Newsletter – Page 17 – Country Music Association of Ontario

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

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”. […]

June 8, 2021

Artist of the Month: Elyse Saunders

Elyse Saunders is a Peterborough, ON native and a 2-time 2021 Country Music Association of Ontario Awards nominee. This talented singer-songwriter has spent the last few years working hard to share her music with country music fans in Canada and beyond. The 2021 Rising Star and Female Artist of the Year nominee’s most recent release, Sunshine State Of Mind (May 14, 2021), is timed perfectly, as we head into the summer months – still searching for our way back to comfort and togetherness and a sense of normalcy. It’s a smooth track, designed for Saunders to show off her vocal skills, groove through the lyrics and take you to another place while you listen. In a social media post a week after the single release, […]

June 8, 2021

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: Wendell Ferguson

// by Larry Delaney // (Born: February 28, 1954 – Streetsville, Ontario) (#50 in the Ontario Pioneers Series) Wendell Ferguson is the “Mr. Do-It-All” of Canadian country music. A guitar player, a singer, a songwriter, a producer, a band leader, a comedian, an industry executive… and probably a whole lot more. Born and still residing in Streetsville (Mississauga), Ontario, Wendell became fixated on being a guitar player after hearing Chet Atkins play the instrument. Although he took several years of formal guitar lessons, Wendell was off-and-running as a guitar player, fueled more by listening to and emulating the recordings of some of his guitar idols: Chet Atkins, Les Paul, The Ventures and other guitar gods. In 1987, after years of practice and dues-paying, Wendell […]

June 8, 2021

In The Country with Dave Woods: One On One With Meghan Patrick

CCMA, Juno & CMAOntario winner Meghan Patrick visits the show to chat about her new album Heart On My Glass – available June 25th – featuring “My First Car”, “Never Giving Up On You” & “Mama Prayed For”. Meghan also talks about her debut album Grace & Grit released 5 years ago, her vow to always be an authentic artist, winning a Juno (for Album of the Year) during a pandemic, the story behind her #1 song “Walls Come Down”, working on a US music career, what whiskey she prefers and so much more! This year, Meghan has 5 CMAOntario nominations heading into the September 5th Drive In Awards show at the Ancaster Fairgrounds. You can pre-save/pre-add the upcoming album here: MeghanPatrick.lnk.to/HeartOnMyGlass Get the latest […]

June 8, 2021

Patrice’s Pick: Dustin Bird

This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles Canadian country music artist, Dustin Bird! Dustin fills us in on his new record deal with Open Road Recordings, and his brand new album, Unscripted. He talks about his journey as an artist, and how this new record is raw and authentically, ‘him.’ For more information about Country Music Junkies, visit www.countrymusicjunkies.com.

June 8, 2021

In The News (June 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”. […]

May 12, 2021

Artist of the Month: Les Rats d’Swompe

Winners of the Country Music Association of Ontario’s 2020 Francophone Artist or Group of the Year award and nominees again in 2021, Les Rats d’Swompe continue to grow, both as a band and within the music community. From folk and traditionally inspired tracks to uptempo bangers that will make you want to dance in your kitchen (and have fantastic Great Big Sea type vibes) Les Rats are versatile in their sounds, and ready to capture your attention, even if you don’t consider yourself fluent in French. The sound is full, fun, and all the pieces fit together like they were meant to be there. There is no language barrier in that – the music is its own language. The Ottawa-based band has released albums (La […]