Happy Halloween! Videos by Lindi Ortega, John & Sheila Ludgate, Tim Gibbons

Update of 2014 post

Our esteemed blogger, Lou as The Mighty Hercules! Oympiaaaa!

Click Pic for a video

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Links: Lindi Ortega, More Lindi Ortega Stories, Video above courtesy of Last Gang Records

Links: John and Sheila Ludgate, More John and Sheila Stories, Video above courtesy of saxondale2

Links: Tim Gibbons, More Tim Gibbons Stories, Video above courtesy of Tim Gibbons

Click here for more Halloween videos

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GOOD LUCK! Local Country Music Association of Ontario Award Nominees

Many of our incredible area musicians will be heading down to London for the Country Music Association of Ontario Awards on June 3, 2018. There were quite a few local nominees and hopefully they'll pick up some hardware.

Hamilton boasts a few nominees: Blue Rodeo (which has Hamilton's Colin Cripps in its current lineup) and radio station KX 94.7 FM are up for awards.



Links: Blue Rodeo, More Blue Rodeo Stories, Video above courtesy of Blue Rodeo

The Halton region also has a few artists in the running: Burlington's Tianna Woods and Tebey along with Oakville's Nicole Rayy.



Links: Tianna Woods, More Tianna Woods Stories, Video above courtesy of Tianna Woods



Links: Tebey, More Tebey Stories, Video above courtesy of Tebey



Links: Nicole Rayy, More Nicole Rayy Stories, Video above courtesy of Nicole Rayy

As for Niagara, there's St. Catherines Country superstar Tim Hicks and CKYY Country 89 (Welland).



Links: Tim Hicks, More Tim Hicks Stories, Video above courtesy of TimHicksVEVO

Other local artists include The Western Swing Authority and Jason Barry from Waterloo, Shae Dupuy (Cambridge).



Links: Western Swing Authority, More WSA Stories, Video above courtesy of TheWSAMusic



Links: Shae Dupuy, More Shae Dupuy Stories, Video above courtesy of Shae Dupuy

GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY!

Leading the pack with nominations is the James Barker Band with 6.

Below is a complete list of nominees.

Single

• Tim Hicks: Slide Over
• Jason Blaine: Born To Love 
• James Barker Band: Chills
• Meghan Patrick: Country Music Made Me Do It
• Genevieve Fisher: You Me We

Female Artist

• Tianna Woods
• Dani Strong
• Genevieve Fisher
• Jessica Mitchell
• Meghan Patrick

Male Artist

• Tebey
• Tim Hicks
• Andrew Hyatt
• Anthony Tullo
• Jason Blaine

Group/Duo

• Blue Rodeo (ft Hamilton's Colin Cripps)
• Cold Creek County
• James Barker Band
• Runaway Angel
• The Lovelocks
• Andrew Hyatt

Roots Artist/Group

• The Western Swing Authority
• Jessica Mitchell
• Lindi Ortega
• The Abrams
• The Lovelocks

Rising Star

• Shae Dupuy
• Nicole Rayy
• Andrew Hyatt
• Eric Ethridge
• Andrew Hyatt

Music Video

• Tim Hicks: Slide Over
• James Barker Band: Chills
• Meghan Patrick: Country Music Made Me Do It
• The Road Hammers: Haulin’ Ass
• Cold Creek County: Homemade
• River Town Saints: Woke Up Like This

Fan's Choice

• Tim Hicks
• James Barker Band
• Meghan Patrick
• River Town Saints
• The Road Hammers

Songwriter (s)

• Justin Moore: Somebody Else Will (written by Kelly Archer, Adam Hambrick, Tebey)
• The Road Hammers: Crazy About You (written by Clayton Bellamy, Chris Byrne, Jason McCoy)
• Meghan Patrick: Country Music Made Me Do It (co-written by Dan Isbell, Jeremy Stover)
• James Barker Band: Chills, (co-written by Gavin Slate, Travis Wood, Donovan Woods)
• Jessica Mitchell: Don’t Love Me (co-written by Matthew Tishler)

Record Producer(s)

• Jason Barry (Runaway Angel, Western Swing Authority, Dean Brody)
• David “Dwave” Thomson (Jason Blaine)
• Jeff Dalziel (Washboard Union, Dan Davidson; River Town Saints)
• Karen Kosowski (Jessica Mitchell, Madeline Merlo)
• Scott Cooke, Doug Oliver (Cold Creek County)
• The Agenda (Justine Chantale)

Radio Station (Large Market)

• KX 94.7 FM (Hamilton)
• Country 104 FM (Woodstock)
• CJBX BX 93 (London)
• CJKX KX96 (Oshawa)
• CKBY County 101.1 (Ottawa)

Radio Station (Small Market)

