Gussapolooza Music Festival

09/05/2026

Propter Hawk named Artist of the Year as Gussapolooza Music & Arts Festival celebrates its 2026 award winners
COOKSTOWN, ON – September 4, 2026 — The stages are quiet, the tents have come down, and another Gussapolooza Music & Arts Festival is in the books.

After three days of music, art, community, rain-or-shine festival spirit and some truly unforgettable performances, Gussapolooza is celebrating the artists who made the 2026 festival one to remember.

Gussapolooza Music & Arts Festival is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Gussapolooza Music Awards, led by Toronto rock band Propter Hawk, named this year's Artist of the Year.

The Gussapolooza Music Awards are about more than who played the biggest stage or had the biggest following. Throughout the weekend, festivalgoers were encouraged to discover artists, catch their sets and have a voice in recognizing the performers who connected with them.

2026 GUSSAPOLOOZA MUSIC AWARD WINNERS
EMERGING SINGER-SONGWRITER — KAILAN McGEE
At the heart of independent music is someone willing to take an idea, a feeling, or a piece of their life, and turn it into a song.

The 2026 Emerging Singer-Songwriter Award goes to Kailan McGee, a Cobourg-born artist who arrived at Gussapolooza with two albums worth of original work and the kind of quiet confidence that comes from genuinely believing in what you're making.

Gussapolooza was created to give emerging artists a place to be discovered, connect with new audiences and take another step forward.

We are incredibly proud to have Kailan as a part of that story.

📷 Carolyn Elaine Milne

09/05/2026

Propter Hawk named Artist of the Year as Gussapolooza Music & Arts Festival celebrates its 2026 award winners
COOKSTOWN, ON – September 4, 2026 — The stages are quiet, the tents have come down, and another Gussapolooza Music & Arts Festival is in the books.

After three days of music, art, community, rain-or-shine festival spirit and some truly unforgettable performances, Gussapolooza is celebrating the artists who made the 2026 festival one to remember.

Gussapolooza Music & Arts Festival is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Gussapolooza Music Awards, led by Toronto rock band Propter Hawk, named this year's Artist of the Year.

The Gussapolooza Music Awards are about more than who played the biggest stage or had the biggest following. Throughout the weekend, festivalgoers were encouraged to discover artists, catch their sets and have a voice in recognizing the performers who connected with them.

2026 GUSSAPOLOOZA MUSIC AWARD WINNERS

EMERGING YOUNG ARTIST OF THE YEAR — APEX
Perhaps one of the most exciting reminders of why festivals like Gussapolooza matter came from some of the youngest musicians on the grounds.

Apex is an all-girl youth rock band from the shores of Georgian Bay, featuring Lina on guitar and vocals, her sister Rosa on bass, and Sophia on drums.

The band spent the summer playing festivals and bringing their mix of rock, punk, grunge and blues to audiences, then brought that same energy to Gussapolooza.

Seeing young artists already getting on stages, finding their sound and becoming part of the Canadian music community is exactly why Gussapolooza is proud to name Apex the 2026 Emerging Young Artist of the Year.

WHERE YOU SEE THEM FIRST
Gussapolooza has always been built around a simple idea: give people a chance to discover artists before everyone else does.

The 2026 festival brought emerging Canadian artists together with fans, volunteers, creators and the wider independent music community for three days at the Georgian Bay Steam Show Grounds in Cookstown, Ontario.

Behind it all is The Indie Distributor, the nonprofit behind Gussapolooza, created to support emerging artists, share music and music education, and strengthen the independent music scene.

This year's award winners represent exactly why Gussapolooza keeps doing what it does.

Some are just beginning. Some are already breaking through. Some gave us performances we'll talk about for years. And some reminded us that the most important part of a music scene isn't a stage at all.

It's the people standing beside it.

Congratulations to Propter Hawk, Edi Callier, Sam Casey & The Middlechildren, Suzi Kory, Kailan McGee and Apex and thank you to every artist who took a chance, stepped onto a Gussapolooza stage and became a part of the 2026 festival.

We'll see you in 2027.
📷 Carolyn Elaine Milne

09/05/2026

GUSSAPOLOOZA 2026 CELEBRATES THE ARTISTS WHO MADE THIS YEAR UNFORGETTABLE
Propter Hawk named Artist of the Year as Gussapolooza Music & Arts Festival celebrates its 2026 award winners
COOKSTOWN, ON – September 4, 2026 — The stages are quiet, the tents have come down, and another Gussapolooza Music & Arts Festival is in the books.

After three days of music, art, community, rain-or-shine festival spirit and some truly unforgettable performances, Gussapolooza is celebrating the artists who made the 2026 festival one to remember.

Gussapolooza Music & Arts Festival is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Gussapolooza Music Awards, led by Toronto rock band Propter Hawk, named this year's Artist of the Year.

The Gussapolooza Music Awards are about more than who played the biggest stage or had the biggest following. Throughout the weekend, festivalgoers were encouraged to discover artists, catch their sets and have a voice in recognizing the performers who connected with them.

2026 GUSSAPOLOOZA MUSIC AWARD WINNERS
ARTIST OF THE YEAR — PROPTER HAWK
There was something special about Propter Hawk at Gussapolooza this year.

