Review by Bailey Buck, Photos by Orest Dorosh – Welcome back to Boots and Hearts! After a morning filled with genuine thunder and lightning that rivaled even the most electrifying guitar solos, we’re finally ready to kick off the rescheduled Day 2. We’re incredibly grateful for your patience and your unwavering spirit as we navigated today’s unexpected storm, which sadly led to the delay of some performances and the unfortunate cancellation of sets by Allison Daniels and Zach McPhee.
The skies cleared up a little and the air is filled with the sweet promise of a full day of country music. The stages are set, the beer is cold, and the bands are itching to play. Let’s make today a day to remember, filled with twangy guitars, heartfelt lyrics, and the kind of camaraderie only a true country crowd can provide.
SACHA
Canadian country artist Sacha delivered a powerfully resilient performance to open the main stage on day two of Boots and Hearts. After a thunderstorm delayed the festival’s start, Sacha took the stage under a persistent light rain, a fitting backdrop that seemed to energize her set rather than dampen it. Her commanding stage presence and rich vocals cut through the dreary weather, immediately re-engaging the crowd and setting an uplifting, defiant tone for the rest of the day. By the end of her set, she had not only successfully shaken off the pre-show gloom but had established herself as a standout performer capable of captivating an audience, rain or shine.
MACKENZIE CARPENTER
Makenzie Carpenter struted onto the side stage for a live performance that is as charismatic and authentic as her songwriting. She has a natural ability to connect with the audience, often sharing the personal, and sometimes humorous, stories behind her songs. Known for her “tell-it-like-it-is” lyricism, her stage presence is both sassy and sincere, allowing her to transition seamlessly from a cheeky, fun-loving anthem to a deeply emotional ballad. Her vocal delivery is powerful and confident, channeling influences from 90s country queens like Shania Twain and Miranda Lambert while maintaining a fresh, modern sound. Whether she’s belting out a stadium-sized rock-tinged track or performing a stripped-back acoustic number, her performances are a testament to her versatility and her ability to make every song feel deeply personal and relatable. She creates a vibrant, engaging atmosphere that leaves a lasting impression on her fans.
AUSTIN SNELL
Austin Snell brought his signature “grunge country” sound to the festival stage, proving his reputation as a rising star is well-earned. With a powerful vocal delivery and a dynamic stage presence, he seamlessly fused hard-rocking energy with the heartfelt storytelling of country music. Snell’s set was a high-octane affair, driven by heavy guitars and thundering drums – rivialing the actual thunder that rolled in – yet he still managed to connect with the audience on a personal level by sharing the stories behind his deeply personal songs. His ability to blend genres and command the stage with such confidence left a lasting impression, making it clear why his fanbase is growing exponentially.
The festival grounds closed yet again for the rolling thunderstorm, again pushing the remaining sets as well as canceling some exciting artists including Hannah McFarland.
CAMERON WHITCOMB
After the storm delay, gates reopened in time for Cameron Whitcomb to tear up the main stage. The lights dim, the crowd roars, and then—before the first note even hits—Cameron Whitcomb is in the air. A backflip, a blur of motion, a physical exclamation point on a night that’s just getting started. If you thought the energy of the crowd couldn’t get any higher, you were wrong. It’s a jolt of pure, unadulterated rock and roll swagger that sets the tone for the entire set.
From that opening moment, it’s a full-throttle sprint. Whitcomb’s raw, powerful vocals and passionate delivery are matched by a crowd that is a sea of bouncing bodies and screaming voices. Every chorus is a full-venue singalong, a collective roar of catharsis and joy. He moves across the stage like a man possessed, a live wire feeding off the crowd’s energy and throwing it right back at them. This isn’t just a concert; it’s a mutual exchange of pure, joyous chaos. Cameron Whitcomb isn’t just a performer—he’s an experience.
TYLER HUBBARD
As the storm continued to drift away and the sky was setting with a pink hue, Tyler Hubbards gear slowly rolls out while the amped crowd still living on a high from Whitcombs performance on the same stage sings along to the dj music.
Tyler Hubbard commanded the main stage at Boots and Hearts, proving his solo career is a force to be reckoned with. Stepping into the Canadian festival spotlight, the artist exuded a confident energy that had the massive crowd on its feet from the first note. He expertly worked the stage, connecting with fans in a way that made the sprawling festival grounds feel like a much more intimate venue. With a setlist that leaned into the strengths of his solo catalog, he showcased the feel-good anthems and heartfelt ballads that have quickly defined his new chapter.
The performance was a masterclass in balancing nostalgia with fresh material. While new hits like “Dancin’ in the Country” and “5 Foot 9” received enthusiastic singalongs, Hubbard knew exactly when to ignite the crowd with the Florida Georgia Line classics that made him a household name. He seamlessly wove in these fan favorites, not as a crutch, but as a bridge between his past and present, a nod to the journey that brought him to this moment. His ability to honor his roots while forging a new path left no doubt that his star will continue to shine brightly at festivals for years to come.
BAILEY ZIMMERMAN
Closing out the second day in a row, Bailey Zimmerman literally dropped from the sky to surprise the fans. This time HEADLINING main stage, Bailey Zimmerman proved exactly why he was chosen to close out the night. The crowd, already buzzing from a full day of music and surely still living on a high from his Album Release Party just the night before, reached peak excitement as the multi-platinum singer-songwriter took the main stage. Zimmerman’s performance was a high-energy, raw showcase of the grit and emotional depth that has made him a fan favorite. From the hard-hitting drums to his signature gravelly vocals, he delivered a set that felt both intimately personal – even for such a large stage – and perfectly suited for the massive festival audience.
The setlist was a journey through his biggest hits, with the crowd screaming along to every word of “Fall In Love” and “Rock And A Hard Place” as well as a handful of new releases. Zimmerman, a natural on stage, fed off the audience’s energy, offering a performance that felt like a shared catharsis. The real magic, however, came from the uncomparable connection he forged with the fans, many of whom were seeing him for the second time at the festival. As the final notes of his last song rang out, the roaring applause echoed to a powerful closing performance that left no doubt Zimmerman is a headliner in every sense of the word.
The true spirit of Boots and Hearts shone through as the night closed out. While a heavy downpour and thunderstorms threatened to put a damper on the evening’s festivities, they ultimately failed to wash away the unshakeable energy of the crowd.
