Category Archives: Featured

I get asked on a regular basis who I think is going to make the next big step and start getting some great opening gigs.   It’s really not that easy.  With the politics in the music business sometimes the one with all the talent doesn’t win out.  But I can tell you the 10 artists listed below are all SUPER talented and have a great shot at making that next big step or maybe have already started that journey in 2015.

Four of the biggest names in country music will headline the 2016 Big Valley Jamboree which will be held on July 28 – 31 in Camrose, Alberta. The headliner’s were announced yesterday in a private email to BVJ Bandits (aka newsletter subscribers) and the official announcement was made this morning. Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley and Sam Hunt will headline the 24rd Annual event.

2015 been quite a year for Country Music in Ottawa with monster shows from some of country’s biggest hit makers like Luke Bryan, Brantley Gilbert, Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney to name just a few, not to mention some world class performances by some of Canada’s top country stars like Brett Kissel, Tim Hicks and more.

On Monday night two Canadian country music gentleman, Paul Brandt and Dean Brody, brought a true country music performance as their Road Trip Tour rolled into the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.

Sunday nights are usually pretty low-key and I spend them catching up on a week of music.  But this past Sunday night I spent at Maxwell’s in Waterloo, ON watching 2 very impressive artists.  

It’s Mason Jar Monday… and we have a sweet one this week.  Grown Up Things by Jessica Mitchell is one of those songs that after you hear it once you get that craving to hear it again and again.   We had the pleasure of having Canadian Singer / Song Writer Jessica Mitchell sit down for a Mason Jar Session in Toronto earlier this month.   This girl can sing!  Grown Up Things is her current single at radio and If you haven’t had a chance to see this young lady live yet we strongly suggest you get off the computer and head to a show as soon as you can.  Enjoy this one!

This past Friday night Kip Moore’s Wild Ones Tour rolled into London, Ontario for a the 1st of 2 Sold Out nights in Canada.  Now Kip had already had a very successful western Canadian swing with numerous sold out shows put on by Canada’s #1 promoter Invictus Entertainment.  Friday was no different.  

This past weekend Hanson returned to Toronto with their Roots & Rock ‘N’ Roll tour. Ten cities, two nights each, the #RNRTour is giving Hanson fans a look at the music that influenced the band as well a large helping of Hanson’s back catalog. If you’re a fan, you’d know they’ve released 10 albums since 1995 and that they’ve been touring since 1998. Saturday night they brought along Paul McDonald to open the covers show.

McDonald, ex-American Idol contestant (he finished 8th) hit the stage at 7:00pm with his acoustic guitar and immediately won the crowd over. With a unique, recongnizable voice, Paul sang some heartbreaking lyrics, smiling at the crowd between songs and engaging in banter. “This is the saddest song I’ve ever written” he smiles, looks down and begins to play.

Well,  we nailed down one of Canada’s biggest country super groups to hit the stage.   The Road Hammers were in Aurora, Ontario a couple weeks back and so kindly cranked out an acoustic session of MUD for us.  We want to thank the guys for doing this one.  Crank it up! #MUD

The Road Hammers with our Corey Kelly after they wrap the Mason Jar Session

The Road Trip tour rolls into Ontario tomorrow night for their first of 7 dates.  With pit stops in Thunder Bay (10th), Sudbury (13th), London (15th) Hamilton (16th), Oshawa (17th), Kingston (18th) & Ottawa (19th) there is plenty opportunity to catch some amazing music this month.  

So Mr, Blake Shelton announced today (Oct 8th) that he will be heading back out on the road… This was just posted on his website…And there is a BUFFALO Date for all those of you in Southern Ontario!

INFO FROM BLAKES SITE….

Blake Shelton, the reigning 5 time CMA Male Vocalist of the Year and coach of NBC’s hit show The Voice, will hit the road in February for his Blake Shelton presented by Gildan tour. To see a full list of dates, click here.

“Man, I’m just so excited about 2016,” says Shelton. “We’ve got a new album coming and I can’t wait to get back out on the road and play some new music for my fans. As an artist, my favorite thing to do is go on the road and play shows. I’ve missed it, and it’s gonna be like old times. So y’all get ready to party, ‘cause Blake Shelton is comin to see ya’!”

On Saturday, October 17 at 10 AM CT, Blake’s March 4, 2016 Nashville, TN show will go on sale via Ticketmaster. A special Blake Shelton BS’er Fan Club pre-sale will start October 14 at 10 AM CT. In order to receive a link and code for this pre-sale, fans must be a member of Blake’s free online fan club. To sign up, visit www.BlakeShelton.com. Fans must be signed up no later than 11:59 PM CT on October 12 in order to receive this information.

Ticket prices for the tour range from $29.75 – 69.75. All other on sales will be announced soon.

For the first time, Blake will also be offering fans the chance to purchase exclusive VIP experiences on this tour. The Voice of Choice experience ($209 per person) will include one premium reserved ticket in the first 15 rows of the lower bowl or general admission pit plus an invitation to the exclusive pre-show party in the BS’ers Lounge where fans will be treated to a special pre-show acoustic performance and Q&A session with Blake. A premium Pure BS experience ($399 per person) will include one premium reserved ticket in the first 5 rows of the lower bowl or GA pit, an autographed Blake Shelton guitar and special venue parking* in addition to the aforementioned perks of The Voice of Choice experience. More information about additional perks from these packages can be found online here.

Blake Shelton’s Tour is presented by Gildan®. “We’re excited to be part of this Tour”, said Eric Lehman, President Gildan Branded Apparel. “As a leading brand of family apparel in the U.S., Gildan knows a thing or two about bringing you all-time favorites! We look forward to Blake’s fans enjoying the concerts, creating some new memories and buying a new favorite concert tee!”

Gildan®’s product range includes t-shirts, fleece, sport shirts, underwear and socks, all delivering superior quality and great value manufactured within company-owned, ethically run, sustainable factories. Visit www.genuinegildan.com and find out more about what makes Gildan® a brand you can trust.

Dates…