International Country Music Day Videos by Neon Rain, Judi Rideout, Western Swing Authority, Nelson Family Bluegrass

Update of 2020 Post

Links: Neon Rain, More Neon Rain Stories, Video above courtesy of mightysnoro

 

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

Links: Nelson Family Bluesgrass, Video above courtesy of TheNelsonFamily Bluegrass

Links: International Country Music Day, More Country Music Day Stories, Our Country Music Stories

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More Wonderful CHCH Videos (Jam for Kids, Khea Emmanuel, Neon Rain, Jay Diem Band)

We're catching up with all the wonderful music- related videos from CHCH this year. Here are a couple more:


Links: Hamilton Music Collective, Video above courtesy of CHCH


Links: Khea Emmanuel, More Khea Stories, Video above courtesy of CHCH


Links: Neon Rain, More Neon Rain Stories, Video above courtesy of CHCH


Links: Jay Diem, More Jay Diem Stories, Video above courtesy of CHCH

More CHCH Videos

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GOOD LUCK! Spectator Readers' Choice Award 2018 Nominees! Vote Deadline Sept 25

The Hamilton Spectator Readers' Choice Awards are here again and there's only have a few days left to vote. Click here to vote. Deadline is September 25, 2018 at 5pm. 

Here are the nominees for the Local Musician or Band category:

• Brad Soucie
• Cadillac Bill and the Creeping Bent
• Carl Jennings (Freedom Train)
• Chris Wheeler (guitar)
• Darcy Feaver
• The David Love Band
• Freedom Train
• Ginger St. James
• John Atlee
• Laura Cole
• Liam McGlashon
• Lloyd Andrews
• Matty Simpson
• Rob Kirkham and Neon Rain
• Tim Connolly

Other music related categories include Concert Venue, Festival, Live Entertainment Facility, Live Jazz Club, Live Music Bar/Lounge, Music Instructor, Musical Instrument Store, Music School, Radio Station, Record/CD Store and Recording Studio.

One of our sponsors, Picks 'N' Sticks is up for Music School, Musical Instrument Store,  and a few of their Instructors are up for awards too.

Lou, our Blogger would also appreciate a vote for his workplace, the St. Charles Adult Education Centre in the Adult Education and Learning Centre categories.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Readers' Choice Awards, More Spec Readers' Choice Awards Stories

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Vote for Your Favourite Local Entertainers in the Hamilton Community News Readers' Choice Awards! Deadline Mar 11

It's time to get out and vote for the 2018 Hamilton Community News Reader's Choice Awards.  Deadline to get your vote out is Sunday, March 11, 2018 at 11:59pm.

There are two main categories of interest to our music-loving readers: Live Entertainment and Professional Entertainers.

Here's the full list of nominees from both categories.

Professional Entertainers

• All About Maggie
• Bareback Riders
• Boris Brott
• Casino Vacations
• Chery St. James
• Christyrious Magic and Entertainment
• Crank
• Dave Murphy Band
• The Feels
• Fidel
• Freedom Train
• Giggles The Clown
• Ian Wood
• Jack de Keyzer
• Karaoke with Dorrie
• Keep The Faith
• Little Ray's Reptile Zoo
• Mike Woods
• Party Source Entertainment
• Retro Party Groove
• Rob Kirkham and Neon Rain
• Robin Benedict
• Ruby Entertainment
• Sarah Smith Band
• Something Country
• Tone Deaf

Live Entertainment

• 5150 Entertainment
• Hamilton All-Star Jazz Band
• Artword Artbar
• Ballet Jorgen
• Bay City Music Hall
• Big Time Productions
• Binbrook Little Theatre
• Brott Music Festival
• The Burlington Performing Arts Centre
• The Casbah
• Christyrious Magic and Entertainment
• Club 54
• The Coach and Lantern
• Core Entertainment
• FirstOntario Centre
• Geritol Follies
• Giggles The Clown
• Hamilton Aerial Group
• Hamilton City Ballet Orchestra
• Hamilton Convention Centre
• Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
• Jane's Karaoke and DJ Service
• Karaoke with Dorrie
• Lazy Flamingo
• Little Ray's Reptile Zoo
• Party Source Entertainment
• The Powerhouse
• Pub Fiction
• Stonewalls
• Theatre Ancaster
• Theatre Aquarius
• This Ain't Hollywood
• Tracie's Place Karaoke
• Yuk Yuk's Hamilton

Other music-related categories include: Music Instruction (we suggest our sponsor, Pick & Sticks Music), Favourite Event or Festival, CD-Music Store (New), CD-Music Store (Used) and Musical Instrument Store, 

Since you'll be voting, we'd like to ask you to please vote for our sponsors as well. Please click the category below to vote.

