April 2021 – Country Music Association of Ontario

April 19, 2021

2021 CMAOntario Festival & Awards Rescheduled for September 3-5, 2021

2021 CMAONTARIO FESTIVAL & AWARDS Rescheduled for September 3-5, 2021 in Hamilton, Ontario Celebrating Ontario’s Country Music Industry April 19, 2021 (TORONTO) The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) has rescheduled the 2021 CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend in Hamilton to September 3 – 5, 2021, following the recommendations from officials regarding COVID-19. Previously scheduled for May 28 – 30, the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend, presented by Slaight Music, will now host three drive in concerts in September at Ancaster Fairgrounds including the Legacy Revival, the New Faces Showcase & Concert, and the 9th Annual CMAOntario Awards. CMAOntario took the steps to reschedule the festivities to ensure that the health and well-being of artists and audiences is protected. CMAOntario is committed to presenting and promoting the work of Ontario’s country […]

April 16, 2021

Artist of the Month: David Boyd Janes

2021 Country Music Association of Ontario Male Artist of the Year nominee, David Boyd Janes, has been on a helluva ride over the last couple of years. And if you asked him about it, he’d probably start by telling you that Thoughts Become Things. The Toronto country artist caught our attention in the summer of 2019 by putting himself in the spotlight – winning the Boots & Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase that August. Since then, we’ve seen him release a string of singles (that we hope are leading to an album) and watched him work through social media, building his base as an emerging artist. In 2021, while he hasn’t been able to get on stage the way he or any other artist wishes they […]

April 16, 2021

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Gordon Lightfoot

// by Larry Delaney // (THE “COUNTRY” SIDE OF GORDON LIGHTFOOT) Born: November 17, 1938 – Orillia, Ontario (#48 in the Ontario Pioneers Series) Gordon Lightfoot, one of Canada’s most renowned singer/songwriters, has seen his compositions recorded by artists from around the globe… and from all musical genres. Lightfoot’s own recordings of many of his songs have become permanently etched in our musical memories. While Gordon Lightfoot is most often regarded as a “Folk” artist, his “Country” roots run just as deep. His songs have been recorded by the Who’s Who of country music, many of them becoming major chart hits for those artists. During the 1970s and mid 80s, Lightfoot placed eight of his recordings of original songs on the Billboard Country Charts, […]

April 16, 2021

In The Country with Dave Woods: One On One With Brian John Harwood

Dave chats with Barrie’s Brian John Harwood – solo artist and 1/2 of popular country-rock duo Kansas Stone along with Matt Davey – about his busy year in music. Over the last year, Brian has released solo songs and Kansas Stone songs – and has released a bunch of music videos. On this YouTube special, Dave chats with Brian about his career and gets the stories behind the songs & music videos “Hotter Than Summer”, “All That I Was Missing” and “Dad” and shows the videos.

April 16, 2021

Patrice’s Pick: Dani Strong

This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles Canadian country music artist, Dani Strong! Dani talks about her sophomore album, ‘Undefined,’ which was released in late 2020. She shares the stories behind the tunes, and more on the eclectic sound that makes the album name ring SO true! Dani shares the song she’s most proud of, as well as the history behind the song she changed – while in the studio, about to record the original version. For more information about Country Music Junkies, visit www.countrymusicjunkies.com.

April 16, 2021

In The News (April 2021)

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”. […]

April 15, 2021

2021 CMAOntario Awards Performers Announced

TIM HICKS, ROBYN OTTOLINI, AARON ALLEN, SACHA and more! Announced as Performers for the 9th Annual CMAOntario Awards April 15, 2021 (TORONTO) The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) is excited to announce Tim Hicks, Robyn Ottolini, Aaron Allen, Sacha, and more as part of an initial list of performers for the CMAOntario Awards on Sunday, May 30 at Ancaster Fairgrounds in Hamilton. The CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend will host three drive in concerts at Ancaster Fairgrounds May 28 – 30, 2021 including the Legacy Revival, the New Faces Showcase & Concert, and the 9th Annual CMAOntario Awards. Hosted by Jason McCoy and Beverley Mahood, the CMAOntario Award Show will close out the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend on Sunday, May 30 with performances and 18 award […]

April 6, 2021

2021 CMAOntario Awards Nominees Announced

The Country Music Association of Ontario Announces 2021 CMAOntario Awards Nominees Meghan Patrick, Tim Hicks, and Robyn Ottolini Lead In Nominations April 6, 2021 (TORONTO) The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) is excited to announce the nominees for the 9th Annual CMAOntario Awards, taking place Sunday, May 30, 2021 as a drive-in style event at the Ancaster Fairgrounds in Hamilton, Ontario. Leading the nominations are 15 time CMAOntario Award winner Meghan Patrick, nine time CMAOntario Award winner Tim Hicks, and viral sensation Robyn Ottolini, with five nominations each. Hosted by Jason McCoy and Beverley Mahood, the CMAOntario Award Show will close out the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend May 28 – 30, 2021. After presenting the first ever, live, drive-in country music awards show in October 2020, CMAOntario is happy to do it all […]