Honky Tonk Summer Jam: Building Muskoka's New Country Music Tradition with Jason MacKenzie

Honky Tonk Summer Jam: Building Muskoka's New Country Music Tradition with Jason MacKenzie

What happens when a local guy sees a need in his community and decides to do something about it?In this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie sits down with Jason MacKenzie, co-founder and organizer of the rapidly growing Honky Tonk Summer Jam, taking place this July 3-4 at the Bracebridge Fairgrounds in the heart of Muskoka.What started as a one-night charity concert supporting Andy's House (Muskoka Hospice) has quickly evolved into one of Ontario's most exciting grassroots country music events. After raising more than $21,000 in its first year, the festival returns bigger than ever with two days of music, camping, line dancing, food vendors, community spirit, and an all-Canadian lineup of country artists.Jason shares the story behind launching the festival, the challenges of building an event from the ground up, why supporting Canadian country artists matters, and his vision for creating a Muskoka tradition that brings people together while giving back.Whether you're a country music fan, festival lover, camper, cottage-goer, or simply someone who loves seeing communities rally around a great cause, this conversation is for you.In This Episode✅ Raising $21,000 for Andy's House in year one✅ Why the event focuses exclusively on Canadian country talent✅ Camping, line dancing, vendors and festival experiences✅ Building a community-first event in Muskoka✅ Future plans for Honky Tonk Summer Jam✅ Why supporting local artists mattersEvent Information📍 Bracebridge Fairgrounds📅 July 3-4, 2026🏕️ Camping Available🎸 11 Artists🤠 Line Dancing🍔 Food VendorsFollow Honky Tonk Summer Jam and grab your tickets 📱 Instagram: @honkytonksummerjam🎟️ Tickets & Event Information:https://honkytonksummerjam.caFollow Boats, Beers & Backroads📸 Instagram: @boatsbeersandbackroads▶️ YouTube: Boats Beers & Backroads🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you listen.

From Pita Pit to Pints – Building Lightcaster Brewery One Community at a Time

What do you do after helping build one of Canada's most successful restaurant franchises?If you're Nelson Lang, you build a brewery.This week on Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with entrepreneur Nelson Lang, co-founder of Pita Pit and now Managing Partner of Lightcaster Brewery & Tap House.Nelson shares the incredible story of launching Pita Pit in Kingston in 1995 and helping grow the brand from a single location into a global franchise with more than 600 locations across 18 countries. After stepping away from that chapter, Nelson found himself drawn to a completely different industry—craft beer.Today, alongside brewmaster Jim Gorey and his partners, Nelson is helping build Lightcaster Brewery into one of Ontario's fastest-growing craft brewery brands, with locations in Bowmanville, Kingston, and Orangeville, and plans for future expansion.The conversation explores what makes the craft beer industry unique, why community matters more than ever, and how Lightcaster is creating neighbourhood gathering places built around great beer, live music, and local connection.In This Episode🍺 The story behind Pita Pit's explosive growth📈 Lessons learned from franchising and entrepreneurship🍻 Why Nelson chose craft beer after exiting Pita Pit🏭 Launching and growing Lightcaster Brewery🎵 Creating brewery spaces focused on community and live music🍺 How craft breweries collaborate instead of compete🚤 Cottage life on Stoney Lake🍺 Nelson's favourite Lightcaster beers🎙️ Why local gathering places matter more than everWhether you're an entrepreneur, beer lover, cottage owner, or someone who enjoys hearing how great Canadian businesses are built, this episode delivers plenty of insight and inspiration.Follow Boats, Beers & Backroads📸 Instagram: @boatsbeersandbackroadsFollow Lightcaster Brewery📸 Instagram: @lightcasterbreweryhttps://linktr.ee/BoatsBeersandBackroads

