By Keith Sharp
To understand why Country Music is so popular in Canada, all you needed to do was tune into Sunday’s 40th Anniversary of the Canadian Country Music Awards, staged at London Ontario’s Budweiser Gardens. Within the context of a two-hour telecast (on both CBC and CMT networks) the CCMA’s presented 13 sparkling, highly entertaining, live performances from the cream of their domestic roster (with two top international artists; Sam Hunt and Kelsea Ballerini added for good measure), topped off by the awarding of eight prime CCMA awards.
Yet what made this show succeed was the way various artists worked together with host Jess Cruickshank to inject personality and humour into the event. There was nothing contrived or forced about this show, no awkward bad jokes read clumsily off a teleprompter. Instead we had Cruickshank, a former MTV Live/etalk Canada host who will soon be part of a new CBC daytime show called “The Goods”, engaging with the artists in a series of hilarious stunts and vignettes.
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[styled_box title=”The Road Hammers – I’m a Road Hammer – Acoustic at Fanfest London, Ont.” color=”black”][/styled_box]
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She introduced a ‘Kiss Cam’ which saw her lock lips with Vancouver star Chad Brownlee after Brett Kissel and Johnny Reid got to smooch their significant others. A series of ‘Barroom Confessions’ featured artists like Brownlee admitting to Cruickshank that he pees sitting down, something she should also try! Cruickshank then focused her attention on female award candidates, Jess Moskaluke, Kira Isabella, Madeline Merlo and Lindsay Ell, trying to fix them up with dates by posting their profiles to an online dating service, with predictably amusing responses. She then took centre stage involving herself in a round of speed dating with unsuspecting victims while Tim Hicks and Road Hammers’ Jason McCoy fed her some outrageous dialogue.
Also amusing was her ‘focus groups’ on Country music staged with some grizzled Rodeo veterans and a group of youngsters who responded to her questions about inappropriate song lyrics, like romance and beer by suggesting alternative topics like ice cream ponies and princesses. “Are you listening to this Gord Bamford”, Cruickshank cracked, calling out his “Breakfast Beer” song which was the butt of running jokes throughout the evening.
Flat Lake Alberta’s Brett Kissel and Smithers B.C’s Dean Brody were the evening’s big winners, taking home three key awards each. Kissel was the recipient of The Fan’s Choice Award, Male Artist of The Year and Interactive Artist/Group Award while Dean Brody captured Top Single, Songwriter of The Year and Video Of The Year trophies all for his “Bring Down The House” composition.
CCMA newbies, Vancouver’s Washboard Union announced their arrival on the scene by claiming The Rising Star award for Top New Group/Duo and Roots Artists of the Year, Langenburg , Saskatchewan’s Jess Moskaluke won her third straight Female Artist of The Year trophy while High Valley’ s Brad and Curtis Rempel claimed their second consecutive Top Group/Duo Award.
Former Aussie Gord Bamford won Top Album plaudits for his “Tin Roof” release, Eric Etheridge claimed The Discovery Award as Top New Artist and Murray McLauchlan was inducted into the CCMA Hall Of Fame.
And yes, there was plenty of live concert action with Tim Hicks’ kicking off the evening with a rousing “Stomping Ground” accompanied by blues man Colin James off his new `Shake These Walls’ release. US import Kelsea Ballerini sang her chart-topping “Peter Pan” while fellow American star, Sam Hunt kicked in with a lively “House Party”.
Country music legend Terri Clark treated the London audience with a medley of acoustic hits including “I Just Want To Be Mad”, “No Fear” and “Better Things To Do” while Bamford, Moskaluke, Brody, Brownlee, Merlo, High Valley and Cold Creek County all enjoyed their turn in the performance spotlight.
But hands down, the definitive evening highlight was Brett Kissel’s ode to cancer victims and survivors, including his own mother with his new song “I Didn’t Fall In Love With Your Hair” accompanied by Carolyn Dawn Johnson. When his mother and five other cancer survivors came on stage during the song’s conclusion, there probable wasn’t a dry eye in the building.
Johnny Reid wrapped up the affair with his “I Feel Like Going Home”, joined by Lindi Ortega, Lindsay Ell and his new protege, JJ Shiplett, a fitting climax to an entertaining two hours worth of concert performances, good humour and a few awards tossed into the mix as well.
