirmed includes Jordan Davis, Scott McCreery and Bretty Young.

9) Lasso Montreal (lassomontreal.com)

Where: Montreal, QC
When: August 12-13
Tickets: General admission passes start at $220. 

This post-Osheaga hoedown sees Dierks Bentley and Old Dominion on Friday night while the closing night sees American Idol judge Luke Bryan and Kelsea Ballerini performing. Other singer on the bill feature Riley Green, Tenille Townes, Blanco Brown and Ashley McBryde.

10) Sunfest (www.sunfestconcerts.com)

Where: Cowichan Lake, BC
When: July 28-31
Tickets: Kids under six get in for free and children get discounts. Otherwise, a full event general admission ticket, with tax/fees included, is $307.90. 

A who's who of strong country performers gather for Sunfest, ranging from Darius Rucker and Dallas Smith to Orville Peck and Kip Moore. Billy Currington, Madeline Merlo and others are also set to play.