• First Choice Computer Solutions: Computer Service
• St. Charles Adult and Continuing Education Centres: Adult Education (not a sponsor but it is our blogger's workplace)

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Hamilton Community News Reader's Choice Awards, More HCN Awards Stories

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Previous (News Roundup: Harrison Kennedy, Ags Connolly Covers Sexsmith, The Crystals, Aaron Goldstein) - - - Next (Burlington Post Readers Choice Award Winners)

Vote for Your Favourite Local Entertainers in the Hamilton Community News Readers' Choice Awards! Deadline Mar 5

It's time to get out and vote for the 2017 Hamilton Community News Reader's Choice Awards.  Deadline to get your vote out is Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 11:30pm.

There are two main categories of interest to our music-loving readers: Live Entertainment and Professional Entertainers.

Here's the full list of nominees from both categories.

Professional Entertainers

• 5150 Entertainment
• All About Maggie
• Bareback Riders
• Boris Brott
• Casino Vacations
• Chery St. James
• Christyrious Magic and Entertainment
• Crank
• Dave Murphy Band
• The Feels
• Fidel
• Freedom Train
• Giggles The Clown
• Ian Wood
• Jack de Keyzer
• Karaoke with Dorrie
• Keep The Faith
• Little Ray's Reptile Zoo
• Mate Szigeti
• Mike Woods
• Party Source Entertainment
• Retro Party Groove
• Rob Kirkham and Neon Rain
• Robin Benedict
• Ruby Entertainment
• Sarah Smith Band
• Shari Vandermolen (Quarter To Nine)
• Something Country
• Tone Deaf
• Tracie's Place

Live Entertainment

• Hamilton All-Star Jazz Band
• Artword Artbar
• Baltimore House
• Ballet Jorgen
• Bay City Music Hall
• Big Time Productions
• Binbrook Little Theatre
• Brott Music Festival
• The Burlington Performing Arts Centre
• The Casbah
• Christyrious Magic and Entertainment
• Club 54
• The Coach and Lantern
• Core Entertainment
• FirstOntario Centre
• Geritol Follies
• Giggles The Clown
• Hamilton Aerial Group
• Hamilton City Ballet Orchestra
• Hamilton Convention Centre
• Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
• Hamilton Place
• Jane's Karaoke and DJ Service
• Karaoke with Dorrie
• Lazy Flamingo
• Little Ray's Reptile Zoo
• Party Source Entertainment
• The Powerhouse
• Pub Fiction
• Stonewalls
• Theatre Ancaster
• Theatre Aquarius
• This Ain't Hollywood
• Tracie's Place Karaoke
• Yuk Yuk's Hamilton

Other music-related categories include: Music Instruction, Favourite Event or Festival, CD-Music Store (New), CD-Music Store (Used) and Musical Instrument Store, 

Since you'll be voting, we'd like to ask you to please vote for our sponsors as well. Please click the category below to vote.

• First Choice Computer Solutions: Computer Service
• St. Charles Adult and Continuing Education Centres: Adult Education (not a sponsor but it is our blogger's workplace)

Click here for the winners

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Hamilton Community News Reader's Choice Awards, More HCN Awards Stories

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Previous (Videos of the Vaudevillian and Famous Framus) - - - Next (Videos: Rob Reed, Scott Whittington, Peter Marino, Giordano Cattonar, Chantal Chamberland)

Videos: Flat 5, Tone Deaf, Neon Rain

Links: Tone Deaf, Video above courtesy of ToneDeafCanada

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CONGRATS! 2016 Spectator Reader' Choice Award Winners

Hamilton Spectator readers have spoken! Votes were tallied for the 25th anniversary edition of the paper's  Readers' Choice Awards. Hammertown's amazing music scene was well represented.

