The Troubadour Summer Concert Series is only halfway through its 2026 run with plenty of live music ahead. Three talented up-and-coming artists are slated to rock Meridian Stage and warm up the crowd for August 15’s opener, Zeus, and headliner, Bahamas. Starting at 5 p.m., B. Knox, Noah Ruttan and Jolie Anastasia will make up the Local Opener Showcase. These talented artists have been chosen to kick off the third installment of the festival. All three artists draw from the Americana genre, a blend of folk, country, blues and bluegrass, setting the stage for the evening’s musical genre theme of indie-folk. “The quality of submissions continues to grow every year,” said Chas Hay, programming partner at Hey Bear Productions. “The Local Opener Showcase has become an important platform for emerging artists, and this year’s lineup reflects the depth of talent coming out of Ontario and beyond. Festival audiences are going to discover some incredible musicians before an outstanding evening featuring Zeus and Bahamas.” B. Knox B. Knox, now based in Toronto, is originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland. His unique style is a blend of alternative, country, Americana and honky-tonk rock. He’s had airplay on various radio stations like CBC and SiriusXM and his music has been selected for playlists on streaming services, including Spotify and Apple Music. B Knox is also a shortlisted songwriter for the Canadian Country Music Association and the International Songwriting Competition. B. Knox says his songs are more of the “emotional variety.” “Music has saved my life so many times,” Knox tells CTV News. “If I can give a portion of that back, then I’m paying back my debt to some degree. So if I can write something that connects with somebody that makes the feel less alone, I’m happy to do it.” His songwriting process is a simple one. “Close your eyes and hope for the best,” Knox says with a laugh. Noah Ruttan Hailing from Bracebridge, Noah Ruttan is a country singer-songwriter who gets inspiration from his Muskoka roots. He’s just won the 2026 North of Nowhere Music Festival Emerging Artist Showcase. His style is inspired by artists like Gordon Lightfoot and Tim McGraw. Ruttan tells CTV News he’s played a few shows already this summer, but says he’s been most looking forward to Troubadour. “Out of all the things I’ve played this summer, the Barrie Troubadour I’ve been most excited for, for sure,” Ruttan says. Ruttan says his upcoming performance will take him back to when he was young. “It’s a full circle moment for me because growing up, my parents would drop us off at our grandparents’, the same grandparents that told me about Troubadour and every morning would listen to Bahamas while he got ready for school,” Ruttan tells CTV News. Jolie Anastasia Out of Collingwood, Jolie Anastasia is a singer-songwriter with a mixed sound of both tenderness and grit. Her songwriting focuses on themes of love, resilience and belonging. She released her debut, full-length album in November 2025 called “Guiding Light.” It’s writing and performing that makes Anastasia feel the most like herself. “Songwriting and being on stage when you’re really in the moment is the truest form of self expression for me,” Anastasia tells CTV News. “The fact that I’m able to write these lyrics and write this music and the fact that people want to hear that and listen to that, just allows me to drop my guard and say what I want to say and feels like the truest form of myself in those moments.” What else is happening? The local openers will make way for the opener, Zeus, planning to hit the stage at 7:30 and headliner, Bahamas at 8:30. Guests will want to head to downtown Barrie earlier for the all-day programming, which includes a Street Stage featuring live local music, Billy Dicks BBQ Cook Off, Barrie Skateboarding demonstrations, live artist street art. The public is invited to make a whole weekend of it and take in a special outdoor screening of Jack Johnson’s “Surfilmusic,” a documentary based on the musician’s journey from surfing to filmmaking to music. Following the documentary is a Jack Johnson Tribute Band. Admission is free for everyone. Attracting thousands of people to the city every summer, the festival continues to build momentum having recently been recognized as one of Ontario’s top festivals. The Troubadour Summer Concert Series is presented by Paul Sadlon Motors, CTV News Barrie, PURE COUNTRY 106, BOUNCE 104.1, Hey Bear Productions, Lemmon Entertainment, City of Barrie and Tourism Barrie. Troubadour Schedule:
