For five days, Hamilton will be Nashville North
GRAHAM ROCKINGHAM YOUR GUIDE TO COUNTRY MUSIC WEEK IN HAMILTON
FOR CANADA, THE REST OF Country Music Week boils down to two hours of live television Sunday night, watching Shania Twain host the annual awards’ show and waiting for Keith Urban’s big guest appearance.
But here in Hamilton, Country Music Week represents five days of live entertainment and assorted opportunities to rub elbows with celebrities and fan favourites.
For country music fans, Hamilton will be the place to be starting Wednesday with a free concert at 5 p.m. in Gore Park, and running through Sunday night’s big awards show at FirstOntario Centre.
Canadian Country Week is much more than an awards’ show, however. It’s the annual showcase and meeting place for the nation’s country music industry.
Hamilton will be Nashville North. The city will play host to more than 10,000 fans and some 510 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) delegates during the week. There will even be bands greeting arrivals at the airport.
It may not sound very countrified but ground zero for the festivities is the Impark Lot at the corner of Bay and Market streets across from FirstOntario Centre.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, this asphalt slab will transform into the CCMA Fan Village. A few bales of hay, an array of bobbing Stetsons and a healthy dose of tallboys will no doubt give it the feel of the Grand Ole Opry.
There will be plenty of live music at the Fan Village starting Friday at 5 p.m. continuing through Sunday, as well as a pancake breakfast and opportunities to get your photo taken with your favourite star.
Most of the city’s major venues are booked day and night. Many downtown bars and restaurants are also featuring live country entertainment.
Even the venerable rock ’n’ roll palace This Ain’t Hollywood is turning a little country — its featured act Friday night is Dead Flowers, a band specializing in the country songs of the Rolling Stones.
Many of the events are ticketed, but there are plenty of performances, many featuring big name acts, that are free and open to the public.
So here, in somewhat of a chronological order, is a guide to Country Music Week.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 5
Dirty Pioneers Hamilton Public Library, Noon to 1 p.m. Free Gore Park Country Roundup A family friendly concert featuring The Abrams, Leah Daniels and CCMA nominee The Washboard Union. Free, but donations to Hamilton Food Share are encouraged, 5 p.m. Country jazz and wine Radius, 151 James St. S., 7 to 10 p.m. Brad James Local singer-songwriter performs at Mills Hardware, 95 King St. E. 8 to 11 p.m. $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Ty Owens & The 4th Line The Diplomat, 43 King William St., 9 to 11 p.m. Reservations advised, 905523-4343. No cover.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 6
Mimi Shaw and Picketwires
Hamilton Public Library, Noon to 1 p.m. Free. CCMA Songwriters’ Series, Session 1 The songwriters’ series is a country week highlight. Three days of acoustic performances and storytelling about songcraft. Session 1 is hosted by CCMA nominees The Reklaws and features two sets with Aaron Goodvin, Danielle Ryan, Five Roses, Genevieve Fisher, JJ and Ty Hunter, Meghan Patrick and Emily Reid. At The Studio (at Hamilton Place), 2:30 to 5 p.m. General admission, $38.35, including fees, through Ticketmaster. Miles From Nowhere Radius, 151 James St. S., 7 to 10 p.m. Redhill Valleys The Diplomat, 43 King William St., 9 to 11 p.m. Reservations advised, 905523-4343.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 7
Lisa Nicole Hamilton Public Library, Noon to 1 p.m. Free. Canadian Country Artist Showcase Three days of music (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) featuring more than 50 CCMA artists, hosted by John Chris Ford and presented by Music Mentor Productions LE Music Promotions. At 33 Bowen. No cover. CCMA Songwriters’ Series, Session 2 Hosted by Jason McCoy, featuring two sets of performances by Andrew Hyatt, Kalsey Kulyk, Tebey, David Borys, Karen Kosowski, Emma-Lee and Sons of Daughters. At The Studio (at Hamilton Place), 4:45 to 7:15 p.m. Tickets through Ticketmaster. CCMA Fan Village Opens at 5 p.m., Bay and Market Streets across from FirstOntario Centre. Kelly Prescott & Linsey Beckett The Diplomat, 43 King William St., 5 to 7 p.m. Reservations advised, 905523-4343. Johnny Cash Tribute Radius, 151 James St. S., 6 to 9 p.m. The Other Side of Country This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St N. 9 p.m. House band Dead Flowers performs the country songs of the Rolling Stones. Guests include Terra Lightfoot, Madeline Merlo, JJ Shiplett, Wayne Petti, Damhnait Doyle and Wes Mack. Tickets $12 through www.thisainthollywood.ca. Lori Yates Art Gallery of Hamilton, 7 p.m. Art Gallery of Hamilton. Free admission. CCMA Legends Show