Here's a full list of music related winners 

• Platinum
• Diamond
• Gold

Local Musician Band

• Was It the Walrus
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Was it the Walrus
  
  
• Laura Cole
  
  
  
  Links: Laura Cole, More Laura Cole Stories, Video above courtesy of Mel Olds
  
  
• Duane Rutter Band
  
  
  
  Links: Duane Rutter, More Duane Rutter Stories, Video above courtesy of Fernando Goulart
  

The Rest of the Local Musician Top 10

• Apollo's Crown
• Justine Fischer
• Mat Heddle
• Rob Kirkham and Neon Rain
• The McFlys
• Matty Simpson
• Lori Yates

Concert Venue

• FirstOntario Centre/Hamilton Place
• This Ain't Hollywood
• The Baltimore House

Live Entertainment Facility

• This Ain't Hollywood
• FirstOntario Centre
• Hamilton Place

Festival

• Supercrawl
• It's Your Festival/Winona Peach Festival
• Locke Street Festival

Live Jazz Club

• Artword Artbar
• The Cat 'N Fiddle
• Mulberry Street Coffee House/Stonewalls/This Ain't Hollywood

Live Music Bar/Lounge

• This Ain't Hollywood
• Tracie's Place
• The Brew Cafe and Bar

Musical Instrument Store

• Picks and Sticks Music
• Long and McQuade
• The Acoustic Room

Music Instructor

• Sotyria Violaris (Intune Music Academy)
• Eric Ryder Costello (AIFEC, Fermata Inc.)
• Lori Yates

Music School

• Intune Music Academy
• Birchway Sound
• Picks and Sticks Music

Radio Station

• KX 94.7 New Country
• K-Lite FM 102.9
• 95.3 Fresh FM

Record/CD Store New 

• Dr. Disc
• Cheapies
• HMV

Record/CD Store Used

• Cheapies
• Dr. Disc
• Beat Goes On

Click here for a complete list of winners.

One of our sponsors, Urban Hamilton Artists landed in the top ten for Print and Imaging Services.  Also, our Blogger's workplace, the St. Charles Adult Education Centre earned Diamond for Learning Centre and was listed in the top 10 for Adult Education.

CONGRATS EVERYONE!

Click here for the results

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Readers' Choice Awards, More Spec Readers' Choice Awards Stories

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GOOD LUCK! Vote in the 2016 Hamilton Spectator Readers' Choice Awards

2016 marks the 25th anniversary of the Hamilton Spectator Readers' Choice Awards. As always there are a number of musicians nominated in the Local Musician Band category and there are many other music-related  categories as well.  You can have your voice heard by voting! Deadline is Spetember 26, 2016 at 11:30pm.

Here are the nominees for the Local Musician Band category:

• Apollo's Crown
• Laura Cole
• Justine Fischer
• Darren Hancock
• Mat Heddle
• Rob Kirkham and Neon Rain
• The McFlys
• Matt Paxton
• Prismind
• Radio Free Universe
• Duane Rutter Band
• Matty Simpson
• Trixx Beatz
• Was It the Walrus
• Lori Yates

Other music related categories include Concert Venue, Festival, Live Entertainment Facility, Live Jazz Club, Live Music Bar/Lounge, Musical Instrument Store, Music Instructor, Music School, Radio Station, Record/CD Store New and Record/CD Store Used

One of our wonderful sponsors Urban Hamilton Artists is also in the running for Print & Imaging Services

We'd also appreciate a vote for our Blogger's workplace, the St. Charles Adult Education Centre in the Adult Education and Learning Centre categories.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Click here for the results

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Readers' Choice Awards, More Spec Readers' Choice Awards Stories

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Previous (Niagara Music Award Nominations) - - - Next (Local Toronto Independent Music Award Nominees)

CONGRATS! 2016 Hamilton Community News Readers' Choice Winners

The readers of the Hamilton Community News family of newspapers (Mountain News, Dundas Star, Ancaster News and Stoney Creek News) have spoken.  The winners of their 2016 Reader's Choice Awards were announced and there were quite a few music related categories.

Here they are below.

