The top 12 country music events in Toronto this summer

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Are you a little bit country? Or a little bit rock 'n roll? If you're the former, then you're about to have a really great summer. Even if you're a part-time country fan like me you'll also have a great time. There is a pretty solid line up of concerts, Dolly Parton things and festivals downtown and around town. Saddle up!

Here's a round-up of country music events in Toronto this summer.

Bright Lights, Big Country (June 9)
This is a big ol' country concert to benefit Fort McMurray at The Phoenix. Tim Hicks, Jason Blaine, Autumn Hill are some of the artists and bands strumming through the night. top

Small Town Pistols (June 15)
An intimate country showcase at First Canadian Place featuring brother-sister duo Small Town Pistols (named Group or Duo of the Year at the 2014 Canadian Country Music Awards) and East Coast trip Port Cities. This is a small, free show at 5:50 p.m. so make sure to RSVP ASAP.

Dixie Chicks (June 21)
The Dixie Chicks are touring for the first time in 10 years?! These girls are the bad ass rebels of country music, one of the ultimate girl groups of our time, and don't give a heck what anyone thinks anymore. Apparently they're playing all the hits and some amazing covers at the Molson Amphitheatre. Here's the setlist is you want to ruin the surprise.

Steers and Queers (June 30)
Now a yearly off-Pride tradition, Steers and Queers: Night of 1000 Dollys is the ultimate gay country hoedown. A night at the church of Dolly with featuring drag, burlesque, a full choir and Rev Fluffy Souffle on the pulpit asking, WWDD?

Boots and Hearts (August 4 - 7)
Rent a pickup truck with your friends or take the GO Train because this weekend festival is the motherland for country fans. Especially if you're a fan of hunky new country. This year Gwen Stefani's boyfriend is playing, as well as Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley, Jake Owen, Jojo Mason, and Emerson Drive, to name a few cowboys.

Havelock Jamboree (August 18 - 21)
This is THE country music extravaganza and camping weekend. Havelock is close to Peterborough. Apparently it's the largest country and camping fest in Canada. This year The Band Perri and Terri Clark headline. 25 acts on twin stages, so many boots, so many belt buckles, food, vendors and hay.

Dolly Parton (September 9)
Dolly Parton's Pure and Simple tour is a cannot-be-missed event at the Molson Amp. This is her most extensive tour in 20 years, and the country legend is 70 years old!? She'll be playing hits, hits, hits with a four-person, scaled down band. Even if you're just a fan of 9 to 5 or Jolene, it's one of those shows that will blow you away with the amount of songs you didn't know you loved.

Rock 'n' Horse Saloon (All summer)
If you need that country fix, but can't afford to get outta dodge or just need country karaoke badly on a Wednesday night, there's always this downtown hillbilly hangout. They're giving away Boots and Hearts passes leading up to the August festival on Thursday nights all summer and it's ladies night on Friday.

Summer country concerts (All summer)
The Molson Amp in general will be packed with country music maniacs this summer. Here's a brief list of the big shows.