August 5, 2021

Patrice’s Pick: Lemon Cash

This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles Canadian country music duo, Lemon Cash! Ottawa born brothers, Jeff and Cory Papineau talk about growing up playing music together, and the story behind their single, “Wine Tonight,” and MORE! For more information about Country Music Junkies, visit www.countrymusicjunkies.com.  
August 5, 2021

In The News (August 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”. […]
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

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 […]
May 12, 2021

Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers: George Fox

// by Larry Delaney // (Born: March 23,1960 — Calgary, AB [Raised in Cochrane, AB]) Home: Ancaster, Ontario (#49 in the Ontario Pioneers Series) George Fox was a farm boy with a dream. Living on his parents’ farm in Cochrane, Alberta, George spent much of his younger life working the farm, baling hay and milking cows… all the while dreaming about becoming the next Elvis Presley or Buddy Holly – two of his early music idols. After spending time in Sweden on a “farm exchange” program, George’s musical interests turned to more traditional country artists, and he began writing songs himself. By the mid-1980s, and after playing the local community events scene in and around Cochrane, George began recording several demo sessions of his music, […]
May 12, 2021

In The Country with Dave Woods: One On One With Owen Barney

 Dave chats with CMAOntario nominee Owen Barney (Song Of The Year “Thank Her For That”, Songwriter Of The Year along with his co-writers for “Thank Her For That”) about his music career & his new EP Tough Times featuring the lead single “You Make Me Wanna (Brown Eyed Girl)”.  
May 12, 2021

Patrice’s Pick: Paige Rutledge

 This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles Canadian country music artist, Paige Rutledge! Paige talks about her unique country sound, the story behind her single, “Take Me Back To Tiki,” and MORE! For more information about Country Music Junkies, visit www.countrymusicjunkies.com.  
May 12, 2021

In The News (May 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 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, […]

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