Aug 24—Like the opening four words from the (in)famous novel Atlas Shrugged, “Who is John Galt?, we want to know: “Who is Guss!?” It is a substantial and pondering question. One of many we sought to answer as Jojo and Lawrence returned to Gussapolooza in picturesque Cookstown, ON. What is the secret boiling over in this primordial soup of Indie sounds that makes Gussapolooza so special? Is it the bands that are looking to expand their fan base around Ontario? The dedicated fans of original and live music who show up to hear them? Is it the vendors with their artisan wares near the ominous boom of the PAs? Or the people who show up to just have a good time?

When we arrived, we found many of the vendors and bands still setting up and filtering in. The Bad Media Club guys were already set up and recording, as were most of the other creators at the Creator Convention, this time located so as to be able to watch the performances! We were mostly set up in time to watch the opening ceremonies, which included town representatives (including the deputy dog mayor!) and opening remarks by festival co-founders Russ & Val. Afterwards, the music started.

The Bands

Honestly, the entire lineup was amazing – perhaps not as varied as last year, which included a hip-hop/rap act – but still running the gamut from indie to punk to metal to folk to classic rock n’ roll and even some pop. Let’s focus on a few highlights we felt needed a spotlight.

(I wish I could talk about each band, but then this would be a short novel built on pure soundwaves. – Jojo)

Small Town Strip Club

This band had the difficult task of starting off the festival at a strong pace. They had a slow-burning Rock and Roll groove that reminded me of the Allman Brothers song- “Silver Dollar”. They continued at this medium pace. Not too heavy and not too limp. They could also ramp it up to sound similar to Danko Jones. They were sharp, clear, and consistent – a solid start to the weekend.

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Shoemaker Levee

Yes, with a band with the word Levee in their title, expect a little Led Zeppelin energy. It felt like they were riding into town with Black Betty ramming alongside them. (I couldn’t help but hear someone yell out Tragically Hip from the audience. – Jojo) As their set began, you could hear their rough and intense rawness. I could hear moments from the classic Tragically Hip album, “Up to Here”.

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The Jailbirds

True to their name, they dressed the part and sang songs of sea monsters and Tokyo smoke. This is a classic stoner rock band in the vein of Monster Truck—big, brash, and bold. Their set was a party, a wild ride that somehow managed to squeeze the Bee Gees and Deep Purple into the same song. Toronto, take note: this is a must-see live act. (I haven’t seen these guys in years. – Jojo)

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Cudbear

This Barrie band, supporting their new album Purple, once again proved themselves to be one of Ontario’s great underrated gems. When they hit the stage on Friday night, something special emerged—a combination of sheer wildness and incredible musicality. This was amplified by two inflatable bears that came to life, moshing with the crazed crowd on stage and off. Their sound is a fantastic, varied mix of Midwest emo, punk, metal, grunge, and funky blues, all tied together with undeniable onstage charisma and quirkiness. One moment they’re speeding up, then slowing down, navigating quirky time changes that keep the audience utterly captivated.

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Grant Boyer

Last on our highlights for Friday, we have Grant Boyer. He channelled the spirit of early 2000s nerdy emo rock, singing songs about bored teenagers with earnest charm. They closed their set with a cover of A Flock of Seagulls’ “I Ran,” but the true magic happened when a rainbow-winged fairy appeared dancing amongst the audience under the newly arrived night sky—a moment so special it even left Grant blown away.

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Day Two

(On Day 2, I was worried about the crowd sizes, but by the time Kasador was on the front of the stage, the area had filled up and it was packed for Bleeker. – Lawrence)

Edi Callier

Edi Callier, an American act from Portland, OR, brought groovy, funky, and smooth vibes to the stage. While the use of backing tracks was noted—always a tricky substitute for a full live band—his skill on guitar, bass, and drums was undeniable.
(Plus, I’d have loved to see the synthetic and electronic parts of his music performed with the same gusto, respect, and skill as the guitars, basses, and drums. But keyboardists and synthesizer nerds are also not the easiest to find. – Lawrence) The performance included a fun bit where a ringing phone was incorporated into the performance, requiring the audience to cheer loudly enough to “answer” it before turning into a groove. A final thought: he’d be a great candidate for a Thundercat collaboration.

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Harley Olivia

Harley Olivia returned with a profound and powerful statement about following your dreams and passions (and thank goodness she did!). Her noticeable stage presence was a blend of playful and strong, creating a palpable, knife-edge sexual tension with her producer and band member Siegfried. Her commanding performance culminated in her jumping down from the stage into the audience, leaving everyone gasping for more. The final song of her set, with its driving intensity, belongs on the soundtrack of a game like Grand Theft Auto.

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The Manic Boys and Girls Club

This is a band that demands attention. We’ve been following this brother-sister duo for some time now, including back at Gussapolooza 2024. From Bela and her outrageous outfits and make-up to Fernando’s experimental typewriter percussion antics, the MBC brings an esoteric edge to indie-pop. (I have been watching this band only get better in the last year. I hope they reach a bigger audience soon, although I think they are heading in the right direction, as they were the recipients of the best musical act award. – Jojo)

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Bleeker

After years of hearing the name, finally seeing Bleeker live proved why they are a fan favourite. They opened with a high-octane energy that never backed down. They were hard, but not what the stereotype of metal often is. The vocalist had an incredible range and hit some amazing notes. The highlight of their set came at the end as they brought up a young fan to the stage and began a crowd sing-along. The girl totally got into character as she sang their song, “Fuck you, I’m leaving”. The night got pretty loud at that point. She and Bleeker practically led the entire festival site in the refrain.