Local Musicians

• Diamond: Neon Rain
  
  
  
  Links: Rob Kirkham and Neon Rain, More Neon Rain Stories, Video above courtesy of PhotosByAlex
  
  
• Platinum: Colin Lapsley
• Gold: Doug Feaver
  
  
  
  Links: Doug Feaver, More Doug Feaver Stories, Video above courtesy of Doug Feaver
  
  
• Gold: Something Country
• Silver: Jeff Greig
• Bronze: Justine Fischer
• Bronze: Lori Yates
• Bronze: Matty Simpson

Professional Entertainers

• Diamond: Retro Party Groove
• Platiunum: Tracie's Place
• Gold: 5150 Entertainment
• Gold: Robin Benedict
  
  
  
  Links: Robin Benedict, More Robin Benedict Stories, Video above courtesy of Robin Benedict
  
  
• Silver: Little Ray's Reptile Zoo
• Bronze: Boris Brott
• Bronze: Christyrious Magic and Entertainment
• Bronze: Freedom Train
• Bronze: Giggles the Clown
• Bronze: Ruby Entertainment

Live Entertainment

• Diamond: Pub Fiction
• Diamond: Tracie's Place
• Platinum: Theatre Aquarius
• Gold: Coach and Lantern
• Silver: Bay City Music Hall
• Silver: Theatre Ancaster
• Bronze: Hamilton Place

Radio Station

• Diamond : 102.9 K-Lite
• Platinum : KX 94.7 Country FM
• Gold: 95.3 Fresh FM
• Silver: Y108
• Bronze: 900 CHML

Music Store (New)

• Diamond: HMV
• Platinum: Cheapies
• Gold: Dr. Disc

Music Store (Used)

• Diamond : The Beat Goes On
• Platinum : Bibles For Missions
• Platinum : Cheapies
• Platinum : Dr. Disc
• Gold: Walmart

Music Instrument Store

• Diamond: Long and McQuade
• Platinum: The Music Stand
• Gold: Mountain Music
• Silver: Absolute Music
• Bronze: FBass Hamilton

Music Instruction

• Diamond: Divine Harp
• Platinum: The Music Stand
• Gold: Long and McQuade
• Silver: Studio E
• Bronze: A Note Above
• Bronze: Dundas Conservatory Of Music
• Bronze: Hamilton Academy Of Performing Arts

Other highlights include one of our sponsors, Hamilton Urban Artists, earning the Diamond spot for Print Shop and our blogger's workplace, St. Charles Adult and Continuing Education Centres winning silver for Adult Education.

Click here for a complete list of winners

CONGRATS EVERYONE!

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Hamilton Community News Reader's Choice Awards, More HCN Awards Stories

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Previous (News Roundup: Barber Shop Podcast, Stingray Chart, Big Rude Jake) - - - Next (Local Indie Award Nominations)

Vote for Your Favourite Local Musicians in the Hamilton Community News Readers' Choice Awards

Hamilton Community News, the company behind the Mountain News, Dundas Star, Ancaster News and Stoney Creek News papers, recently launched the 2016 edition of their Reader's Choice Awards.  You have only until Sunday, March 6, 2016 at 11:30pm to have your voice heard!

As always, there's a Local Musicians category where a number of area performers are nominated. Many of them are also listed in Professional Entertainers list too.

Local Musicians

• Chris Chambers
• Shari Dunn and Jonny Kerr
• Doug Feaver
• Justine Fischer
• Jeff Greig
• Colin Lapsley
• Neon Rain
• Matty Simpson
• Something Country
• Mate Szigeti
• Shari Vandermolen
• Lori Yates

Professional Entertainers

• Robin Benedict
• Boris Brott
• Jack de Keyzer
• Fidel
• The Feels
• Freedom Train
• Keep The Faith (Bon Jovi Tribute)
• Neon Rain
• Retro Party Groove
• Something Country
• Maggie Szabo
• Mate Szigeti
• Tone Deaf
• Shari Vandermolen

Some of our wonderful sponsors are up for the awards.  We'd appreciate a vote for them while you're it.  THANKS!

Please click the category to vote.

• First Choice Computer Solutions: New Business
• Hamilton Urban Artists; Print Shop
• St. Charles Adult and Continuing Education Centres: Adult Education (not a sponsor but it is our blogger's workplace)

Click here for the winners

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Hamilton Community Newss Reader's Choice Awards, More HCN Awards Stories

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Previous (Rich Dawson of Rich and Poor Boys Passes) - -  - Next (Jack de Keyzer on New Harmonica Shah Album)

Happy Valentine's Day! (Brant Parker, Martha's Trouble, Mark LaForme, Neon Rain)

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Links: Brant Parker, More Brant Parker Stories, Video above courtesy of Gary Asselstine



Links: Martha's Trouble, More Martha's Trouble Stories, Video above courtesy of Martha's Trouble



Links: Mark LaForme, More Mark LaForme Stories, Video above courtesy of StellaBlu477



Links: Rob Kirkham and Neon Rain, More Neon Rain Stories, Video above courtesy of Neon Rain

Click here for more Valentine's Day Videos

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Previous (News Roundup w Monarch Project, Michael Maguire, Ariana Gillis, Lighthouse)  - - - Next (Introducing our New Monkey Mascot)

Vote for Your Favourite Local Musician and More in the Spec's Readers' Choice Awards!

