July 2021 – Country Music Association of Ontario

July 26, 2021

CMAOntario Announces Additional Awards Performances & Charitable Partners

CMAOntario Announces Performances by Susan Aglukark, Kelly Prescott and Elyse Saunders at the 9th Annual CMAOntario Awards CMAOntario Partners with Hamilton Food Share and Tim Hortons Foundation Camps for New Faces and Legacy Revival Drive-In Concerts July 26, 2021 (TORONTO) The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) is proud to reveal more exciting performers for the 9th Annual CMAOntario Awards, plus new partnerships with Hamilton Food Share and Tim Hortons Foundation Camps as part of the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend, taking place September 3 – 5 at Ancaster Fairgrounds in Hamilton. CMAOntario will donate a portion of proceeds from the New Faces Showcase on September 3, and the Legacy Revival concert on September 4, to these local charities. Tickets for these Pay What […]

July 6, 2021

Artist of the Month: Charissa

If you don’t know Charissa, now is a wonderful time to get yourself introduced. The Burlington, ON singer-songwriter draws from the sounds and vibe of Americana and classic Soul to craft her style, and it’s working. For Ontario country fans who don’t know her yet, that introduction can happen live at the 2021 Country Music Association of Ontario New Faces Showcase and Concert (September 3, 2021) at the Ancaster Fairgrounds in Hamilton. Charissa will perform alongside emerging favourites, including Robyn Ottolini, Aaron Allen, Genevieve Fisher, and more! Still in her mid-20s, Charissa is no stranger to the stage, with more than a decade under her boots already. In fact, you can go back to the summer of 2009, when a 12-year-old Charissa wowed the judges […]

July 6, 2021

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: The Good Brothers

// by Larry Delaney // (Brian Good – Born January 27, 1946 – Toronto, Ontario Bruce Good – Born January 27, 1946 – Toronto, Ontario Larry Good – Born January 25, 1952 – Newmarket, Ontario) (#51 in the Ontario Pioneers Series) Twin brothers Bruce and Brian Good began their music career during the late 1960s folk music scene in Yorkville (Toronto) with the folk music group The Kinfolk, which also featured Bruce’s wife Margaret. Brian and Bruce later teamed up with James Ackroyd to form the trio, James & The Good Brothers. The act was part of the fabled “Festival Express” train tour across Canada, which also featured Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, The Band, Ian & Sylvia, etc. The Good Brothers once listed their […]

July 6, 2021

In The Country with Dave Woods: One On One With Elyse Saunders

Elyse Saunders joins me on this episode of In The Country (Video Edition) to chat about her successful music career and her latest single “Sunshine State Of Mind”! It’s a great follow up to her two past singles “Free” & “Wine Down”. These songs will all be featured on her next album due out this Fall. There is a lot of momentum with her career right now. Elyse is nominated for Female Artist & Rising Star at this year’s CMAOntario Awards Drive In Show. She’s currently in the Top 8 in the Boots & Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase. And she recently placed in the Top 5 of CBC Music’s Toyota Searchlight Contest. Check out our conversation on the show & be treated to an acoustic […]

July 6, 2021

Patrice’s Pick: Brian John Harwood

This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles Canadian country music artist, Brian John Harwood! Brian (who also serves as half of Kansas Stone) fills us in on his solo music, and his tune, “Getaway” – which is the perfect escape when we can’t really ‘get away’ right now! Brian also talks about his journey as an artist, his songwriting and his tune, “Good Boy.” For more information about Country Music Junkies, visit www.countrymusicjunkies.com.

July 6, 2021

Canadian Country Artist Discovery: Lawrence Maxwell (PE)

Lawrence Maxwell cut his teeth on beer caps, rough waters, and country music. A 2021 ECMA award nominee and two-time Music P.E.I. award winner, this Prince Edward Island singer-songwriter will tell it to you like it’s folk, and sing it to you like it’s country. It was 2013, and nineteen-year-old Lawrence Maxwell was standing on a Canadian warship as it dipped up and down in a rough Caribbean Sea. Hours later, and back in calm waters, Maxwell found himself alone on the ship’s bridge, pen and notebook in hand. Inspired by the moon and a million stars, he began to write. As Maxwell reflected on life, he realized that just like the ship, he could alter course, one degree at a time. From that moment […]

July 6, 2021

In The News (July 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”. […]