Gussapolooza Music Festival announces winners of this year’s epic Battle of the Bands!
Cookstown, Ontario September 16th-18th 2022
Over 70 emerging indie Bands from all over Canada took center stage this past September at the Georgian Bay Steam Show Grounds in Cookstown Ontario for a one of kind, 3-day interactive non-stop extravaganza and celebration of independent music and art. Gussapolooza Music festival has just announced their top 3 picks from this year’s epic Battle of the Bands competition, and the winners are from your backyard!
Newmarket indie band The Human Drive takes home the festival’s grand prize and top spot!
Bridging the afternoon and evening acts on the first full day of the festival, first place band, The Human Drive, took the main stage to a hugely excited and receptive audience of new and old fans alike. Set by their alt rock tone, the scene resembled something out of Pirates of the Caribbean. Picture the outdoor side-by-side stages, locked dueling in an epic battle between two pirate ships, with flashing lights and banners blowing in the wind like top sails; each ship captained by a seasoned crew of indie band buccaneers. The four-piece rock band made up of Jon Burkholder (rhythm guitar), Adam Fini (lead guitar), Nick Blue (drums), and Josh Wareham (bass/lead vocals) blasted their unique sound of modern rock out into the crowd like cannon fire, delivering an epic performance to remember.
Coming in second place was another amazing indie band from Newmarket, Ontario. Proving that no amount of sassy Sunday morning stormy weather could derail Gussapolooza bands nor fans, Shoemaker Levee took center stage on the final night of the festival, giving an all-out rock show performance. Like their celestial namesake, the four-piece band made up of Kevin Rogers Cobus (guitar/vocals), Dwayne Cardoso (drums), Dave Broadhead (guitar/vocals), and Matt Brown (bass), brought an unparalleled and intergalactic energy to the grounds, proving that the best festivals wind up, rather than down.
Rounding out a legendary Battle of the Bands line up of champions with third place, is local Thornton Ontario own indie singer/songwriter and professional hippie tour de force, Francesca Panetta. The only Battle of the Bands victor to have dawned the acoustic stage, aka “the barn,” Francesca Panetta set the bar extremely high for all the acoustic acts who followed in the wake of her elegance early Saturday afternoon. Framed by the backdrop of the undeniable rustic charm, Francesca Panetta captivated those lucky enough to enjoy their morning coffee (or Caesar) to the tune of her beautiful performance.
“Gussapolooza Music Festival has a purpose and that is to ignite our independent music scene here in Simcoe County and Southern Ontario. We want to create more opportunity for local artists and show the world that this is the epicenter of the next big indie music and art scene. Each artist and band were rated by a panel of secret judges with industry experience who were looking at many different aspects of their performances. Since it really is the amazing folks who come out to this festival that make it such a magical event, they were also given a chance to vote for their favourite act. The Human Drive, Shoemaker Levee, and Francesca Panetta all delivered exactly what this festival and its patrons were looking for from aspiring artists.” –Russell Robson (Founder and Organizer)