TRISTAN HORNCASTLE TO JOIN GORD BAMFORD & JOE NICHOLS ON CERTIFIED COUNTRY TOUR!
Calgary, AB (December 7th, 2015) – 22-time CCMA Award winner Gord Bamford along with 4-time Grammy nominee Joe Nichols announced today their co-headline “Certified Country Tour”. The tour kicks off on April 7th in Medicine Hat and will make stops across the country in cities between Abbotsford, BC and St. Johns, NFLD.
Also joining Gord and Joe on tour on the Eastern dates will see 2015 CCMA Rising Star nominee Tristan Horncastle on the Maritime shows.
2016 TOUR DATES: (Tristan Horncastle appearances)
Sunday, May 15th – Mile One Stadium – St. John’s, NFLD
Monday, May 16th – Pepsi Centre – Corner Brook, NFLD
Wednesday, May 18th – ScotiaBank Centre – Halifax, NS
Thursday, May 19th – Harbour Centre – Saint John, NB
Friday, May 20th – Casino – Moncton, NB
Tickets go on sale this Friday, December 11 at 10am EST.
The Boom Chucka Boys – Can’t Take My Lips Off You (Official Music Video)
NEW COUNTRY DUET FROM AMY METCALFE FT. TRISTAN HORNCASTLE
ROYALTY RECORDS & SONY MUSIC CANADA PRESENT…
“Whiskey Won’t Fix Me”
Produced by: Aaron Goodvin, Bart Butler & Tristan Horncastle
“I started to write this song at Big Valley Jamboree, on my walk towards the outhouses (true story). As I was on my walk, I passed through and by a lot of campsites. So many people were a mess. I’m all for having a good time, but you can always tell the difference between people that party for fun and people that try to disappear for a few days. I wrote the lyrics on my leg with a pen, or rather scratched them on, as the pen wasn’t working. I sang the Whis-key won’t fix-me over and over, so I wouldn’t forget. My friends probably thought I was in space, because I was kind of out of it the whole weekend. I was in a writing trance. I had written a few more lyrics to the chorus like “rum leaves me numb”. But I could just tell it wasn’t becoming what it should.
When I was in Nashville, I took the song to the magical Byron Hill (George Strait, Gary Allen, Gord Bamford) and I played him the chorus I had. He changed my second sub par line and added a better one and then we began to write the verses. We wrote the song in about 45 minutes and I knew it was done! Man he’s good. The song ended up lighter, cute and just a feel good song. Now after we wrote it, I thought to myself, this needs to be a duet, who’s a down to earth, rich voiced country singer that can give the song what I’m envisioning. Tristan Horncastle, that’s who. He sent me a voice memo of him singing it acoustically and I knew it was going to be something great. He did such a great job on this track. We recorded it in Nashville with producers Aaron Goodvin, Bart Butler and engineered by Julian King, who has engineered for artists like Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill’s smash “Breathe” and MANY more. Aaron and Bart brought this song one step further, they delivered such a radio, patio, pontoon friendly jam along song.
For some reason you don’t see a lot of collaborations in Canadian Country Music and I’m so excited to change that”. -Amy Metcalfe
“First listening to the song I was struck by how well written it is….it all begins with that! The second part is the simplicity in the recording that makes the two of you shine as artists. Seeya on the charts!” – Ralph Murphy – ASCAP Nashville
“Two minutes and forty-one seconds of 100 Proof Magic! Everything about it sounds like a BIG hit.” – Byron Hill – Songwriter/Producer/Musician
A great Country duet song about “ Drinkin up the one you Love”… I love it. – Duane Steele – Singer/Songwriter
“I love it! Seriously, it sounds great and I love the tempo and lyrics…. Their voices work really well together.“- Christie Armstrong – Sakamoto Entertainment
June 20th, 2015 Beaumont Blues & Roots Festival – Beaumont, AB
June 29th, 2015 Ponoka Stampede – Ponoka, AB
July 9th, 2015 Carman Fair – Carman, MB
July 11th, 2015 Carman Fair – Carman, MB
July 23rd, 2015 – July 29th, 2015 Chengdu International Festival – Chengdu, China
August 1st, 2015 BVJ Songwriters Stage – Camrose, AB
August 15th, 2015 Corporate – Red Deer Golf and Country Club – Red Deer, AB
August 16th, 2015 Ivan Daines Picnic – Innisfail, AB
June 26th, 2015 Bud Country Fever – Grande Prairie, AB
June 28th, 2015 Ponoka Stampede – Ponoka, AB
July 1st, 2015 Draft Bar and Grill – Edmonton, AB
Calgary Stampede Dates:
July 2nd, 2015 7:00pm Wildhorse Saloon – Calgary, AB
July 3rd, 2015 1:00pm, 4:00pm, 6:00pm, 9:00pm Wildhorse Saloon – Calgary, AB
July 4th, 2015 5:00pm, 7:00pm, 9:30pm Wildhorse Saloon – Calgary, AB
July 6th, 2015 1:00pm, 3:00pm, 5:30pm Wildhorse Saloon – Calgary, AB
July 7th, 2015 7:30am, 9:00am, 3:00pm, 5:30pm Wildhorse Saloon – Calgary, AB
July 8th, 2015 12:00pm – 4:00pm & 7:30pm – 11:00pm – Bookers Crab Shack – Calgary, AB
July 9th, 2015 1:00pm, 4:00pm, 6:00pm Wildhorse Saloon – Calgary, AB
July 10th, 2015 1:00pm, 3:00pm, 5:30pm, 9:00pm Wildhorse Saloon – Calgary, AB
July 11th, 2015 Peacefest – Peace River, AB
July 12th, 2015 NASHVILLE NORTH (All Star band Jam)
Aug 8th, 2015 Manitoulin Countryfest – Little Current, ON
AVAILABLE HERE:
JAY SPARROW NOMINATED FOR WCMA – COUNTRY RECORDING OF THE YEAR
May 5, 2015, Victoria, BC: The Western Canadian Music Alliance revealed today the nominees for the 2015 Western Canadian Music Awards, amongst those announced today at a press conference at McPherson Playhouse, in Victoria, BC, was Jay Sparrow up for “Country Recording of the Year” for his current record, BLUEBIRD and first country album to date .
