The Bow Valley Boot Stomp is gearing up for its third year with a packed lineup of musical performances.
Cochrane’s emerging signature music festival will take place July 24 and 25 at the Cochrane & District Agricultural Society grounds, featuring performers from Alberta and beyond.
“It’s shaping up to be a very exciting year,” said organizer and founder Kailey Mitchell. “It’s a good mix of performers and it’s just going to be a lot of fun and some really great music.”
The festival kicks off Friday evening with Morgan Klaiber at 6 p.m., followed by Calgary’s Mariya Stokes at 7:30 p.m. Indigenous singer-songwriter Shawnee Kish will headline the opening night at 9 p.m.
Saturday’s lineup begins with 2025 YYC Indigenous Artist of the Year Ashley Ghostkeeper at 3:30 p.m., followed by Travis Pickering at 5 p.m. B.C. Country Music Association Female Artist of the Year and Song of the Year winner Taylor-Rae takes the stage at 6:30 p.m., followed by Dawson Gray at 8 p.m.
Closing out the festival will be Edmonton-based Prairie States.The four-member band has earned 12 Country Music Alberta Awards, including Rising Star in 2018 and Group/Duo of the Year in 2024.
“There’s so much great talent in our area, a great mixture of folk and rock and pop and country, all blended together,” Mitchell said. “I could fill stages for months and months and we’d still have amazing artists to put on a stage for you guys.”
Mitchell said Boot Stomp prides itself on identifying emerging talent and introducing audiences to artists they may not have discovered otherwise.
“We take the opportunity to go and see the musicians play and see what their stage presence is like,” she said. “They may not necessarily be the bigger names, but it’s really about the experience and great music that you might not have heard before.”
For those looking for even more live music, the Community Stage returns this year with a new feature presented in partnership with Blue Willow Entertainment.
“This year we’re going to have eight performers playing over the weekend,” Mitchell said. “Audiences can vote for their favourite performer and the winner will get a chance to play on the main stage in 2027.”
The music will continue after the headlining acts with nightly after-parties. Calgary’s Nik Poli will perform Friday night, while Saskatchewan artist Brayden King will keep the energy going on Saturday.
Beyond the music, festival-goers can explore a marketplace featuring local artisans, food trucks and beer gardens. Interactive activation stations will also be available, and onsite camping is being offered for those looking for a full festival experience.
The music festival is part of a new four-event format introduced by Boot Stomp in 2026.
The organization hosted a sold-out International Women’s Day Songwriters Round in March and a Festival Fits Fashion Show in May. The July music festival will be followed by a holiday concert in December.
“It was a really good decision to add these new events because it’s helping us keep the Boot Stomp name in people’s minds throughout the year,” Mitchell said. “This is something we have here locally, and it’s awesome, and people should come out and enjoy it.”
Tickets for the Bow Valley Boot Stomp Music Festival are available online at https://bootstomp.simpletix.ca