Free entertainment by country stars draws a crowd for CCMA’s Fanfest
Country music culture ruled at Saskatoon’s Prairieland Park trade and convention centre Saturday. The only thing more ubiquitous than the Rider gear, worn at most public happenings in Saskatchewan, was the straw cowboy hats handed out at the door for free.
By noon, more than 600 fans had arrived for the SiriusXM Fanfest, five hours of free entertainment in conjunction with PotashCorp Country Music Week and the Canadian Country Music Awards.
It was 11-year-old Brady Kazuska’s job to pass out the straw hats, a gig he snagged through his mother who works at PotashCorp, which as sponsor provided the headgear.
He counts himself as a country music fan.
“It has a good rhythm and it just sounds really good,” Kazuska said.
Elsewhere in the spacious exhibition hall, children from tiny tots on up rode around on mini John Deere tractors and shot a ball into a net at a floor hockey station, as country artists performed live on stage.
Brandon Lemon brought his two-and-a-half year old daughter Payton, certain she would be eager to dance and sing — which she was.
Lemon, who lives in Saskatoon, says he grew up listening to country music “and that’s never changed.”
Asked what he likes about the genre he replied: “everything.”
As for the day’s lineup “it’s good to see all the artists are from Saskatchewan along with us, what they sing about is fantastic.”
He named JoJo Mason, Chad Brownlee, Jess Moskaluke and the Road Hammers as among his favourites.
Jordyn Nelson, 17, of Kindersley had just had her photo taken with the Road Hammers as Aaron Pritchett took to the stage to begin playing.
Asked what she likes about country music, Nelson said “all of it,” adding the lyrics make it her favourite genre.
The music education charity MusiCounts was also on scene, running a silent auction to raise money for its programs. It offered a tantalizing array of items, including signed guitars from Dallas Smith, Paul Brandt and Nickelback.
Tickets to the upcoming Nickelback concert in Saskatoon were also offered, along with a Brett Kissel merchandise pack, 100,000 Aeroplan miles to anywhere Air Canada flies, and other travel vouchers and local prizes.
“The Canadian Country Music Association, they’ve been really great supporters of MusiCounts over the past few years,” said Pina Capuano, the charity’s co-ordinator of events and programs.
“They helped us put instruments in schools across the country, they’ve donated over $60,000 over the last four years I believe which is amazing.”
As for this year’s CCMA host city Saskatoon, Capuano said “it’s a really great buzz that the city has … every corner we turn we can hear music coming from, whether it’s CD stores or restaurants or actual venues.”
Of course, the climax came Sunday with the awards show at SaskTel Centre. Brandon Lemon was certain to be there. He got tickets for his birthday.