Doc Walker Lands Seven Canadian Country Music Award Nods

Doc Walker is poised to continue its impressive winning streak at the Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA)in 2011, landing seven artistic and industry nods for this year’s event. Altogether, Manitoba artists and industry have 12 chances to win hardware when the CCMAs are handed out in Hamilton this September.

Already four-time winner, including three consecutive wins, the country rock outfit will compete for its fifth Group of the Year title. Doc Walker is also up for the Fan’s Choice Award, while two members of Doc Walker are also up for the All-Star Band Award: guitarist Murray Pulver and drummer Steve Broadhurst. The trio’s CMT special “Doc Walker’s Doc Party”, website, and video for “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” also landed nods.

Doc Walker is gearing up to release its latest album, titled 16 & 1, on August 30 after a trip to Sydney, Australia to headline the 2011 Optus Gympie Music Muster. Recorded in Westbourne, Manitoba, the new album features single “Country Girl”, which was released earlier this summer.

Rounding out the artistic nominations for Manitoba acts, singer/songwriter Ridley Bent picked up his second consecutive nod for Roots Artist of the Year.

Manitoba-based music companies getting industry attention this year include: Casinos of Winnipeg's Kelly Berehulka for Talent Buyer of the Year, Paquin Entertainment for Booking Agency of the Year, Dauphin’s Countryfest for Country Festival, Fair or Exhibition of the Year, and Cowboys for Country Club of the Year.

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 Hamilton September 9-12, 2011. Broadcast live CBC with an encore presentation on CMT, the awards gala will take place at Hamilton’s Copps Coliseum on September 12.

2011 CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS - MANITOBA NOMINEES

FANS' CHOICE AWARD
Doc Walker

CMT VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Doc Walker – “I'm Gonna Make You Love Me”

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Doc Walker

ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Ridley Bent

ALL-STAR BAND AWARD (DRUMS)
Steve Broadhurst (Doc Walker)

ALL-STAR BAND AWARD (GUITAR)
Murray Pulver (Doc Walker)

BOOKING AGENCY OF THE YEAR
Paquin Entertainment

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

COUNTRY CLUB OF THE YEAR
Cowboys

WEBSITE OF THE YEAR
docwalker.ca (Doc Walker) - Ashley Harms/Mitch Nevins, Webmasters

COUNTRY MUSIC PROGRAM OR SPECIAL OF THE YEAR
Doc Walker's Dock Party (CMT)

COUNTRY FESTIVAL, FAIR, OR EXHIBITION OF THE YEAR
Dauphin's Countryfest