Newsletter

In The Country Celebrates 5 Years by Dave Woods Back in March of 2009, In The Country aired its first online episode. That adds up to 5 years and hundreds of interviews. I’ve been a country fan my whole life and had worked in radio for many years. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to combine my love of country music with my passion for talk shows. I wanted to create a program that had enough time to go deeper in the artist’s world and allow for conversations on a range of topics related to music. My hope is that listeners can sit back, relax and enjoy a conversation along with some of the best music around. It’s exciting to interview the bigger names like […]

by Rob MacArthur and Howard Ross Editor’s note: Ontario lost another seasoned, professional musician/artist recently: Canadian Zepher’s Garth Bourne. Two of his friends and former band-mates wanted to pay tribute to his passing. I met Garth Bourne at a Durham Music Society function. I was playing in a band with my wife, Lorraine Davies, called the Too Drunk to Fish Band. Garth was one of the founders and coordinators for the Durham Music Society event. Garth was a great person, greeting everyone with a smile and a good word. Some time later, we needed to replace a bass player. I had heard that Garth played Bass, so I did some checking on him. To my amazement he was quite a renowned Bass player in his […]

Excerpt #7 from “Winning The Music Game” by Brian Allen Shhhhh….. I’m going to give you the number one investment tip for the highest possible rate of return: The most valuable commodity you can invest is your time. And… The best investment of your time that you can make is in great songs. No other component of your career will replace a great song or yield the staggering ratio of return on your investment like great songs do. The best production, the coolest clothes, the most creative videos, the shrewdest manager, and the hardest working record company are all no substitute for the power and longevity of a great song. If you write your own material, take a minute and think about all the hit […]

This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles the country music duo, Small Town Pistols! Formerly members of The Wilkinsons, Amanda and Tyler Wilkinson are back in a duo that brings an eclectic edgy spin to their country sound. Amanda and Tyler share their excitement about this new musical chapter in their lives, along with how they felt after being nominated for a 2014 JUNO Award in the Country Album of the Year Category. Catch the JUNO Awards on CTV on March 30, 2014. Check out the video for the full interview! 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 […]

We have covered all of our current board members in this column in previous issues but we are currently re-writing and updating their bios and accomplishments. Look for the new updated “Behind the Board starting next month.

This is where we would like to thank our corporate members by posting their business logo in the newsletter. This month and next we’d like to call your attention to Gearhead Country. CMAO member Ian Rome combined his love of vintage automobiles and country music and has been pursuing an internet-radio based venture called GearHead Country. Ian hosts and produces the show and is currently syndicated on C93 (Country93.ca) and you can visit his online ‘Gearhead Country Garage’ at: http://gearheadcountry.com/ If you have a corporate membership and would like to be included in this feature in future months, please contact us at info@cmaontario.ca

photos by Randy Owen and Jackson Schott The Purple Hill Country Hall, located in Thorndale, just 5 miles east of London, Ontario, hosts an old fashioned Opry Show the first Sunday of every month. The venue is a former auction barn that’s been converted into a cozy, woody, atmospheric performing space with not a bad seat in the house. Everywhere you look, there are antiques and implements covering the walls. It’s the brainchild of George and Anna Taylor. In the past, the venue has featured such treasured performers as Carroll Baker, George Fox, Larry Mercey, Marie Bottrell, The Good Brothers, Paul Weber, Julian Austin, Brooklyn Roebuck and many more Canadian country artists. The dinner and show package always attracts a big crowd and this past […]

The fourth DemoRama LIVE in Barrie was another great success in our exciting series. Singer, songwriters, and artists presented their original music to a packed house at host venue Sticky Fingers Bar and Grill with PA & musical equipment supplied by Music Pro. Our Special Guest Performer & expert panelist was TV star/country pop artist Kate Todd who kicked off the event with her 2 radio singles and new material too. The hosting radio station was the extremely supportive KICX 106 and Program Director & Morning Announcer Jack Latimer was our wise expert panelist indeed. Wellcraft Media Owner Taylor Abram, who also shared a beautiful song with the crowd, was an expert panelist as well. The two “Best Of” DemoRama LIVE Showcase winners from Barrie […]