At the end of last year I looked ahead to 2015 and made a bold prediction that it would be bigger with more interviews with bigger artists, more festivals, more events and more contests. I could never have predicted exactly how much bigger the year would actually be.
Ontario – A Hot Bed for Country Music Festivals in 2016
Ok so I think we can officially say that Ontario has quickly become a HOT BED for Country Music Festivals for 2016 in Canada. Seriously its unreal… With nearly 13.8 Million people in Ontario and lets say you take 3% of that population that are ticket buying country music fans. You are looking at just over 380,000 people are looking to buy tickets into an event this summer. The big question is, which one or two are they going to be spending their hard earned cash on?
Jess Moskaluke Rocks KX Country
This past Thursday night Jess Moskaluke blew the doors off the Phoenix. Well, what was left of them anyway.
Jess Moskaluke – CONTEST
Ok we said we would have something special…Here it is!
We have 3 pairs of tickets to giveaway to Jess Moskaluke’s Toronto performance NEXT THURSDAY at the Phoenix Concert Theatre.
BUT… These aren’t just tickets into the show, these passes will also get you into an intimate pre-show acoustic performance and the chance to meet Jess. How cool is that! All you have to do to enter is tell us your favourite Jess Moskaluke song off her new album Kiss Me Quite and you will be entered.
Contest closes Tuesday Dec 8th @ 2pm EST. This is a 19+ EVENT so you do need to be 19 to attend.
Good Luck!
Havelock Jamboree 2016 – 1st Line Up Announcement
So the fine folks over at the storied Havelock Jamboree made a bit of a splash today with their 1st Artist Announcement for 2016 Edition of the Jambo. Here is what we were told today…
Hendrik’s Top Country Artists to Watch in 2016
After reading through Corey’s top 10 artists to watch in 2016 I started thinking of who I would put in that list. There are definitely similarities between my 10 and Corey’s, as you will see. 2015 has been a big year for Canadian country music from the tour perspective with all the major players hitting the road, Dallas Smith started the year with his hugely successful “Tippin’ Point Tour” featuring Sundy Best and now this fall Dean Brody and Paul Brandt just wrapped up their “Road Trip Tour”, Brett Kissel and Jordan McIntosh are currently on the road with their “Airwaves Tour” and Tebey kicks off his “Three’s A Party Tour” with Jason Blaine and James Otto on Friday in Halifax and to cap off the year Tim Hicks is hitting the road with Cold Creek County and Jason Benoit for their “Get A Little Crazy Tour”. Notice something missing? Out of all the tours above only the “Road Trip Tour” featured tomatoes as an added ingredient with Lindi Ortega, Jess Moskaluke, Madeline Merlo and Whitney Rose featured throughout the tour.
So let’s take a look at who I think has the greatest chance of breaking out in the coming year, 2016.
Paul Brandt and Dean Brody bring the country to Ottawa
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.
Dean & Paul’s Road Trip Hits Ontario..
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.
Kiss Me Quiet – Jess Moskaluke
So our friend Jess Moskaluke who just recently won 2015 Female Artist of The Year at the CCMA Awards in Halifax has a new album dropping Sept 25th. Her new single Kiss Me Quiet has hit country radio and it is busting up the charts and we want you to hear it NOW!!! So have a listen and then maybe a couple more and let us know what you think!
Oh and our thoughts…
Well I for one LOVE IT great song and very well done video. Great to see Canadian music doing big things in the production side to! – Corey
What Do The CCMA’s Mean To You?
Well, the Canadian Country Music Association Awards are over for another year. I had the privilege of being on the Green Carpet and had the chance to ask several artists one question. Here’s what I asked and their responses…..