The Hamilton Spectator is once again offering the public a chance to vote in their Reader's Choice Awards.  Of course, the main category our readers will be interested in is Local Musician.

The talented nominees are:

• Blind River
• Bombing Neverland
• Laura Cole
• Shanya Lynn Dawson
• 40 Sons
• Freedom Train
• Human Race
• Jonny Kerr and Shari Dunn
• Rob Kirkham and Neon Rain
• Carm Milioto
• Ginger St. James
• Tomi Swick
• TicTac (Tristan Miller)
• Tommygunn
• Lori Yates

Click here for the results

Other categories of interest are: Music Instructor, Music School, Radio Station, Recording Studio, Festival, Live Entertainment Facility, Live Jazz Club, Live Music Bar/Lounge, Music Instrument Store, and Record Store (New and Used).

The voting deadline is Thursday October 2, 2014 so get out and vote! Click here to get started.

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

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Country Music Association of Ontario Award Winners 2013

The local area was well-represented when the nominations for the 2013 Country Music Association of Ontario Awards came around. Burlington's Tebey received 3 nominations (Male Artist, Single and Songwriter). Another Burlington boy, Billy J. White was also up for Male Artist.  Rob Kirkham & Neon Rain got a nod for Group Or Duo. Steve Rivers was in the running for Rising Star.  Hamilton's CHKX – KX 94.7 was even up for Radio Station of the Year.

Unfortunately, none of them got to take home any hardware during the May 27 ceremony in Markham.

Below is a complete list of winners.

• Female Artist of the Year: Kira Isabella
• Group/Duo of the Year: The Stellas
• Male Artist of the Year: Johnny Reid
• Rising Star: (TIE) Autumn Hill & Lindsay Broughton
• Album of the Year:  Deric Ruttan – Up All Night
• Single of the Year: Jason Blaine – They Don’t Make ‘Em Like That Anymore
• Songwriter of the Year: Jason Blaine, Deric Ruttan – They Don’t Make ‘Em Like That Anymore
• Radio Station of the Year (Major Market): CJKX – KX96 Oshawa/Toronto
• Radio Station of the Year (Secondary Market): CICX-FM – KICX 106 FM Orillia

Video courtesy of Jason Blaine

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Previous (Hamilton Arts Awards Winners) - - - Next (News Roundup w/Burnin' Ethyl, Zacharay Aasman, Chris Chambers)

News Roundup (Local Podcasts, Neon Rain, Roadkill Bill)

Local

• Greater Hamilton Musician Annual Published
• Kevin's Barber Shop Podcasts: Social Animals, Blind Mule, Peter Arsenault, Ray Materick, Boxing Day Special
  

Canada

• Jan 2013 issue of Maple Blues (w Steve Strongman & Andre Bisson)
  

World

• Bobby Womack Diagnosed with Alzheimer's
• Blues Artists That Died in 2012
• Rescue Me Singer Fontella bass passes
• Jimmy McCracklin passes
• New study examines short lifespans of rock stars
• Podcasts: Nothing But the Blues 223, Roadhouse  408, Roadhouse 409 

Blasts from the Past

• 2009: Halton Blues Society Live CD 
• 2010: Hamilton Folk Club@Pheasant Plucker 
• 2011: Eggmen@This Ain't Hollywood
• 2012: Kirby@The Casbah 

Featured Videos 


Links: Lou Campanella, Robin Benedict, John M. Crawford, Missy Bauman, Dawn Before Descent, Video courtesy of Brian Berneker


Links: Rob Kirkham and Neon Rain, More Neon Rain Stories, Video courtesy of Neon Rain



Links: Roadkill Bill, More Roadkill Bill Stories, Video courtesy of Highway of Heroes

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