2016 CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
ARTIST INDUCTEE
Murray McLauchlan
STAN KLEES BUILDER AWARD – BUILDER INDUCTEE
Paul Mascioli
CCMA AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT
2016 SLAIGHT MUSIC HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Mike Stevens
ARTIST AWARDS
FANS’ CHOICE AWARD presented by SiriusXM
Brett Kissel
ALBUM OF THE YEAR presented by Jack Daniel’s
Tin Roof – Gord Bamford
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jess Moskaluke
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Brett Kissel
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
High Valley
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Bring Down The House – Dean Brody
CMT VIDEO OF THE YEAR presented by Coors Banquet
Bring Down The House – Dean Brody
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR presented by ole
Dean Brody
Song: Bring Down The House (Performed By: Dean Brody)
ROOTS ARTIST OF THE YEAR
The Washboard Union
INTERACTIVE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Brett Kissel
RISING STAR
The Washboard Union
CCMA DISCOVERY AWARD presented by Country 107.3
Eric Ethridge
MUSICIAN AWARDS
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Travis Switzer
DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
Chad Melchert
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shane Guse
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jason Barry*
KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mike Little
SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shane Guse – Mandolin
STEEL GUITER PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ed “Pee Wee Charles” Ringwald*
*This is Jason and Ed’s fifth win in their respective musician categories. As such, they are now entered into the All-Star Band Hall of Honour. The Hall of Honour is reserved for musicians who have been awarded the same CCMA Musician Award five (5) or more times. Upon achieving their fifth award, their name is entered into the Hall in celebration of their great contribution to Canadian country music.
RADIO AWARDS
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET)
Amanda Kingsland – CKBY FM – Ottawa, ON
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET)
Paul Ferguson – CHCQ FM – Belleville, ON
ON-AIR PERSONALITIES OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET)
*TIE*
Leanne Cater (Boss Lady Leanne Cater)
QX104 – CFQX-FM – Winnipeg, MB
Chris Scheetz, Jacqueline Sweeney, Matt DeBeurs (CISN in the Mornings with Chris, Jack & Matt)
103.9 Country – CISN-FM – Edmonton, AB
ON-AIR PERSONALITY(IES) OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET)
Jack Latimer and Carey Moran (Jack & Carey)
105.9 KICX 106 – CICX-FM – Orillia, ON
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET)
103.9 Country – CISN-FM – Edmonton, AB
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET)
KG Country 95.5 – CKGY-FM – Red Deer, AB
INDUSTRY AWARDS
BOOKING AGENCY OF THE YEAR
Invictus Entertainment Group
COUNTRY CLUB OF THE YEAR
Ranchman’s Cookhouse and Dancehall – Calgary, AB
COUNTRY FESTIVAL, FAIR OR EXHIBITION OF THE YEAR
Boots and Hearts Music Festival – Oro-Medonte, ON
COUNTRY MUSIC PROGRAM OR SPECIAL OF THE YEAR
Chevy Top 20 Countdown – CMT Canada
MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Invictus Entertainment Group
MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY OF THE YEAR
ole
RECORD COMPANY OF THE YEAR
MDM Recordings Inc.
RECORD COMPANY PERSON OF THE YEAR
Steve Coady – Warner Music Canada
RECORD PRODUCERS OF THE YEAR
Mickey Jack Cones, Brett Kissel, Bart McKay
Album: Pick Me Up (Artist: Brett Kissel)
RECORDING PACKAGE OF THE YEAR
Pick Me Up
Design Team: Patrick Duffy [Attention]; Photography: Juan Pont Lezica (Artist: Brett Kissel)
RECORDING STUDIO OF THE YEAR presented by Fanshawe College
Barrytone Studios – St. Clements, ON
RETAILER OF THE YEAR
iTunes Canada
RON SAKAMOTO TALENT BUYER OR PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Jim Cressman – Invictus Entertainment Group
TOP SELLING ALBUM OF THE YEAR presented by Arts & Entertainment Health Insurance Plan
Kill The Lights – Luke Bryan
TOP SELLING CANADIAN ALBUM OF THE YEAR presented by Music Canada
Yoan – Yoan
TOP SELLING CANADIAN SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Bring Down The House – Dean Brody
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Stephano Barberis
Video: Cheap Seats (Artist: Dallas Smith), Video: Don’t Let Her Be Gone (Artist: Gord Bamford),
Video: Hearts On Fire (Artist: Chad Brownlee), Video: So Much For Taking It Slow (Artist: Bobby Wills)
