Kris Barclay performed as part of the Thursday line-up for Boots and Hearts, but he remained at the festival all weekend to soak in everything he could about the music he loves.
“I’m not just an artist, I’m a huge fan of country music,” said Barclay. “This festival is so full of amazing talent and I really don’t want to miss anyone.”
Barclay won last year’s Emerging Artist Showcase at Boots and Hearts and has since earned his first Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAO) nomination in the Rising Star category. His debut single, Loved You Like That, is getting significant airtplay on country music radio.
Barclay said winning the Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase was a launching pad for his career. But he won’t forget his roots as a fan - a guy who used to camp out with his buddies at Burl's Creek.
“I was camping here for years," he said. "I remember actually that it was really cool for me as an artist this past Thursday to be on stage and looking out to the very spot I was standing as a fan where I turned to my buddies and said 'Boys, I don’t know how I’m going to do this, but I’m going to be up there playing a show one day.'
"It was one of the coolest things in my career to be able to look out and see that spot where I stood a few years ago and knew this is what I would do," he said with a smile.
The 27-year-old from Ajax has begun to forge his own path on the Canadian country music scene, but credits those around him and events like Boots and Hearts for helping him find his way.
“One of the coolest parts of being where I’m at is learning from other artists by either chatting with some veterans who can offer invaluable advice or watching their performance and seeing what they do that is so successful,” said Barclay.
“We just opened for Brett Kissell a couple weeks ago and it gives us a chance to see what we can do that can take us to Brett’s level," said Barclay. "Watching different artists, you kind of take a little bit here, a little bit there and use what you can in your own way to improve. That’s why festivals like Boots and Hearts are so invaluable.”
Barclay can’t help but reflect on the music that got him here. He admits he hopes to be someone else's inspiration one day.
“As far as country goes, one of the first guys that I really enjoyed was Brad Paisley," he recalled. "Obviously, I love Johnny Cash and Waylon, but Paisley really hit home for me, lyrically, and melody-wise.
"I started to grow into the music more and caught Eric Church, who was great to watch carve his own path and his own way," he said. "Then I saw Garth Brooks live ... that just changed my life. It would be cool to inspire someone to follow their dream like I did because it’s been great so far and I’m sure will only get better.”
