Winnipeg Gears Up to Host Country Music Week

Winnipeg is gearing up to host the annual Country Music Week, one of Canada’s most popular big ticket music events. Some of this country’s biggest names will hit stages throughout Winnipeg September 5-8, including hometown favourite and Honourary Chairs of Country Music Week 2008, Doc Walker. The Canadian Country Music Awards, which attracts top country music industry names from around the world, close Country Music Week on September 8.

Winnipeg music legend Randy Bachman has recently been added to the list of performers for the awards gala which will take over downtown Winnipeg’s MTS Centre. Other performers at the gala include: Dierks Bentley, Emerson Drive, Johnny Reid, as well as George Canyon, Kellie Pickler, and Gord Bamford. The nationally-televised awards show will be hosted by country superstar Terri Clark.

Manitoba artists and industry professionals are poised to bring home an unprecedented 19 awards at the 2008 CCMAs. Doc Walker dominates this year’s nominations with nods for six artistic awards and six industry awards at this year’s CCMAs, including: Group of the Year, Fan’s Choice Award, Single of the Year, Songwriters of the Year, Video of the Year, and Album of the Year for the band’s latest release, Beautiful Life. Doc Walker’s Murray Pulver, Brent Pearen, and Steve Broadhurst are also on the list of nominees this year, as is Manitoba-based multi-instrumentalist Grant Siemens (Corb Lund) and former Doc Walker drummer Mark Branconnier (Gord Bamford). Kelly Berehulka of Casinos of Winnipeg, Dauphin’s Countryfest, Paquin Entertainment, and CKDM’s Bruce LePerre are up for this year’s industry awards.

In addition to the awards, music fans can catch some great live music during Canadian Music Week, including official and unofficial complimentary events. One of this year’s highlights will be the official Manitoba Music showcase at the historic Windsor Hotel on September 6. The event includes performances by Scott Nolan, Bryce Pallister, Tracy Bone, After All These Years, Chris Goertzen and The Hazy Pilgrims, and new Manitoban Ridley Bent. Other Manitoba acts can be found on stages through the week, including: Heather Longstaffe, Foster Martin Band, Wailin’ Jailer, Hawg Wylde, and Steve Bell.

Aboriginal talent will be strongly featured during Country Music Week with several prominent award-winners like Ray St. Germain, Ryan D’Aoust, Tracy Bone, and Highway 373 sharing the stage with up-and-coming acts like Ashley Robertson, Rayne DeLaronde, Fred Moose, Jerry Sereda, and Holly Vee. Aboriginal-owned Manitoba label StrongFront Records will host a special showcase featuring Aboriginal talent including: C-Weed, Billy Joe Green, 100 Years Rising, and J.C. Campbell.

Check out these great music events during Country Music Week:

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

Bryce Pallister @ Air Canada Park, noon-1pm

Ray St. Germain & Family @ Club Regent – Mainstage

Darren Lavallee Band @ Club Regent - Jaguars Dance Club

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Foster Martin Band @ Club Regent - Jaguars Dance Club

Rayne DeLaronde, Fred Moose, Holly Vee, Jerry Sereda, Tracy Bone & J.C. Campbell, Highway 373 @ The Norwood, 8pm

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

Doc Walker @ Canwest Place Courtyard , noon-1pm

Songwriters' Café @ Delta Winnipeg – Grand Ballroom, 2pm-4:30pm – Featuring Ray St. Germain and Ashley Robertson.

Willie Mack & Hawg Wylde @ Club Regent - Jaguars Dance Club

Wailin’ Jailer @ McPhillips Street Station - Jokers Lounge

New Artist Showcases @ McPhillips Street Station, 9pm-1am - Featuring Ridley Bent

Fred Moose, Rayne DeLaronde, Holly Vee, Jerry Sereda, Tracy Bone & J.C. Campbell, Highway 373 @ The Norwood, 9pm

StrongFront Showcase – Aboriginal Talent @ Pyramid Cabaret, 9pm-2am – Featuring Billy Joe Green, C-Weed, 100 Years Rising, and J.C. Campbell.

David Celia, Joan Besen @ Candor Shop

DJ St. Germain and guests @ Pony Corral Downtown

The Daniel Koulack Band @ The Cavern

Darren Lavallee @ Country Corral, 10pm

Chris Goertzen and The Hazy Pilgrims @ Shannon's, 10pm

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

Songwriters' Café @ Delta Winnipeg – Grand Ballroom, 4pm-6:30pm

FanFest @ Scotiabank Stage – The Forks, 11am-3pm - Featured performers include Doc Walker and many more.

Donny Parenteau with Four Mile Road @ Club Regent - Jaguars Dance Club

MANITOBA MUSIC SHOWCASE @ Windsor Hotel, 9pm-2am
Chris Goertzen and the Hazy Pilgrims – 9pm
Tracy Bone – 9:45pm
Bryce Pallister – 10:30pm
After All These Years – 11:15pm
Scott Nolan - midnight
Ridley Bent – 12:45am
Haymaker - 2am

Country Music Week ‘Casino Night’ @ McPhillips Street Station – Mainstage, 7:30pm

Heather Longstaffe @ Palomino, 9-9:30pm

Wailin’ Jailer @ McPhillips Street Station - Jokers Lounge

Darren Lavallee @ Country Corral, 10pm

DJ St. Germain and guests @ Pony Corral Downtown

Pepper Laing & the Lonestar Killers, Patrick Alexandre & Bad Country @ The Cavern

Mike Lynch, Ridley Bent, Ashley Robertson @ Candor Shop

Jerry Sereda, Highway 373 @ The Norwood, 9pm

Shawndel, Jimmy Whiffen + special guest @ Shannon's

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

Songwriters' Café @ Delta Winnipeg – Grand Ballroom, 2:30pm-5pm

Gospel Showcase @ Westminster United Church, 1pm-3pm - Hosted by Steve Bell

DJ St. Germain and guests @ Pony Corral Downtown

100 Years Rising, Holly Vee, Ryan D’Aoust, Jerry Sereda, Highway 373 @ The Norwood, 8pm

The Magnificent 7's, Pepper Laing & the Lonestar Killers @ The Cavern

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

Great Guitar Pull @ The Delta Winnipeg – Grand Ballroom, 1pm- 3pm – Featuring Randy Bachman

Canadian Country Music Awards @ MTS Centre, 6pm

Post Awards Bash @ Blush Ultraclub, 8pm - Featuring appearances by Bryce Pallister, Ridley Bent and more.

DJ St. Germain and guests @ Pony Corral Downtown

Holly Vee, Ryan D’Aoust, Jerry Sereda, Highway 373 @ The Norwood, 9pm

For more information about Country Music Week and the CCMA Awards, please visit www.ccma.org

For complete Country Music Week concert listings, please visit www.manitobamusic.com/calendar

The 2008 CCMA Awards will be broadcast nationally on CBC Television at 8pm with encore broadcasts on CMT Canada. Tickets for the CCMA Awards are on sale now and range in price from $39.50 - $79.50. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.ca, by phone at 204.780.3333 or at any Ticketmaster location.