Newsletter
June 7, 2017
Congratulations to Ben Hudson on being selected as a finalist in the 2017 CCMA Spotlight Performance Contest. Ben was selected among numerous submissions to the CMAOntario to represent Ontario and the Association in the national competition. Voting is now open. To vote for Ben, click here to access the CCMA Spotlight Performance online voting poll. The finalist that receives the most votes on the poll by 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, June 16, 2017 will win one performance spot during PotashCorp Country Music Week 2017. Only one (1) vote per IP address will register with the online polling system – so make your one (1) vote count!
June 7, 2017
All the way from Harrow, Ontario to the 2017 Country Music Association of Ontario Awards, Buck Twenty has been on one heck of a journey. Mike Ure and Aidan Johnson-Bujold’s up-and-coming country duo has worked hard to get to where they are now, playing showcases, acoustic sets, festivals, the Canadian National Exhibition, and more. Most recently, the boys have been seen in the spotlight playing both the CBC’s Easter Seals Telethon, and Canadian Country Music Week. At each stop reports have rolled in that Buck Twenty are well worth the price of admission, and on their way to being seen even more. And if you’re interested in seeing Mike and Aiden do their thing live, you’ll find them all over the province again this summer, […]
June 7, 2017
Born: April 4, 1950 – Kapuskasing, Ontario Died: November 9, 2010 – Aylmer, Ontario (by Larry Delaney) David Thompson’s career in the spotlight was relatively short, but quite productive. Born in the Northern Ontario town of Kapuskasing, the family moved to Detroit when he was 5 years old… and while there, he absorbed various styles of music. During his teenage years, he played with local bands. At age 20, he returned to his hometown in Ontario, where he further developed his songwriting skills and performed with various local bands, most notably, The Richard Gordon Trio. David Thompson’s songwriting talents took him to Thunder Bay, Ontario, in an effort to pitch his tunes and secure a recording contract. In 1977, he was signed to RCA Canada, […]
June 7, 2017
This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles Canadian country music artist, Tara Shannon. Tara talks about her twenty-year hiatus from music, and why she knew she was Unfinished. She also talks about her new single, “Love Me Loud,” what it was like hosting Country Fix, and her next show coming up this weekend! For more information about Tara Shannon, or to check out her new single, visit her website here: http://www.tarashannonmusic.com/. For more on Country Music Junkies, visit www.countrymusicjunkies.com. Check out the exclusive interview with Tara Shannon below: About Patrice: To Patrice Whiffen, country music is a lifestyle. As the appropriately deemed, “Country Music Junkie,” she strives to share her passion for country music with the world. As a radio […]
June 7, 2017
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. SHAE DUPUY Wins the 2017 Canadian Songwriting Competition – Country Category for Her Song “Wishing On You” Recently Released on Her BRAVE EP Wishing On You” co-writing credits to Drew Gregory and Mike Little, song produced by Jason Barry and music video directed by Tim Deegan. Make sure to check it […]
May 12, 2017
Congratulations to Amanda Jordan, Ben Hudson, Brea Lawrenson, Sacha and Steve Rivers on being selected to perform at the New Faces Showcase & Concert being held at Market Square on Saturday, June 10th in London, Ontario during CMAOntario RoundUp 2017. Capping off the showcase will be a concert performance by River Town Saints with Eric Ethridge. This is a free concert with performances starting at 7:00pm. See you there! For more details on CMAOntario RoundUp 2017 events, click here.
May 12, 2017
From the mines of Nickel City to the big city stage, Andrew Hyatt has put in the work it takes to get country music fans to take notice. In the last couple of years, we’ve seen Sudbury born-and-raised Andrew Hyatt emerge as one of Ontario country’s rising stars. With stripped-down performances that showed off his songwriting skills and soul, and amped up rocking sets that dripped with sweat and put his heart squarely on his sleeve, country music fans have walked away wanting more and waiting for what’s… “next.” As a singer/songwriter, Hyatt first showed us that he was an artist to watch. And his radio singles, Love Drunk and MGR (Me And A Girl And A Radio) had Canadian country music fans singing along. […]