May 2018 – Country Music Association of Ontario

May 9, 2018

A Message from the President (May 2018)

We are getting so close and all of us are looking forward to spending a really exciting and rewarding weekend with our members and new faces at the 6th annual CMAOntario Festival and Awards weekend and the 5th annual R2I TuneUp Conference in London, June 1-3, 2018. Tickets for the June 3rd Awards show are going quickly, so please visit the Centennial Hall box office https://centennialhall.london/london-event-listings.html It is going to be our best show yet and not to be missed. Every year, we on the Board receive calls asking if we can get someone tickets after they discover the event is sold out. (And of course, we can’t manufacture seats!) Get on the road to independence! Saturday, June 2nd and Sunday, June 3rd, will see […]

May 9, 2018

CMAOntario Members Selected for Mississauga Waterfront Festival & Brooklin Spring Fair Performance Opportunities

Congratulations to Big City Lights, Mackenzie Leigh Meyer, and Nicole Rayy on being selected to perform on the main stage at the Mississauga Waterfront Festival-Credit Goes Country. The win comes as part of the Emerging Country Music Artist Showcase presented in partnership with New Country Spirit. The CMAOntario is also pleased to announce Joshua David as the winner of the performance spot at Brooklin Spring Fair. Each of these artists successfully submitted to the CMAOntario’s recent performance opportunities made available to members. Mississauga Waterfront Festival – Credit Goes Country takes place June 16 and 17, 2018 in Port Credit (Mississauga), Ontario. Brooklin Spring Fair is held at Brooklin Spring Fair Grounds on May 31 – June 3 in Brooklin, Ontario.

May 9, 2018

Artist of the Month: Amanda Jordan

Amanda Jordan knows what it is to be the star of the show and she’s aiming for more of the same, in brighter spotlights, as her career in country music grows. The Smiths Falls, ON native is a singer, songwriter, actress and model, and her hard work at each of those crafts isn’t going unnoticed. The 21-year-old took the stage in Sudbury in February as Brett Kissel’s opener on the We Were That Song Tour. Amanda was selected as one of the top entrants in the #KickItWithKissel contest, impressing the judges with her cover of Kissel’s I Didn’t Fall In Love With Your Hair. We saw Amanda last fall during Toronto’s Indie Week as she took the stage at the M88 Management Group showcase. She […]

May 9, 2018

In The Country with Dave Woods: One On One With Michelle Wright

Michelle Wright has been announced as the recipient of the CMAOntario Impact Award which will be presented to her on June 3rd at the CMAOntario Awards in London, Ontario. She chats with me about the award and shares some highlights from her career as well as tells the story behind a few of her biggest songs including “Take It Like A Man” & “He Would Be Sixteen”. Dave Woods is a monthly columnist for the CMAOntario and has been hosting the popular online radio show “In The Country with Dave Woods” since 2009. To hear episodes, please visit www.inthecountryinterviews.com, www.soundcloud.com/dave-woods-3 and iTunes.

May 9, 2018

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Donna Ramsay

(aka Donna Anderson) Born: (1951) Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario (by Larry Delaney) Donna Ramsay was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario; the daughter of Canadian Hall of Fame radio broadcaster Don Ramsay. Thanks to her father, she began singing as a young child and meeting many of the top stars of country music while on their Canadian tours. As a teenager, she was already making guest appearances on various TV shows including: The Gary Buck Show taped at studios in Kitchener, Ontario. Canadian recording star / producer Gary Buck recognized the potential in the young singer and brought her into the recording studio to record her debut album Cool Green Waters, released on Capitol Records in 1969. The album yielded three charted singles, including the […]

May 9, 2018

Patrice’s Pick: Scotty Kipfer

This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles Canadian country music singer-songwriter, Scotty Kipfer! The Ontario native spares a few minutes at his gig in Collingwood to talk about his new record, Taking My Time. Scotty talks about his new single, ‘Falling Like The Rain,’ the story behind the song, and why he chose it as his debut single. Scotty talks about the eclectic mix of sounds and stories off of the record, and he shares what fans can expect from him next! To check out more from Scotty Kipfer, visit www.ScottyKipfer.com. For more on Country Music Junkies, visit www.CountryMusicJunkies.com. Listen to the exclusive interview with Scotty Kipfer below: About Patrice: To Patrice Whiffen, country music is a lifestyle. As the appropriately […]

May 9, 2018

In The News (May 2018)

This section of the newsletter is comprised of news stories, press releases and links to Internet articles that are sent in by our members who believe they will be of general interest to the membership. We include them as a courtesy to our members but do not verify or edit their content. Their inclusion does not constitute an endorsement by the CMAOntario nor do their contents reflect the views or opinions of the CMAOntario. If you would like to have something included in the newsletter, please send us a short synopsis, a photo or graphic and the hotlink that can be included in the news listing. Submissions can be sent to verle@cmaontario.ca. Please make sure the Subject Line reads “For inclusion in the CMAOntario Newsletter”. […]

May 7, 2018

Win a 45-minute Photo Shoot with Rob Waymen

Photo Session Opportunity for Artists/Bands SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MAY 6, 2018 If a picture’s worth a thousand words, what is your photo saying about you? CMAOntario is offering members an exclusive opportunity for a professional photo shoot to deliver that striking photo that will help you make a powerful first impression. Up to eight (8) artists/bands will have the opportunity to be selected for a 45-minute photo session with the eminent Canadian photographer Rob Waymen during the CMAOntario Festival & Awards weekend in London, Ontario, June 1-3, 2018. Widely recognized for delivering award-winning images for over twenty years, Rob Waymen’s attention to detail, mastery of lighting and colour, and ability to get the shot – no matter how demanding – is valued by a diverse group of clients and […]