Bluebird is Sparrow’s sixth record in five years. He writes and produces all of his own music as well as directing and producing all the accompanying videos, many of which have taken him to all corners of the world. To say he is prolific would be an gross understatement. To record this current album Jay enlisted the help of some high profile friends to be in his band, friends such as Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar), Clayton Bellamy (The Road Hammers), Shaun Verreault (Wide Mouth Mason) and Chad Melchert (Gord Bamford). With this all-star group assembled the sound came out just as planned: big, fun, rockin and classic. Jay has long been a fan of artists like Steve Earle, Bruce Springsteen, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Bob Seger… You can hear it in his writing. Sparrow is definitely a new voice in country music but he has that lasting reflection of the past throughout.
With lyrical content ranging from questioning one’s religious roots, supporting same sex relationships and the unending power of radio, it is safe to say Jay Sparrow is not your typical country singer-songwriter. After finishing his current record, BLUEBIRD, at Willie Nelson’s Arlyn studio in Austin Texas, Jay and compadres hit the highway to New Orleans to shoot Jay’s most recent video for “Bound By Nothing” and reflect on the new sound. Sitting on the bow of a crawfish boat in the Louisiana swamp Jay explains his motivation:
“Sure…I wanted to make something you could sing along to with your friends while enjoying the summer… but underlying that I wanted to let people in. Being a private man, this is a hard thing to do. We create so many walls in our lives and I wanted to show the hidden sensitive nature of a man.” Fittingly, Sparrow borrowed the title Bluebird from the Charles Bukowski poem of the same name: “The poem is one of my favourites because it is written by this historically rough and tumble writer yet he is letting everyone know that inside he has this soft and vulnerable bird wanting to get out”.
The 13th annual BreakOut West and Western Canadian Music Awards will be hosted in Victoria, BC, September 17-20, 2015. The festival, gala and conference will run concurrent with Rifflandia Festival, bringing together strengths of both events in hosting some of the best in western Canadian talent, increasing opportunities for artists, and networking with industry representatives from many different markets. The Western Canadian Music Alliance, Capital Regional Music Awards Society and the Host Committee are dedicated to making this year’s event a memorable and unique occurrence for Vancouver Island, alongside one of the island’s premier music festivals.
About BreakOut West:
BreakOut West is an annual gathering to celebrate, develop and support the best of western Canadian music. Western Canadian artists are developing sustainable careers of national and international scope, and BreakOut West is an integral component of this development. Through the annual conference and festival, industry from around the world and western Canadian artists are given the opportunity to discover, educate, network and grow. The weekend culminates in the Western Canadian Music Awards, showcasing and honoring the talent contained in the “left half” of Canada.
For more information about BreakOut West visit breakoutwest.ca.
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AMY METCALFE’S DEBUT ALBUM – NOW AVAILABLE!
SONY MUSIC CANADA PRESENT…
A multi-faceted talent grown in a small town in Manitoba, and cured on an acreage in Alberta, Amy Metcalfe is the newest face to Country Music.
With her unique vocals and writing Amy has caught the attention of some of the biggest writers in country music today. She has written over 250 songs herself and co-written with talents such as Byron Hill, Grammy award winners and Nominees Cindy Morgan and Wayne Kirkpatrick (Little Big Town, Faith Hill, Martina Mcbride, Trisha Yearwood…),Duane Steele and Phil Madeira (Garth Brooks, Civil Wars, Toby Keith…) to name a few.
Amy’s debut EP “InsideOut” comes out today on iTunes and hits store shelves Tuesday April 28th, 2015, with 6 of the 7 tracks self penned. Amy hopes the compilation gives listeners a good sense of the many sides of her.