Lucas Mason: From Viral Zach Bryan Moment to Country Music's Next Big Voice

What happens after a viral moment changes your life? This week on Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie sits down with one of Canada's most promising emerging country artists, Lucas Mason. Many first discovered Lucas when he joined country superstar Zach Bryan on stage in a moment that generated more than 15 million views online. But as Lucas explains, the viral moment was only the beginning. In this candid conversation, Lucas shares how growing up in a musical family shaped his passion for songwriting, why he chose authenticity over chasing quick success, and the journey of creating his debut album while balancing school, performances, and life as a young artist. They also discuss his powerful single "Tethered," the emotional challenges of pursuing a dream, the importance of authentic music in an AI-driven world, and his upcoming release "Stay," inspired by a relaxing cottage getaway in Norfolk County, Ontario. If you love country music, campfires, backroads, and great stories, this is an episode you won't want to miss. In This Episode: 🎵 Growing up in a musical family 🎹 Learning piano at age six and discovering guitar 🎤 The Zach Bryan moment that changed everything 🎸 Building a career based on original music 🏟️ Playing a sold-out Scotiabank Arena 📝 Writing "Tethered" and the realities of chasing a dream 🏡 The cottage-country inspiration behind his new song "Stay" 🎶 Why authenticity matters more than ever in music 🤠 Influences including Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers, and Ocie Elliott 🔥 Recording a debut album 🚤 Rapid-fire questions, country music, campfires, and backroads Follow Lucas Mason 📸 Instagram: @lucasmasonmusic 🎵 Spotify: Lucas Mason 🎥 TikTok: @lucasmasonmusic 💬 Join "The Campfire" fan community on Instagram Follow Boats, Beers & Backroads 📸 Instagram: @boatsbeersandbackroads 🎥 YouTube: @boatsbeersandbackroads 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.

How Cooper Gallant Turned a Fishing Obsession into a Dream Career

What does it take for a kid growing up fishing Ontario waters to compete against the best anglers in the world? On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with Bassmaster Elite Series pro Cooper Gallant, one of Canada’s fastest-rising professional anglers. Growing up in Bowmanville, Ontario, surrounded by an outdoors family and the incredible fisheries of Lake Ontario, Rice Lake, and the Bay of Quinte, Cooper developed a passion for fishing that quickly evolved from weekend outings to tournament competition. Today, Cooper competes on the Bassmaster Elite Series—the highest level of professional bass fishing in the world. Along the way, he’s learned that success requires much more than catching fish. Modern professional anglers must be businesspeople, content creators, marketers, and entertainers, all while competing against the best anglers on the planet.In this episode, Cooper shares his journey from local Ontario tournaments to the Elite Series, discusses the role of technology like LiveScope, offers practical fishing advice for weekend anglers, and provides an honest look at the challenges of life on the road chasing a dream. * In This Episode Growing up in an outdoors family * How local tournaments shaped his career * What life is really like on the Bassmaster Elite Series * The growing celebrity status of professional bass anglers * Best bass fishing tips for weekend anglers * Country music, campfires, and life beyond tournament fishing Whether you’re a tournament angler, a weekend cottage fisherman, or simply someone who loves the outdoors, this episode offers an inside look at one of the sport's brightest stars. ⸻ Follow Boats, Beers & Backroads 📸 Instagram: @boatsbeersandbackroads https://linktr.ee/BoatsBeersandBackroads ⸻Follow Cooper Gallant 📸 Instagram: @coopergallantfishing

Cory Johnston on Bass Boats, Family Life, and Big Bass

For Cory Johnston, it started in a boat with his father and brother on the lakes around Peterborough, Ontario—one of Canada's most legendary fishing regions. On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with one of Canada's top professional anglers to discuss the path from local tournaments in the Kawarthas to competing against the best bass fishermen in the world on the Bassmaster Elite Series. Cory shares how growing up fishing alongside his brother Chris and his father laid the foundation for a career that has taken him across North America. He discusses tournament fishing, adapting to rapidly changing technology, balancing life as a touring professional and father, and why some of the best fishing lessons still come from time spent on the water with family. The conversation also dives into practical fishing advice for weekend anglers, favorite Ontario lakes, equipment choices, and what it takes to compete at the highest level of professional bass fishing. 🎣 Growing up fishing the lakes around Peterborough and the Kawarthas 🎣 Learning tournament fishing from his father and competing alongside his brother Chris 🎣 The journey from local events to the Bassmaster Elite Series 🎣 Why versatility is one of the most important skills in fishing 🎣 How technology has changed professional bass fishing 🎣 Traditional fishing techniques versus modern forward-facing sonar 🎣 Advice for weekend anglers targeting bass in northern lakes 🎣 Why Lake Ontario and Lake Simcoe remain among his favorite fisheries 🎣 Balancing Elite Series competition with raising a family 🎣 His pursuit of Bassmaster Angler of the Year and a Bassmaster Classic title Whether you're a hardcore tournament angler, a weekend cottage fisherman, or someone who simply loves spending time on the water, this episode offers a fascinating look inside the life of one of Canada's most accomplished professional bass anglers. 📸 Instagram: @boatsbeersbackroads 🎥 YouTube: Boats, Beers & Backroads 🎧 Spotify: Boats, Beers & Backroads Podcast 🍎 Apple Podcasts: Boats, Beers & Backroads Podcast 📸 Instagram: @coryjohnstonfishing