• CKYY Country 89 (Welland)
• CHAW Country 103 (Little Current)
• CICX KICX 106 (Orillia)
• CJDL-FM Country 107.3 (Tillsonburg)
• CKAT, Country 600 (North Bay)
• CKYC Country 93 (Owen Sound)

Album

• James Barker Band: Game On
• Cold Creek County: Homemade
• Andrew Hyatt: Iron and Ashes
• River Town Saints: River Town Saints
• The Road Hammers: The Squeeze

Industry Person

• Amanda Kingsland (County 101.1)
• Anya Wilson (Anya Wilson Promotion and Publicity)
• Mike Denney (MDM Recordings)
• Ron Kitchener (RGK Entertainment)
• Steve Coady (Warner Music Canada)

Radio Station (Medium Market)

• CFCO Country 92.9 (Chatham)
• CHCQ-FM Cool 100.1 FM (Belleville)
• CICS KICX 91.7 (Sudbury)
• CKQM Country 105 (Peterborough)
• CKXC Country 93.5 (Kingston).

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Country Music Association of Ontario, More CMAO Stories

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GOOD LUCK! Western Swing Authority and Tim Hicks Rack Up CCMA Award Nominations!

Waterloo band, Western Swing Authority and St. Catharines' Tim Hicks are once again up for some Canadian Country Music Association Award Nominations in 2016.  WSA is up for Roots Artist of the Year and the band members are also nominated for a few too (Drummer, Fiddler, Specialty Instrument and Steel Guitar).  Tim's running for Interactive Artist of the Year plus his drummer and bassists received nods in their instrument categories as well.



Links: Western Swing Authority, More WSA Stories, Video above courtesy of When the Cowboy Sings



Links: Tim Hicks, More Tim Hicks Stories, Video above courtesy of Sharon Muise

Hopefully, they'll be bringing home the hardware at the ceremony on September 11, 2016 in London.

GOOD LUCK!

Click here for the results.

Alberta country boys Brett Kissel and Gord Bamford earned the most nominations (including team members).  9 and 7 respectively.

Here's the complete list of nominees.

Roots Artist 

• Western Swing Authority
• Jessica Mitchell
• The Lovelocks
• Washboard Union
• Lindi Ortega

Interactive Award

• Tim Hicks
• Leah Daniels
• Brett Kissel
• Wes Mack
• Jess Moskaluke
• Dallas Smith

Drummer

• Jimmy Boudreau (Western Swing Authority)
• Rob Wells (Tim Hicks)
• Ben Bradley (Brett Kissel)
• Rich DaSilva
• Chad Melchert

Fiddler

• Shane Guse (Western Swing Authority)
• Denis Dufresne
• Julie Kennedy
• Ali Raney
• Tyler Vollrath

Specialty Instrument 

• Shane Guse – Mandolin (Western Swing Authority)
• Dave Barber – Banjo (Highbar Gang)
• Denis Dufresne – Mandolin
• Robin Pelletier – Mandolin
• Tyler Vollrath – Mandolin

Steel Guitar 

• Ed “Pee Wee Charles” Ringwald (Western Swing Authority)
• John Ellis
• Smokey Fennell
• Mitch Jay
• Doug Johnson

Bass

• Doug Elash (Tim Hicks)
• Luanne Carl (Domino)
• Lisa Dodd (Gord Bamford)
• Justin Kudding (Brett Kissel)
• Travis Switzer

Fans’ Choice

• Dean Brody
• Brett Kissel
• Yoan
• Dallas Smith
• Johnny Reid

Album

• Wes Mack: Edge of the Storm
• Chad Brownlee: Hearts on Fire
• George Canyon: I Got This
• Gord Bamford: Tin Roof
• Bobby Wills: Crazy Enough

Female Artist

• Lindsay Ell
• Madeline Merlo
• Mackenzie Porter
• Jess Moskaluke
• Kira Isabella

Male

• Dallas Smith
• Dean Brody
• Gord Bamford
• Brett Kissel
• Johnny Reid

Group or Duo

• High Valley
• Autumn Hill
• Cold Creek County
• The Road Hammers
• Washboard Union

Rising Star

• River Town Saints
• Cold Creek County
• Washboard Union
• David James
• Alee

Single

• Brett Kissel: Airwaves
  
  
  
  Links: Brett Kissel, More Brett Kissel Stories, Video above courtesy of Brett Kissel
  
  
• Dean Brody: Bring Down The House
• Dallas Smith: Cheap Seats
• Gord Bamford: Don’t Let Her Be Gone
• Bobby Wills: Won’t You Be Mine

Video

• Chad Brownlee: Hearts On Fire
• Dean Brody: Bring Down The House
• Jess Moskaluke: Kiss Me Quiet
• Cold Creek County: Our Town
• Johnny Reid: What Love Is All About
• Washboard Union: Maybe It’s The Moonshine