(Indeed, I could hear them in the tent as I’d gone back at the beginning of their set to rest up for the Rebel Stage, the jam session and bonfire later that night. – Lawrence)

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Day Three

Wild Bloom

Opening Day 3 was Wild Bloom, who made an impression on us earlier when Alyssa passed out business cards promoting their set on the main stage. It was a novel way to get attention as not many people had arrived or woken up yet. We saw them last year, and were blown away by their vocal harmonies (and the fiddle. Love a fiddle! – Lawrence).

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The Meringues

If last year’s surprise was Cudbear, this year’s was The Meringues. This young band is uncouth, very rough around the edges and messy. Audiences watched Amanda, the lead singer, as she stumbled around on stage like a person looking for their next fix. She reminded me of an early Patti Smith and had a punk version of the Pretenders coming off the stage. On a hot Sunday afternoon, this singer was going all out to entertain us. She was outrageous and fun to watch. After the show, Dana came down with a water bottle to spray Amanda and cool her down. 

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Given the drive home and all the work we had to do, we planned to leave right after In Your Walls finished. We knew them from last year, loved their stage presence and style, and wanted to support them. But predictably, given how easy it is to talk to people here, we were still packing up while the all-youth band Life of Exile played. All in all, we did better than last year, catching the opening act on Friday and only missing Yellow Magnolia and Ashley Gilmore on Sunday. (If anyone has pics, dm or email us, and we can share them – with credit ofc)

Conclusion

So, that said, what is the secret that makes Gussapolooza so great? Who is Guss? (Jojo: These are deep and ponderous questions we all must ask when we travel to such an event, looking for a sign from the universe.) It could be the gathering of many souls who seek new connections communally. It could be getting lost for a weekend that we find in the end. They do have a lost and found section at the festival.

Well, for starters, everybody is in a peaceful and open mood. Just being out there, meeting people, and talking to them about what Blast Toronto is doing gave people a new way of getting music into their lives. We also spoke to bands that were hoping to be included at future Gussapoloozas. A woman like Miss Vicky was there to get her left-handed guitar signed by all the bands who attended the festival. (As far as I know, she succeeded! – Lawrence) She was the most excited person there. When a band came off stage, she was waiting there, ready for them to sign her souvenir.

Notwithstanding the laidback vibes and good mood, the musicians were swarmed (a bit) by the fans looking to meet their new idols and all the media outlets (ourselves included) trying to create a new angle on each artist. You could feel the buzz as we traded different musicians throughout the weekend. Every vendor there was also just excited to be in that special space. They all wanted to hang out with a lovely crowd, and they got it!

Beyond the simple components, however, it’s how they come together as equals. The lines between audience and volunteer and vendor and band are blurred here, and I believe that’s crucial to the creative and supportive ethos that permeates the Georgian Bay Steamshow Grounds for 3 days. (For me, it was like going to a hippie commune for 3 days. – Jojo) For example, Dwayne, the drummer from Shoemaker Levee, helps as a volunteer. After his group played on Friday, you could see him darting around in the yellow volunteer shirt the rest of the weekend. Meanwhile, after her set, Harley Olivia was in the front row for Kasador. Likewise, Brigette of In Your Walls danced her heart out to Harley’s. It wasn’t just the performers: one afternoon, one of the vendors led a tie-dye workshop.

Finally, of course, we would not be there without the tireless work of Russ and Val. These two people get this festival up and running each year. What started as an idea in their backyard has grown into a Cookstown institution and a festival Ontario should be proud of. Indeed, we’ve been seeing a noticeable presence of Gussa fans out in the wild. Finally, let’s not forget the volunteers who put this giant puzzle together and keep everybody safe & happy.

A few reasons to go next year

Gussapolooza is a lot to pull off financially, and so the more people that go, the easier it is for each subsequent festival to happen – although not to worry, neither of us thinks this is going to stop anytime soon, they were selling advance tickets to 2026 Sunday afternoon!

Even though you missed out on the advance, earliest bird-or-whatever discount, you can still get tickets for next year on gussapolooza.com (at some point. Keep an eye out as they still offer online/advance order discounts generally. Fullest price is at-the-gate!).

Don’t miss out on:

• An entire weekend (including Friday night!) of original, indie bands drawn from across Canada and beyond. If you crave original music, or even unique covers or send-ups to the classics, this is your gateway into a great musical scene.
• Strangers hugging strangers. Meeting people and sharing personal moments is a great way to expand your generous spirit.
• It is family-friendly (at least for the day – there are two main separate campsites and one of them is specifically for families. The party goes all night long with a bonfire/jam session near the other one). You’ll walk away looking forward to seeing many of these faces again.
• Plenty to do. Yes, music is a big part of this, but so are health and wellness and workshops to learn something new. You can hear (and this year, even see) most of the bands from the Creator’s Convention and many of the food trucks and vendors.
• As far as festivals go, this one is still very affordable. You won’t lose your shirt this weekend. In fact, you will probably buy a new one after celebrating a great weekend. (I know, I did. – Jojo) (I bought a hat, myself. – Lawrence)
• We are Guss!

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