Boot Hill Jamboree set for country music festival in Muirkirk

By Aaron Hall – Daily Post Editor

Campers are already rolling in for the inaugural Boot Hill Country Music Jamboree taking place on the 200 acre farm of Gary Evans and Vicki Radford in Muirkirk this upcoming Civic Holiday weekend.

“We had eight motor homes roll in yesterday,” Radford told the Chatham-Kent Daily Post on Monday (July 27). “They wanted to get here nice and early to get ready for the weekend.”

The event, which is kicking off on Thursday (July 30) and runs until Monday (August 3), incudes a slew of big name country music performers including Travis Tritt, JoDee Messina, The Road Hammers, Aaron Lines, The Wilkinsons, Jamie Warren and Julian Austin.

Radford said booking the known acts will hopefully be a be boost for the event.

“I think having Tritt and JoDee Messina puts us on the map,” she said. “It’s going to be a big event. Having the big names should help us bring more fans.”

Radford said they are expecting between 8,000 and 10,000 people to the festival, with people coming from all over Ontario, Quebec and as far away as Texas.

With the 200-acre lot, Radford said they are going to strive for 20,000 people for what she hopes becomes an annual event.

A variety of local acts will be performing at the festival as well, and Radford said they have all been doing an “incredible” job at promoting and pumping up the event.

Radford said her and her husband Gary got the idea for holding the festival after attending various country music festivals in the past and after some experience running events at a race track in Hamilton.

“We got our feet wet there (in Hamilton),” Radford said. “We’ve always loved country music and we thought that we could do something ourselves.”

She believes holding this festival is a positive boost for the Chatham-Kent community.

“It will bring people from all over into our community,” Radford said. “They’ll be using the hotels, the grocery stores… so it should help some people out.”

Radford said that the Ridgetown Chamber of Commerce has set up a shuttle bus system, which will bring individuals to and from the festival in Muirkirk.

The Location of the Jamboree is 15772 Turin Line, Bothwell (Exit 129 North of Rodney towards Bothwell).

Check out the Boot Hill Jamboree website for more information on tickets, camping and the complete list for performers throughout the weekend.