Doc Walker Lands Four Canadian Country Music Award Nods

Manitoba artists and industry have nine chances to win hardware when the Canadian Country Music Awards are handed out in Saskatoon this September, including four nominations for Portage La Prairie-raised country rockers Doc Walker.

Already a four-time winner, including three consecutive wins, the country rock outfit will compete for its fifth Group of the Year title. Additionally, the band's latest album, 16 & 1, is up for Album of the Year. The band's guitarist, Murray Pulver, and touring drummer, Steve Broadhurst, are up for the All-Star Band Award, which they won last year. Doc Walker is also up for a 2012 Western Canadian Music Award for Country Recording of the Year.

Acclaimed singer/songwriter Ridley Bent picked up his third consecutive nod for Roots Artist of the Year, following up a Country Recording of the Year win for his album Rabbit On My Wheel at the 2011 Western Canadian Music Awards.

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

Some Manitoba artists’ team members also got CCMA nods this year. B.C.’s John Ellis is up for Record Producer of the Year for his work on Doc Walker’s 16 & 1 and the All-Star Band Award (Steel Guitar) for his work with Ridley Bent, while Antonio Hrynchuk is up for Video Director of the Year for Bryce Pallister’s “Down Dusty Roads”. Former Manitoban Mark Branconnier is up for the All-Star Band Award (Drums).

The 2012 CCMA awards show will be broadcast live on CBC on September 9 from Saskatoon's Credit Union Centre, with encore airings on CMT.

For more information about the CCMA Awards, please visit ccma.org.

2012 CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS – MANITOBA NOMINEES

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Doc Walker - 16 & 1

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)
Rob Waloschuk (Dauphin's Countryfest/Performance Promotions)

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