Doc Walker Nets 12 Country Music Award Nods

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Hometown favourite Doc Walker has solidified its place as one of Canada’s top country music recording acts this year. The country rock outfit and its latest release on Open Road Recordings, Beautiful Life, is up for an impressive six artistic awards and six industry awards at this year’s Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA). Manitoba artists and industry professionals are up for an unprecedented 19 awards.

The nationally-televised awards show, one of Canada's annual entertainment highlights, is part of the Canadian Country Music Association's annual Country Music Week, taking place in Winnipeg September 5-8, 2008. Hosted by Terri Clark, the awards gala will take over downtown Winnipeg’s MTS Centre on the final evening of festivities, September 8.

This year’s Honourary Chairs of Country Music Week, Doc Walker competes for the Group of the Year award again after picking up the trophy in 2004 and 2007. The band is also up for the Fan’s Choice Award, Single of the Year, Songwriters of the Year, Video of the Year, and Album of the Year as well as industry nods for Website of the Year, Video Director of the Year, and Album Design of the Year. Three members of Doc Walker are also up for the All-Star Band Award, including guitarist Murray Pulver, bassist Brent Pearen, and drummer Steve Broadhurst.

Manitoba-based multi-instrumentalist Grant Siemens, who plays in Corb Lund’s band, is also up for the All-Star guitar spot while former Doc Walker drummer Mark Branconnier is up for the drums honour for his work with Gord Bamford.

Also getting some industry attention is Kelly Berehulka of Casinos of Winnipeg for Talent Buyer of the Year, Dauphin’s Countryfest for Country Festival, Fair or Exhibition of the Year, Paquin Entertainment for Booking Agency of the Year, and CKDM’s Bruce LePerre for Music Director of the Year.

MANITOBA NOMINEES FOR THE 2008 CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS

FANS’ CHOICE AWARD
Doc Walker

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“Beautiful Life” – Doc Walker

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Beautiful Life – Doc Walker

SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR
Beautiful Life (written by Murray Pulver / Chris Thorsteinson / Dave Wasyliw; recorded by Doc Walker)

CMT VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Beautiful Life – Doc Walker

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Doc Walker

2008 CCMA ALL-STAR BAND AWARD NOMINEES

Mark Branconnier (Gord Bamford) - Drums
Steve Broadhurst (Doc Walker) – Drums
Brent Pearen (Doc Walker) – Bass
Murray Pulver (Doc Walker) - Guitar
Grant Siemens (Corb Lund) – Guitar
Grant Siemens (Corb Lund) - Banjo

2008 CCMA INDUSTRY AWARD NOMINEES

BOOKING AGENCY OF THE YEAR
Paquin Entertainment

TALENT BUYER OR PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Kelly Berehulka (Casinos of Winnipeg)

ALBUM DESIGN OF THE YEAR
Patrick Duffy/Traci Goudie/Jill Snell – Beautiful Life (Doc Walker)

WEBSITE OF THE YEAR
docwalker.ca (Doc Walker) – Ashley Harms/Tim Neufield/House of Bands, Webmasters

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Antonio Hrynchuk, Director – “That Train” (Doc Walker)

2008 CCMA BROADCAST AWARD NOMINEES

COUNTRY FESTIVAL, FAIR, OR EXHIBITION OF THE YEAR
Dauphin’s Countryfest – Dauphin, MB

MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Secondary Market
Bruce Leperre (CKDM) – Dauphin, MB

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