A sellout crowd was in attendance Monday night (May 27) at the Markham Theatre for the Country Music Association of Ontario’s first Awards show.
And what a night!
The show, hosted by singer Charlie Major, featured a great array of talent from across the province, backed by Kitchener’s Western Swing Authority band.
Some of the highlights from the stage….Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor and the Sadie’s Travis Good performing Blue Rodeo’s ‘Hasn’t Hit Me Yet’, Michelle Wright singing her new single, ‘Strong’, a great performance by the Small Town Pistols, and the evening capped off with a rousing rendition of ‘Fox on the Run’, from the Good Brothers, much to the delight of the crowd.
For the trivia buff, the Association’s very first award was handed out to the Stellas, from Whitby, for Group or Duo of the Year.
Prior to the show and at the intermission it was nice to say ‘hello’ and chat with some great folks, many who have been interviewed on CJBQ, including The Small Town Pistols, Steve Wilkinson, Michelle Wright, The Stellas, Beverley Mahood, Brighton’s Sarah Cripp’s, Marshall Dane, Robyn Ottolini, Brett Kingswell, Tianna Woods, Western Avenue and The Good Brothers.
Congratulation’s to the CMAO for putting on a excellent show !
2013 Awards Winners
COMPLETE LIST OF 2013 CMAO AWARD WINNERS:
Female Artist of the Year
Kira Isabella
Group/Duo of the Year
The Stellas
Male Artist of the Year
Johnny Reid
Rising Star
(TIE) Autumn Hill & Lindsay Broughton
Album of the Year
Deric Ruttan – Up All Night
Single of the Year
Jason Blaine – They Don’t Make ‘Em Like That Anymore
Songwriter of the Year
Jason Blaine, Deric Ruttan – They Don’t Make ‘Em Like That Anymore
Radio Station of the Year (Major Market)
CJKX – KX96 Oshawa/Toronto
Radio Station of the Year (Secondary Market)
CICX-FM – KICX 106 FM Orillia
IMPACT AWARD
In this first and important year, the CMAO has also established a special award. The CMAO Impact Award recognizes an artist, group, industry personality or company/organization who has left an enduring and indelibly positive footprint on the landscape of country music in Ontario. This year’s Impact Award was given to the Canadian Country Music Association.