Songwriter 

• Meghan Patrick: Bow Chicka Wow Wow (co-written with Chad Kroeger of Nickelback)
• Dean Brody: Bring Down The House
• Gord Bamford: Heard You In A Song (co-written with Wade Kirby, Phil O’Donnell)
• Blake Shelton: Came Here To Forget (written by Deric Ruttan)
• Bobby Wills: Won’t You Be Mine (co written with Matt Johnson, Michael Pyle)

Guitar

• Jason Barry
• Ryan Davidson
• Matt McKay
• Darren Savard (Deric Ruttan)
• Brennan Wall (Small Town Pistols)

Keyboard

• Scott Galloway
• Darryl Havers
• Mike Little
• Bart McKay
• Carly McKillip (One More Girl)

Video Director 

• Stephano Barberis (Dallas Smith: Cheap Seats, Gord Bamford: Don’t Let Her Be Gone, Chad Brownlee: Hearts On Fire, Bobby Wills: So Much For Taking It Slow)
• Andy Hines (Wes Mack: The Way You Let Me Down)
• Ben Knechtel (Brett Kissel: Airwaves)
• Colin Minihan (Dean Brody: Bring Down The House)
• David Tenniswood (Jess Moskaluke: Kiss Me Quiet)

Record Company

• MDM Recordings
• Open Road Recordings
• Sony Music Canada
• Universal Music Canada
• Warner Music Canada

Music Director – Large Market

• Docc Andrews – CJJR FM (Vancouver)
• Dayna Bourgoin – CKKL FM (Ottawa)
• Larry Donohue – CFCW (Edmonton)
• Amanda Kingsland – CKBY FM (Ottawa)
• Scott Phillips – CKRY FM (Calgary)/CISN FM (Edmonton)

Music Director – Small or Medium Market

• Shilo Bellis – CJXL FM (Moncton)
• Paul Ferguson – CHCQ FM  (Belleville)
• Roo Phelps – CIGV FM (Kelowna)
• Brendan Seeley – CKGY FM (Red Deer)
• Jody Seeley – CFXO FM (High River)

Booking Agency

• The Feldman Agency
• Invictus Entertainment Group
• Paquin Artists Agency
• Sakamoto Agency
• United Talent Age

Country Club

• Boots and Bourbon Saloon (Toronto)
• Cook County Saloon (Edmonton)
• Cowboys Dance Hall (Calgary)
• The Crazy Horse (Ottawa)
• Ranchman’s Cookhouse and Dancehall (Calgary)

Country Festival, Fair or Exhibition 

• Big Valley Jamboree (Camrose)
• Boots and Hearts Music Festival (Oro-Medonte)
• Calgary Stampede 
• Cavendish Beach Music Festival
• Dauphin’s Countryfest

Country Music Program or Special 

• Canadian Coast to Coast – CJVR FM
• Canadian Country Spotlight
• Chevy Top 20 Countdown – CMT
• Coors Banquet One Horse Town – CMT
• The Drop: Gord Bamford – CMT

Management Company

• Cache Entertainment Inc.
• Chief Music Management
• Invictus Entertainment Group
• MDM Recordings Inc.
• RGK Entertainment Group Inc.

Music Publishing Company

• CCS Rights Management/Little Red Bungalow
• ole Media
• Royalty Music Publishing Inc.
• Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada
• Universal Music Publishing Canada
• Warner/Chappell Music Canada

Record Company Person 

• Steve Coady – Warner Music Canada
• Warren Copnick – Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc.
• Jim Cressman – Big Star Recordings Inc.
• Mike Denney – MDM Recordings Inc.
• Brianne Deslippe – Universal Music Canada
• Ron Kitchener – Open Road Recordings Inc.

Recording Package 

• Wes Mack: Edge Of The Storm 
• Chad Brownlee: Hearts On Fire
• Brett Kissel: Pick Me Up
• David James: Songs About A Girl
• Tristan Horncastle: Turnin’ Up A Sundown

Recording Studio

• Barrytone Studios (St. Clements)
• Bart McKay Productions (Saskatoon)
• MCC Recording Studio (Calgary)
• OCL Studios (Chestermere)
• Revolution Recordings (Toronto)

Record Producer(s) 

• Chris Baseford, Vince Gill, Jeff Johnson, Chad Kroeger, Carly McKillip, Justin Niebank (Meghan Patrick: Grace and Grit)
• Jason Blaine, Phil O’Donnell, Deric Ruttan (Jason Blaine: Country Side)
• George Canyon, Jeff Johnson, Johnny Reid (George Canyon: I Got This)
• Mickey Jack Cones, Brett Kissel, Bart McKay (Brett Kissel: Pick Me Up)
• Bob Ezrin (Johnny Reid: What Love Is All About)

