White-hatted songwriters face off for CCMAS
For the second year in a row, Alberta’s Gord Bamford and B.C.’s Dean Brody will face off at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards.
Both artists, who like to sing about Friday, earned the most nominations in Wednesday’s announcement, five of which are in the same categories — including fans’ choice, CMT video of the year and male artist of the year. Lancombe’s Bamford leads the pack with seven nominations (including record producer of the year in the industry category), while Brody, born in Smithers, B.C., has six.
The CCMAs will be given out Sept. 8 at Rexall Place in Edmonton.
Bamford’s Leaning on a Lonesome Song is up against Brody’s It’s Friday for single of the year and songwriter of the year.
To confuse matters somewhat, Bamford’s album, Is It Friday Yet?, is nominated for album of the year. Brody’s Dirt, however, isn’t.
Instead, he’s got a second single, Bob Marley, in the running for songwriter of the year.
Both white-hatted vocalists were two of the frontrunners at 2012’s CCMAs, bested only by Johnny Reid and his eight nominations.
This year, the Scottish-Canadian Reid has two — fans’ choice award and songwriter of the year for Baby I Know It — likely because he’s between albums.
In another case of deja vu, female vocalists fared poorly in most of the major categories, with no nominations for single of the year or songwriter of the year. Terri Clark is the only woman vying for fans’ choice, while Small Town Pistols, co-fronted by Amanda Wilkinson, is up for album of the year for their selftitled album.
Edmonton-Calgary trio Hey Romeo, led by Stacie Roper, earned two nods — group or duo of the year and CMT video of the year for Maybe You Remember Me Now.
Corb Lund is nominated for roots artist or group of the year.
Another Alberta band, Emerson Drive, bred in Grande Prairie, is nominated for group or duo of the year and album of the year for Roll.
Emerson Drive’s frontman says these nominations never get old. “I think a lot of it has to do with the work you put into making an album, so when you get recognized, it still feels good,” Brad Mates said. “A nomination is one thing, winning an award is another, but seeing the Emerson Drive name in the category is a good accomplishment.”
Emerson Drive’s Roll is up for album of the year.
“We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to come up with an album that we felt was a little different from the past, music that we worked 12 to 13 months on, with not a lot of outside influence,” he said.
“No label push, no manager push, it was just kind of us in the studio. If you win, you win. If you don’t, you get to point the finger at yourself. So I’m glad everything has gone well.”
The CCMAs cap off Country Music Week, which starts Sept. 5. The CCMAs will also be held in Edmonton in 2014. Here is the full list of CCMA Award nominees. For a list of the CCMA all-star band award nominees and the CCMA industry award nominees, go to ccma.org:
FANS’ CHOICE AWARD
Gord Bamford Dean Brody George Canyon Terri Clark Johnny Reid
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
It’s Friday — Dean Brody featuring Great Big Sea
Jumped Right In — Dallas Smith
Leaning on a Lonesome Song — Gord Bamford
Main Street, 1979 — Deric Ruttan
Show Some Respect — Bobby Wills
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Classics II — George Canyon Is it Friday Yet? — Gord Bamford Jumped Right In — Dallas Smith Roll — Emerson Drive Small Town Pistols — Small Town Pistols
SONGWRITER(S)
OF THE YEAR
Baby I Know It (written by Caeland Garner/Johnny Reid; performed by Johnny Reid featuring Carolyn Dawn Johnson)
Bob Marley (written by Dean Brody; performed by Dean Brody)
Cool (written by Jason Blaine/ Deric Ruttan; performed by Jason Blaine)
It’s Friday (written by Dean Brody; performed by Dean Brody feat. Great Big Sea)
Leaning On A Lonesome Song (written by Gord Bamford/Buddy Owens/Ray Stephenson; performed by Gord Bamford)
CMT VIDEO OF THE YEAR
A Little More Work — Kira Isabella
Hope & Gasoline — Beverley Mahood
I’m Movin’ On — Terri Clark feat. Dean Brody
Leaning On A Lonesome Song — Gord Bamford
Maybe You Remember Me Now — Hey Romeo
FEMALE ARTIST
OF THE YEAR
Terri Clark Jaida Dreyer Kira Isabella Carolyn Dawn Johnson Michelle Wright
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Gord Bamford Dean Brody Chad Brownlee Dallas Smith Bobby Wills
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Emerson Drive Hey Romeo High Valley Small Town Pistols The Stellas
ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Clayton Bellamy Shane Chisholm The Heartbroken Corb Lund Lindi Ortega
RISING STAR
Autumn Hill Tim Hicks MacKenzie Porter Tebey Bobby Wills
INTERACTIVE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Terri Clark Leah Daniels High Valley Codie Prevost Tenille *The winners of both top selling album of the year and top selling Canadian album of the year are determined by sales.