Fronted by powerhouse vocalist Malorie Jo Blake, the five-piece Toronto rock band brought a sound that feels both familiar and completely alive. Cinematic, road-worn rock and roll built for a packed crowd and a long summer night.

The band arrived at Gussapolooza with a growing reputation and new music on the horizon, but left with the festival's biggest honour: 2026 Artist of the Year.

And that's exactly what this award is meant to recognize: artists who are building, growing and becoming something bigger.

Kaylin Cohen Photography

09/04/2026

Gussapolooza is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Gussapolooza Music Awards.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR - Propter Hawk
Cinematic, road-worn rock and roll built for a packed crowd and a long summer night. They arrived at Gussapolooza with a growing reputation and new music on the horizon, but left with the festival's biggest honour.
📸: Kaylin Cohen

BEST PERFORMANCE- Edi Callier
Blending rock, funk, pop, R&B and jazz, Edi brought an incredible combination of musicianship, soul and presence to the Gussapolooza stage. None of those credentials mattered as much as what happened when he stepped onto the stage. The crowd felt it.
📸: Alex Kostecka-Silva

RISING SUN - sammy
Sam Casey has built a live show that blurs the line between confession and catharsis. Emotionally direct songwriting, raw intensity, electric band chemistry and the kind of fearless stage presence that sticks with you long after the last note.

SPIRIT OF GUSS - Suzi Kory | Country-Rock
It's supporting other artists. It's showing up. It's making people feel welcome. Suzi Kory brought that spirit to Gussapolooza, and this festival exists because of people who care about the community around the music just as much as the music itself.
📸:Jackson Sister's Photography

EMERGING SINGER-SONGWRITER-
Kailan McGee
A Cobourg-born artist who arrived at Gussapolooza with two albums worth of original work and the kind of quiet confidence that comes from genuinely believing in what you are making.
📸: Carolyn Elaine Milne

EMERGING YOUNG ARTIST OF THE YEAR - band_
An all-girl youth rock band from the shores of Georgian Bay. They spent the summer playing festivals and bringing their mix of rock, punk, grunge and blues to audiences, then brought that same energy to Gussapolooza.
📸: Carolyn Elaine Milne

Congratulations everyone. And thank you to every artist who took a chance, stepped onto a Gussapolooza stage and became part of the 2026 festival.

We'll see you in 2027.

Gussapolooza Music & Arts Festival
Where You See Them First

09/01/2026

❗Gussapolooza Vendors:
Be sure to ONLY fill out applications linked directly on our website at Gussapolooza.com .
If you receive an email claiming to be from us - always double-check the address and make sure it is coming from one of our official email addresses - if in doubt, contact [email protected]

08/28/2026

📣 Thank you to Powersport Rental | Barrie/Muskoka Jetski • Pontoon • ATV • UTV⭐ for being a 2026 Gussapolooza Sponsor!

Flextoy Rentals in Barrie offers premium powersport rentals for all your outdoor adventure needs. From snowmobiles, ATVs, UTVs, to boats and watercraft Flextoy has everything you need to get out there!

🎶 GUSSAPOLOOZA MUSIC FESTIVAL
www.gussapolooza.com

Gussapolooza Music & Arts Festival is a 3-day independent music and arts festival in Cookstown, Ontario with live indie music, food trucks, a Kids Zone, artisan vendor market, festival camping, and an amazing community of people who genuinely love to have a good time.

08/28/2026

🎸 Apex kicked things off on our Gussapolooza 2026 Friday afternoon on the Side Stage!
This young all-girl rock band has been playing festivals all summer, bringing rock, punk, grunge and blues to the stage.

📸 Big thanks to Carolyn Elaine Milne for capturing these moments!

🎶 Gussapolooza Music Festival
www.gussapolooza.com

08/28/2026

Much love Gussapolooza 2026 ❤️❤️❤️

The music was more eclectic that ever before having 4 stages for different kinds of music.They had a small stage for DJ’s so they could bring in the dance crowd. The Main Stage was next to it, bringing in the bigger bands. You had the side stage for those edgier bands trying to make it to the main...

08/27/2026

The Coolest Campsite Award🏕✨️🎶
It was a tie!
We loved both of these groovy set ups!
Congrats to Maggie & Lee-Ann, you guys did an awesome job of making a cool hang out for the weekend.
See you next year!

🎶Gussapolooza Music Festival
www.gussapolooza.com

08/26/2026

Already know you're IN for Gussapolooza 2027?
Grab your 2027 Weekend Passes before midnight tonight to get THE best price!

Want to secure a particular site? Reserve your Power Site when you book your tickets.

🏕 A Weekend Pass is required to camp out for the weekend in any capacity. From there, add what you need based on how you're camping:
• Tent camping without power - Weekend Pass only
• Tent camping with power - Weekend Pass + Power Site Pass
• RV camping without power - Weekend Pass for each camper & at least 1 RV Pass
• RV camping with power - Weekend Passes for each camper + RV Pass + Power Site Pass
• Want to bring a Vehicle onto your site or camp in your car? Add a Vehicle Pass

🎶 Gussapolooza Music Festival
August 20-22, 2027
www.gussapolooza.com