September 12, 2016
Country music harbours a powerhouse industry, and the Canadian country music scene came together this past weekend in London, Ontario to recognize some of its biggest stars of the past year. It was an especially momentous occasion with the Canadian Country Music Association celebrating its 40th anniversary.
The evening kicked off with a performance of Tim Hicks’ hometown pride banger “Stompin’ Ground.” Both nominated for five Canadian Country Music Association Awards (CCMAs), the two biggest winners of the night were Alberta’s Brett Kissel and British Columbia’s Dean Brody, who each took home three awards. Kissel, inspired by the upcoming election down South, said he’d been campaigning for the fan favourite award pretty hard (“My big motto’s been, ‘Don’t vote for Trump, don’t vote for Clinton, vote for Brett Kissel”), and he managed to snag that and male artist of the year.
Saskatchewanite Jess Moskaluke took home female artist of the year to extend her streak to a three-peat, and Brody, who won a country album of the year JUNO Award in April for Gypsy Road, grabbed songwriter of the year.
Washboard Union of Vancouver were named the year’s Rising Star, and Gord Bamford, who won big in 2015, snatched album of the year for Tin Roof, thanking sponsor Jack Daniels during his acceptance speech (because of course someone would thank whiskey at a country awards show). Kiefer Sutherland, who also recently released a country record, was supposed to present an award but alas, the 24 star couldn’t make it due to the production schedule of a new show he’s working on.
The complete list of 2016 CCMA Awards winners is here.
In Other News:
- There’s new music (and a TV special, and a graphic novel) coming from Gord Downie.
- Rihanna urged her fan base to dial Justin Trudeau and ask him to increase Canada’s foreign aid budget.
- Dan Deacon pulled a “Hooba-prank” on the Barenaked Ladies.
- Drake is opening a fancy Texas strip club, and the police found his missing bling.
- Festival Lineups: Vancouver Psych Fest, Halifax Pop Explosion