Retailer

• Google Play
• HMV Canada Inc.
• iTunes Canada
• Lammle’s Western Wear and Tack
• Walmart Canada

Talent Buyer or Promoter 

• Paul Biro – Sakamoto Agency
• Jim Cressman – Invictus Entertainment Group
• Alex Vyskocil – Live Nation Entertainment
• Rob Waloschuk – Performance Promotions Ltd.
• Lindsay Weryshko – Calgary Stampede

Links: Canadian Country Music Association, More CCMA Stories

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CONGRATS! Ed Ringwald of Western Swing Authority and KX 94.7FM Bring Canadian Country Music Awards Home

On September 13, 2015, there was a little local flavour to the Canadian Country Music Awards.  Ed (Peewee Charles) Ringwald of Waterloo's Western Swing Authority took home the trophy for Best Steel Guitar and Hamilton Radio station KX 94.7 FM won for Best Large Market Station. 

Links: Western Swing Authority , More WSA Stories, Video above courtesy of Western Swing Authority

The big winner of the night was Alberta's Gord Bamford who received hardware for Male Artist, Songwriter and Single of the Year.



Links: Gord Bamford, More Gord Bamford Stories , Video above courtesy of Gord Bamford

CONGRATS EVERYONE!

Here are the main highlights:

• Steel Guitar: Ed (Peewee Charles) Ringwald (Western Swing Authority)
• Radio Station (Large Market): KX 94.7 FM (Hamilton)
• Female Artist: Jess Moskaluke
• Male Artist: Gord Bamford
• Fan's Choice: Johnny Reid
• Group/Duo: High Valley
• Rising Star: Madeline Merlo
• Album: Lifted by Dallas Smith
• Single: Where a Farm Used to Be by Gord Bamford
• Songwriters: Gord Bamford - Where a Farm Used to Be (Co-written with Buddy Owens and Phil O’Donnell)
• Video: Upside Down by Dean Brody



Links: More Dean Brody Stories, Video above courtesy of Dean Brody


• Roots Artist: Lindi Ortega
• Guitar: Ryan Davidson
• Bass: Lisa Dodd
• Drums: Chad Melchert
• Keyboards (Tie): Mike Little/Bart McKay
• Fiddle: Denis Dufresne (Pear Band)
• Special Instrument: Robin Pelletier (Gord Bamford) (Mandolin)
• Hall of Fame (Artist): Dianne Leigh
• Hall of Fame (Builder): Elizabeth “Ma” Henning 

Click here for the complete winners list

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Canadian Country Music Association, More CCMA Stories

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Congrats! Area Stars Win Canadian Country Music Awards

A few Canadian Country Music Awards will be headed our way thanks to our talented local musicians.  The winners were announced on September 6, 2014 during an amazing televised ceremony in Alberta.

St. Catharines' own Tim Hicks added more to his award shelf by winning for Best Rising Star.



Links: Tim Hicks, More Tim Hicks Stories,  Video above courtesy of Tim Hicks

Two members of Waterloo's Western Swing Authority also took home some hardware.  Shane Guse won for Best Fiddle and Ed (Peewee Charles) Ringwald won Best Steel Guitar.



Links: Western Swing Authority , More WSA Stories,  Video above courtesy of the Western Swing Authority

Toff and Melissa from Hamilton radio station KX 94.7 FM were awarded Best On-Air Personalities of the Year (Major Market).

Congratulations to everyone!


Here are some highlights:

Rising Star: Tim Hicks

Steel Guitar: Ed (Peewee Charles) Ringwald

Fiddle: Shane Guse (Western Swing Authority)

On-Air Personalities of the Year – Major Market: Toff and Melissa – KX 94.7 FM (Hamilton) 

Video: Brett Kissel: 3-2-1



Album: Dean Brody: Crop Circles

Songwriter(s): Blake Shelton: Mine Would Be You (Written by Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Deric Ruttan)

Group Or Duo: Small Town Pistols

Roots Artist: Lindi Ortega

Special Instrument: Tyler Vollrath (Mandolin)

Fans’ Choice Award: Johnny Reid
 
Single: Gord Bamford: When Your Lips Are So Close

Female Artist: Jess Moskaluke 

Male Artist: Gord Bamford


Interactive Artist: Brett Kissel

Drums: Chad Melchert

Bass: Travis Switzer

Guitar: Darren Savard 

Keyboards: Bart McKay  

Hall of Fame Artist Inductee: Wendell Ferguson

Hall of Fame Stan Klees Builder Award – Builder Inductee: Ron Sakamoto

Top Selling Album: Here’s to the Good Times by Florida Georgia Line

Top Selling Canadian Album: A Christmas Gift to You by Johnny Reid

Links: Canadian Country Music Association, Full Winner List,  More CCMA Stories,

Blast from the Past:  The 2013 CCMA Winners

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