Roots run deep: Popular music festival takes over downtown Orillia – OrilliaMatters.com

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The streets of downtown Orillia are alive with music this weekend as the Roots North Music Festival returns for its 11th year. 
Running through Sunday, the four-day grassroots music celebration features a powerful blend of internationally acclaimed artists and local talent performing across more than 20 venues in Orillia and surrounding communities. It can be experienced in cafes, bars, galleries, retail spaces and the main stage at St. Paul’s Centre.
“The evolution of the festival has been incredible,” said committee member Kevin Gangloff, who has been involved with the festival since its early days. “We’ve grown, we’ve adapted, and we came out of the pandemic strong. That’s a testament to the people behind this — the volunteers, the venues, and the community that supports it.”
Roots North began with a simple but important mission to bring people into downtown Orillia during the shoulder season, when tourism typically slows down. April was chosen specifically to help support businesses in that quieter time, and over the years, the festival has steadily grown from a small gathering into a city-wide event that draws hundreds of music lovers.
“Our goal from day one was to showcase Orillia and fill those downtown businesses — not just the bars and restaurants, but the galleries, the cafes, even shops that don’t usually host live music,” Gangloff explained.
“It’s about getting people walking the main street, stepping into places they may not have visited before, and experiencing something unexpected.”
That spirit of community engagement is deeply embedded in the festival’s DNA. While the main stage at St. Paul’s Centre hosts headline acts like Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Royal Wood on Friday and Canadian icon Jully Black on Saturday, a wide variety of performances take place throughout the downtown core — many of them free to attend.
Live performances are just one part of the Roots North experience. The festival also features an art market at St. Paul’s, showcasing local artisans and makers. This year, the market runs Friday and Saturday and offers festival-goers a chance to discover and support Orillia’s creative community.
“This festival gives musicians of all levels a platform — from emerging youth performers to established touring artists,” Gangloff said. “We’ve always believed in that mix. And we’ve had some conversations around the idea of ‘local musicians’ — that term can sometimes feel limiting. Just because someone is local doesn’t mean they’re not at the top of their game. We’re proud to put those artists on the same stages as some of Canada’s best.”
What started with a handful of participating venues has expanded dramatically. This year’s festival features between 17 and 20 official venues, including spaces just outside of Orillia like Quayle’s Brewery in Coldwater, which originally approached the festival about getting involved.
“That really speaks to the reach of this thing,” Gangloff said. “It’s still a grassroots event — we’re not trying to be a giant commercial festival. But the fact that we’re being approached by businesses outside the city who want to take part says something.”
Behind the scenes, the Roots North Music Festival is entirely volunteer-run — a fact that makes its success even more impressive. From ticket takers and sound techs to photographers and stage crews, every aspect of the festival is made possible by community support.
“This doesn’t happen without the volunteers,” Gangloff said. “It’s one thing to have a committee and a vision, but it’s another thing entirely to have the hands and hearts who actually make it happen. They’re out there moving gear, running concessions, helping artists — it’s amazing.”
And the feedback from participating businesses has been overwhelmingly positive. According to Gangloff, most venues that join the festival once return the next year, and many have been involved since the beginning.
“You hear from shop owners who say it’s one of their busiest weekends of the spring,” he said. “And even more than that, there’s a sense of energy downtown. It’s vibrant. You walk around, hear music in the air, see people in stores, in galleries — it just brings the city to life in a really unique way.”
Tickets for the main stage shows at St. Paul’s are available online, but space is limited, with only about 400 seats available per night. For those unable to attend both nights, weekend passes are interchangeable, meaning a pass can be used by a friend or family member on a different night — a move organizers say helps make the event more accessible and flexible.
But for many, the magic of Roots North happens outside the ticketed events.
“If you’re not sure about coming, or if the main stage shows aren’t for you, just walk around downtown,” Gangloff said. “You’ll stumble into live music in unexpected places. And the variety is awesome — different genres, different vibes, all kinds of people coming together to celebrate music and art.”
As the festival continues to grow, Gangloff said organizers remain committed to keeping the event community-focused and manageable. Growth, he said, isn’t just about numbers — it’s about impact.
“Getting bigger doesn’t mean going from 400 to 5,000 people,” he said. “It means asking ourselves, how can we improve? How can we add meaningful value for artists, audiences, and downtown businesses? Every year, we take a hard look at what worked and what didn’t, and that’s how we plan the next one.”
To learn more about the festival, view the full weekend schedule, or purchase tickets, click here. 
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