Manitoba's Country Music Community is in the Spotlight

Manitoba's country music community is having a busy week. Music fans have a couple of chances to catch many of Manitoba's top country acts live on stage at special concert as well as a gala awards show, while folks working in the country scene have an opportunity to take in a one-day professional development event.

On November 7, the Manitoba Country Music Association (MCMA) is set to present a Songwriters in the Round event at Nashville's. Hosted by NOW Country 104.7 personalities and musicians Kimberley Dawn and Stephen Broadhurst, the event features Ashley Robertson, Chris Ising, Don Amero, Quinton Blair, Rhianna Rae Saj, Stu Porteous, and more. 

The festivities move to the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre on November 10 for the Manitoba Country Music Awards. QX 104's Leanne Cater takes up hosting duties for a gala event that will feature performances by Desiree Dorion, Doc Walker, Kayla Luky, Kendra Kay, Past the Perimeter, Petric, Quinton Blair, Ryan Keown, and more. This year’s gala, which is co-presented with Dauphin’s Countryfest, will see hardware in 21 different categories handed out. Check out the nominees list below.

The following afternoon on November 11, we're teaming up with our MCMA friends for a day of connecting and learning for the country music community at the inaugural Manitoba Country Music Meeting. Anya Wilson Promotion & Publicity's Anya Wilson, CBG Artist Development's Chris Burke-Gaffney, MDM Recordings' Mike Denney, Invictus Entertainment Group's Rob Cyrynowski, and Parallel Entertainment's Tim Hunze will be in town to share their expertise in a two-part session about topics that will have a significant effect on the success of a country artist's career. Get more info or register at manitobamusic.com/workshops and learn more about the panelists at manitobamusic.com/news/read,article/7263/

The Manitoba Country Music Association is a non-profit organization, dedicated to the promotion, development, and enhancement of all aspects of Manitoba country music at the local, national, and international level. Find out more about them at manitobacma.com.

2017 Manitoba Country Music Awards Final Nominees 

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ashley Robertson
Desiree Dorion
Jade Turner
Kayla Luky
Kendra Kay
Kimberley Dawn
Leanne Pearson
Lindsay Rae
Renee Lamoureux

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
David James
David Pestrak
Don Amero
Jason Kirkness
Quinton Blair
Ray Martin
Russell Lee
Ryan Keown

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Doc Walker
Ed Wayne & The North Border Band
Foster Martin Band
Four Mile Road
Keith and Renee
Past the Perimeter
Petric
Poets & Lies

NCI FM ABORIGINAL COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD
Ashley Robertson
Desiree Dorion
Don Amero
Frannie Klein
Jade Turner
Kimberley Dawn
Renee Lamoureux
William Prince

SONG OF THE YEAR (Songwriters)
"Back to Dirt" – Kayla Luky
"Be Mine" – Elsie Morden
"Got the Girl" – Chris Ising, Mark Dolin, Laurie ‘Fly’ Williams
"Heart of the Heartland" – Chris Thorsteinson, Dave Wasyliw, Gavin Sleightholm, Todd Clark
"Picture" ­– Russell Lee
"Small Town Sunday" – Ray Martin, Diamond Doug Keith
"Warrior" – Renee Lamoureux
"Whiskey Knows" – Desiree Dorion, Chris Burke-Gaffney
"Worth" ­– Jade Turner, Murray Pulver

ROOTS ARTIST, DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Ashley Robertson
Desiree Dorion
Kayla Luky
Poets & Lies
Quinton Blair
Ray Martin
Ridley Bent
William Prince

EMERGING ARTIST AWARD
Aaron Prociuk
Elsie Morden
Emma Peterson
Jade Turner
Past the Perimeter
Rhianna Rae Saj
Russell Lee

ALL STAR BAND OF THE YEAR – GUITAR
Ariel Posen
Brennan Wall
Darren Savard
Jordan Day
Kris Ulrich
Murray Pulver
Sean Borton
Stephen Arundell
Tom Dutiaume

ALL STAR BAND OF THE YEAR – BASS
Evan Taplin
Jon Mushaluk
Karl Shewchuk
Meg Dolovich
Mucha Bee
Ray Grenier
Sam Little
Wes Wilson

ALL STAR BAND OF THE YEAR – DRUMS
Cody Iwasiuk
Jon Plett
Josh Ayers
Mark Kohan
Mike Hiebert
Paul Fontaine
Ryan Voth
Stephen Broadhurst

ALL STAR BAND OF THE YEAR – SPECIALTY (BANJO, FIDDLE, MANDOLIN, KEYS, STEEL)
Bill Western
Brenton Thorvaldson
Brian Leclair
Chris Nakonechny
Clint Dutiaume
Dan Russell
Logan Picton
Lyle Baldwin
Michael Audette

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Ashley Robertson – "Back in Manitoba"
David James – "What if I Don’t"
Elsie Morden – "Be Mine"
Jade Turner – "Worth"
Jason Kirkness – "Whiskey Kiss"
Kayla Luky – "Back to Dirt"
Past the Perimeter – "Shotgun Beauty Queen"
Renee Lamoureux – "Warrior"
Russell Lee ­– "Picture"

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Chris Ising – "Got the Girl"
David James – "What if I Don’t"
Desiree Dorion – "Whiskey Knows"
Doc Walker – "Heart of the Heartland"
Jade Turner – "Worth"
Jason Kirkness – "Whiskey Kiss"
Kayla Luky – "Back to Dirt"
Kendra Kay – "My Way"
Petric – "Play it Safe"
Renee Lamoureux ­– "Warrior"
Russell Lee – "Picture"
Ryan Keown – "Best Thing"

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Chris Ising – Got the Girl
Desiree Dorion – Tough Street
Doc Walker – Weathervane
Elsie Morden – Elsie Morden
Jade Turner – North Country
Jason Kirkness – A Beautiful Disaster
Kayla Luky – Back to Dirt
Petric – It Girl Stripped Down
Ray Martin Band – Real Country

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
101.1 The Farm
730 CKDM
CFRY 920
CKLQ 880
Country 107.7 Steinbach
NCI FM
Now Country 104.7 FM
QX 104 FM

RADIO ON-AIR PERSONALITY OR TEAM OF THE YEAR
Al Gaines
Alex Devries
Brian Cook
Brody Jackson and Jess Hoy
Bruce Leperre
Karen Black
Kimberley Dawn and Steven Broadhurst
Leanne Cater
Leanne Doty
Paul Rabliauskas

FESTIVAL OR EVENT OF THE YEAR
Dauphin’s Countryfest
Country Music Benefit Concert for No Time for That
Rossburn DUKEefest
Stonewall Quarry Days
Steinbach Summer in the City
Red River Exhibition
Rattlesnake Country Music Festival
Niverville Olde Tyme Country Fair

VENUE OF THE YEAR
Club Regent Events Centre
Cowboys
Habs Bar
South Beach Casino
The Metropolitan Entertainment Centre  by Canada Inns
The Park Theatre
The Royal George Hotel
Watson Art Centre (Dauphin)

FANS’ CHOICE
David Pestrak
Elsie Morden
Jade Turner
Kendra Kay
Petric
Renee Lamoureux
Russell Lee
Ryan Keown