Boats, Beers and Backroads

Hosted by Jamie Allison
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What happens when you mix dockside chats, early morning casts, local brews, and winding backroads? You get real conversations, good laughs, and an unapologetic love for country & cottage life. 🎙️ Hosted by Jamie Allison, this isn’t about curated perfection — it’s about the unfiltered joy of weekends away, the kind of stories you share by the fire, and the beauty of slowing down. ✨ If you’ve ever paddled at sunrise, grilled on a stormy day, or found your peace on a backroad bike ride… this one’s for you.

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

    1d ago

    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.

    20 min
  2. From Pita Pit to Pints – Building Lightcaster Brewery One Community at a Time

    Jun 17

    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

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

    Jun 11

    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.

    26 min
  4. How Cooper Gallant Turned a Fishing Obsession into a Dream Career

    Jun 4

    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 familyHow local tournaments shaped his careerWhat life is really like on the Bassmaster Elite SeriesThe growing celebrity status of professional bass anglersBest bass fishing tips for weekend anglersCountry music, campfires, and life beyond tournament fishingWhether 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

    28 min
  5. Cory Johnston on Bass Boats, Family Life, and Big Bass

    May 28

    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

    22 min
  6. Paul Langlois on The Tragically Hip, Cottage Country & Smooth Rock Falls

    May 27

    Paul Langlois on The Tragically Hip, Cottage Country & Smooth Rock Falls

    For generations of Canadians, The Tragically Hip became more than a band. They became campfire songs at the cottage.Road trip soundtracks.Hockey arena anthems.And part of the fabric of Canadian life itself. On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with Paul Langlois of The Tragically Hip for a conversation about music, memory, creativity, and Canada. Paul reflects on the band’s early days playing Kingston pubs and basements, the chemistry that made The Hip special, and how the songwriting process evolved over decades together. He shares stories about cottage life, fishing from his pontoon boat, favorite Ontario backroads, and how surreal it feels knowing Hip songs became part of so many Canadian summers and campfire moments. The conversation also explores Paul’s solo work, including his latest release Smooth Rock Falls—an album shaped by family, loss, reflection, and rediscovering creativity after The Hip. In this episode: The early Kingston pub days and building The Tragically HipHow the band’s songwriting evolved over timeWhy Hip songs became tied to Canadian identityCottage life, fishing, and Ontario backroadsWriting and recording Smooth Rock FallsTouring again Reflections on the final Kingston concertWhat still inspires Paul creatively todayThis episode feels like a long conversation around a Canadian campfire—with stories, music, nostalgia, and a deep appreciation for country living. 🎧 Listen or watch now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. https://linktr.ee/BoatsBeersandBackroads @boatsbeersandbackroads Follow Paul on Instagram @paullangloismusic The Tragically Hip @thetragicallyhip

    34 min
  7. Susie Bulloch on Brisket, Business, and Backyard Cooking

    May 13

    Susie Bulloch on Brisket, Business, and Backyard Cooking

    What starts as a backyard passion project can turn into something much bigger. On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie sits down with Susie Bulloch, founder of Hey Grill Hey, to talk about barbecue, family, entrepreneurship, and building one of the internet’s biggest grilling communities from the ground up. What began in 2015 as a simple recipe blog and love for feeding people has grown into a global BBQ brand with more than 750 recipes, millions of followers, bestselling products, and a thriving family-run business. But at the heart of it all? Community. Susie shares how she and her husband bet on themselves in 2017 when he left his corporate career to join the business full-time—and how they’ve raised their family while building a company together and enjoying great BBQ. In this episode: How Hey Grill Hey grew from side hustle to BBQ powerhouseWhy community matters more than algorithmsThe best beginner BBQ recipes to build confidenceWhy chicken thighs might beat brisket for beginnersSusie’s must-have BBQ tool (every griller needs one)Balancing family life with entrepreneurshipHer favourite low-and-slow cooks and BBQ saucesThe mindset behind keeping recipes free and accessibleWhether you’re a hardcore pitmaster or just trying not to burn burgers at the cottage this summer—this episode is packed with fun, practical advice and real stories. 🔥 Grab a cold drink, fire up the grill, and enjoy. 🎧 Listen or watch now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. https://linktr.ee/BoatsBeersandBackroads @boatsbeersandbackroads Follow Susie on Instagram @heygrillhey www.heygrillhey.com

    30 min
  8. Gord Bamford on Keeping Country Music Simple and Real

    May 5

    Gord Bamford on Keeping Country Music Simple and Real

    Country music doesn’t get more real than this. On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with Gord Bamford—one of Canada’s most successful country artists—for a conversation that goes way beyond the stage. Fresh off the announcement of his upcoming performance at the Grand Ole Opry, Gord shares what this milestone means after 25 years in the industry—and why it might be the highlight of his entire career. From growing up in rural Alberta to grinding it out playing small-town bars across Western Canada, Gord opens up about the journey, the lessons, and what it really takes to build a lasting music career. In this episode: The story behind his Grand Ole Opry performanceHow small-town life shaped his music and mindsetThe importance of writing simple, relatable country songsHis breakout moment with “Blame It On That Red Dress”Life as an independent artist—and why it worksTouring small communities and building real fan connectionsBalancing music, business, and family lifeHis new single “Loaded Eyes” and upcoming albumThis is a conversation about staying grounded, staying real, and building a career your own way. 👉 If you love country music, cottage drives, and real stories—this one’s for you. 🎧 Listen or watch now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. https://linktr.ee/BoatsBeersandBackroads @boatsbeersandbackroads Follow Gord on Instagram @thegordbamford www.gordbamford.com

    32 min
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About

What happens when you mix dockside chats, early morning casts, local brews, and winding backroads? You get real conversations, good laughs, and an unapologetic love for country & cottage life. 🎙️ Hosted by Jamie Allison, this isn’t about curated perfection — it’s about the unfiltered joy of weekends away, the kind of stories you share by the fire, and the beauty of slowing down. ✨ If you’ve ever paddled at sunrise, grilled on a stormy day, or found your peace on a backroad bike ride… this one’s for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Hosted by Jamie Allison
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Hosted by Jamie Allison
  • Show Website
    Boats, Beers and Backroads

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