Sept. 13 – Cookstown, ON. Each year, hundreds of musicians, artisans, vendors, and creators come together for the Gussapolooza music festival. This year, Blast Toronto was on the scene to cover the bands and to take part in their “creator convention,” which brought together podcasters, industry representatives, and publications like us to network, connect, and collaborate.

Between the performances, the buzzing artist marketplace, and the seminars that filled the day, there was an undeniable sense of community that made the weekend feel like a creator’s convention. There’s far more to say than a 500-word review can capture, but the event reflected everything we at Blast Toronto aim for: fostering local and independent music, supporting bands and musician’s careers, and introducing people to music they like or didn’t know they’d like.

The artists truly showed up in force, blending rock and pop-star flair with their unique styles. They dressed up, they performed the music with more than just their instruments – but with their tones and styles, their on-stage personalities and abilities to work the crowd.

Personal highlights for me were Cudbear, who blew audiences away with their grungy, at times introspective, pop-punk setlist on Friday, the festival’s first night; David July, who brought an electronic, hip hop-infused rebellious and cool flavour to the mainstage Saturday afternoon; and I, the Mountain, who closed out our weekend with a powerful modern folk singalong in the thematically-appropriate barn stage. There were also bands I couldn’t see or wasn’t able to see but who were nonetheless charming to speak with, such as members of In Your Walls or the Blues Emergency.

The bands were all earnest too, barely containing their excitement to be playing to such a loving and friendly crowd, and many of them stayed the weekend in their own tents or trailers. This created a deep sense of connection between the artists and the fans. The festival wasn’t just a place to discover new music; it was a space where performers became part of the audience, sharing in the experience alongside us.

Gussapolooza 2024 was more than just a music festival—it was a vibrant space for artists, vendors, and fans to network, connect, and collaborate. They’re the real-world example of what we’re trying to do here at Blast Toronto but in a more ongoing basis, instead of one big annual event, we try to connect the local music scene throughout the year through hundreds of smaller interactions.

The festival was an amazing place not just to “hear them first,” as the posters said, but also to get to meet them. Musicians and bands wouldn’t just perform and disappear, you could see them throughout the festival, milling about in the audience for other bands, hitting up the food trucks and taking part in the after-hours party and jams that only those camping got to experience.

While there were certainly bands that weren’t my taste, there wasn’t a single act I heard that I didn’t think belonged there. The only critique I have of some of the bands is that they took the shortcut many pop, hip hop, and other bands with highly-produced elements to their music take and play it through pre-recorded tracks. While it’s not a sin like Milli Vanilli, I always prefer that the electronic elements, be it a synth track, 808s, or a computer-like voice, be part of the performance like the singer, drummer, bassist, or guitarist. Their absence reinforces the idea in casual audiences that these things are “lesser” or not as “real” as the other instruments.

That minor quip aside, we had an amazing time. Gussapolooza 2024 was an unforgettable experience full of bands representing the best of their craft, and we can’t wait to be back next year. Missed the festival? Check out Jojo’s and my personal thoughts, or our highlight reel on Instagram.

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