“This EP, if you listen to the lyrics, is about self discovery whether that be through someone who hurt you, someone you’ve lost, or the person you’ve shaded yourself to be. As a new artist I’m trying to figure out my place in the mix and this album is a good representation of the last few years of my life. There are a lot of question marks in the lyrics. I’ve been blessed to write with so many amazing writers but I felt like the stuff we wrote was better suited for my second album, allowing room for growth and to show another side of me… as there seems to be a few of those!” – Amy Metcalfe
With a love to perform and be on stage rooted in a 13 year dance career Amy aspires to impact Canadian Country Music in a big way by embracing radio and performances across Canada. Her hopes are that with every performance and listen you experience, you leave with a sense of who she is and can relate to the life in her lyrics.
UPCOMING SHOWS
May 9th – Tracks – Olds, AB
The Boom Chucka Boys – Turn This Car Around
FOR YOUR CONSIDEATION: ACMA AWARDS 1ST ROUND NOMINEES
THE BOOM CHUCKA BOYS JOIN GORD BAMFORD’S 2015 COUNTRY JUNKIE CANADIAN TOUR
Hitting the road this February & March 2015, The Boom Chucka Boys will embark on their first Canadian tour with CCMA Award winner Gord Bamford.
TOUR DATES
Feb 19th, 2015 Grey Eagle Resort & Casino – Calgary, AB
Feb 28th, 2015 Club Regent Casino – Winnipeg, MB
Mar 5th, 2015 Sean O’Sullivan Theatre (Brock University) – St. Catherines, ON
Mar 7th, 2015 Casino Rama – Rama, ON
Mar 8th, 2015 London Music Hall – London, ON
Mar 10th, 2015 Grand Theatre – Kingston, ON
THE BRAND NEW SINGLE FROM THE BOOM CHUCKA BOYS, HITS AIRWAVES TODAY!
The Boom Chucka Boys
“Turn This Car Around”
Royalty Records/Sony Music Canada
CANCON
The first single off new album, “Ramble” (releasing early 2015)
Nominated for the 2014 Canadian Country Music Associations Group/Duo Of The Year
Produced by Gord Bamford
I can’t wait for people to hear this new music and sound from the Boom Chucka Boys. Its extremely fresh and real and sounds like nothing else on the radio. Their unique personalities, looks and outstanding talent will set them apart. I will go out on a limb, and say this may just be the best Canadian album put out by a group in a long time. I want to thank the boys for trusting in me to produce this record and for understanding the importance of writing, playing and performing music not only for ourselves but for our great country music fan base here in Canada. I truly hope that radio embraces this project with open arms. – Gord Bamford
ROYALTY RECORDS CONGRATULATES ED HARRIS ON HIS CCMA HALL OF FAME INDUCTION!
July 3, 2013 (Toronto, ON) – The Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) announced today that Rita MacNeil and Ed Harris have been selected as the 2013 inductees into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame®.
“Both Ms. MacNeil and Mr. Harris have made huge imprints on country music in Canada and we are delighted to have them enter the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame,” said CCMA President, Don Green. “I would like to thank our Hall of Fame Electors Committee for recognizing these two outstanding industry leaders.”
Ed Harris, as the 2013 Builder inductee, will receive the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Stan Klees Builder Award this September in Edmonton. Mr. Harris, twice named the CCMA Record Industry Person of the Year, will be recognized for his ongoing 35-year career as an industry champion.
Based in Calgary, Alberta, Mr. Harris is the president of High Note Marketing; which he founded in 1999. He began his career with Universal Music Canada in 1986 as a country music marketing manager, where he oversaw marketing campaigns for some of Nashville’s biggest stars.
Mr. Harris has continuously been an integral supporter of Canadian country music performers throughout his career. Over his twelve-year tenure overseeing marketing initiatives at Royalty Records, he has worked with several prominent Canadian artists including Gord Bamford, Chris Cummings, Gil Grand, and Aaron Pritchett.
Additionally, Mr. Harris has served on the CCMA Board of Directors, as well as the Alberta Recording Industry Association, and is a key entertainment consultant for the Calgary Stampede.
“I’d like to thank the CCMA for selecting me to receive the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Stan Klees Builder Award. I am humbled and honoured to receive this prestigious recognition,” said Mr. Harris. “Over the course of my career I’ve worked in many facets of the country music business and in doing so, have met many talented people who have become friends and associates. I thank them all for their support and look forward to seeing everyone during Country Music Week.”
The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at a private industry event held during Country Music Week, which takes place September 5-8 in Edmonton, Alberta.
MESSAGE FROM ROB SMITH, PRESIDENT OF ROYALTY RECORDS…..
I remember meeting Ed at my very first CCMA’s, it was 1993 I believe in Hamilton. He invited me up to his room late one night for a drink with a few others and treated me like we had been friends for years. From that point forward I always looked up to Ed as a mentor and friend.
When Royalty Records and Ed decided to start working together our relationship grew even stronger and while I took my hiatus from the record business, Ed was instrumental in the success of Royalty. I was fortunate enough to come back and take over Royalty several years later and for the last 6 or so years, Ed has taught me so much about this business, and been a great friend.
Ed’s influence and mentorship will always be a part of who I am in this business and I can’t thank him enough for what he has meant to Royalty and myself.
Thank you Ed and congratulations on your induction into the Hall of Fame!
Cheers my friend!
Rob Smith
Royalty Records Inc.
www.royaltyrecords.ca