A TRIBUTE TO YESTERDAY AND TODAY: This is the biggest show of the week, next to Sunday’s main event. Beverly Mahood hosts the two-hour concert that pairs some of Canada’s most respected country artists with rising stars. Featured performers include Chad Brownlee, Terri Clark, Patricia Conroy, Russell deCarle, Aaron Goodvin, Charlie Major, Murray McLauchlan, Jess Moskaluke, Jason McCoy and Michelle Wright. Hamilton country legend Dallas Harms will also see his hit song “Paper Rosie” inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. FirstOntario Concert Hall, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets through Ticketmaster. SiriusXM Top of the Country Showcase Three up-and-coming acts (Jason Benoit, Andrew Hyatt and Leaving Thomas) battle it out for a $25,000 prize. 8 to 10:45 p.m., followed by a headlining performance by Tim Hicks. Fan Village. Free.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 8
CCMA Country Run Inaugural CCMA Country Run is a five-kilometre event starting at 9 a.m. at the CCMA Fan Village. Registration is $40 at raceroster.com. Country fans will get the opportunity to run alongside some of their favourite artists. Registration includes pancake breakfast and T-shirt. Pancake Breakfast 9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fan Village. CCMA FanFest photo walls An opportunity to get your photo taken with CCMA nominated stars including 2018 Canadian Country Hall of Fame inductee Terri Clark, Tim Hicks, the Hunter Brothers, Jess Moskaluke, Meghan Patrick, Dallas Smith, The Reklaws and The Washboard Union. Fan Village, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Brad James Hamilton singer-songwriter performs at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market. 10 a.m. to noon. Free. Ginger St. James Hamilton singer-songwriter performs at Tourism Hamilton Visitors’ Centre, 28 James St. N., 1 to 3 p.m. Free. MDM Recording Showcase David James, The Lovelocks and Bobby Wills, 1 to 2 p.m., Fan Village. Free. CCMA Songwriters’ Series, Session 3 Hosted by Chad Brownlee and featuring Kelly Archer, Raquel Cole, The Redhill Valleys, Damhnait Doyle, Mallory Johnson, Steven Lee Olsen, and Shylo Sharity. At The Studio (at Hamilton Place), 1:30 to 4 p.m. Tickets through Ticketmaster. Warner Music Canada Showcase The Abrams, Paul Brandt, Aaron Goodvin, Nice Horse, Meghan Patrick, Kelly Prescott, Tebey, The Washboard Union. 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. Fan Village. Free. Universal Music Canada Showcase Adelaide East, Chad Brownlee, Jade Eagleson, Emily Reid, The Reklaws, 4:45 to 6:45 p.m. Fan Village. Free. Chris Ayries Band The Diplomat, 43 King William St., 5 to 7 p.m. p.m. Reservations advised, 905-523-4343. CCMA Gala Dinner Chedoke Room, Hamilton Convention Centre, 7 to 10 p.m. Private event for CCMA members. Donny Lee Hamilton native Donny Lee returns home from Nashville, where he is a regular performer at Tootsies Orchid Lounge, to perform a concert at McIntyre Performing Arts Centre at Mohawk College. 7:30 p.m. $29. Ginger St. James At Berkeley North, 31 King William St., 8 to 10 p.m. Free. Sony Music Canada and The Orchard Showcase Shawn Austin, Gord Bamford, Terri Clark, Steven Lee Olsen, Mitchell Tenpenny and Tenille Townes. 10:45 to 11:45 p.m. Fan Village. Free.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 9
SteelHead Music, 604 Records, Music B.C. Showcase Shawn Austin, Kristin Carter, Andrew Hyatt, Kadooh, JoJo Mason, noon to 1:30 p.m. Fan Village. Free. Mackenzie Leigh Meyer Local singer-songwriter performs at Tourism Visitors’ Centre, 28 James St. N., 1 to 3 p.m. Free. In The Round: Crossing Borders Master-class songwriters from both sides of the border in a guitar-pull setting. Performers include Gord Bamford, Phil Barton, Laura Veltz and Donovan Woods. Hosted by Ralph Murray, at The Studio (at Hamilton Place). 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Advance tickets available through Ticketmaster. CCMA Countdown Concert Shawn Austin, Dan Davidson, Aaron Goodvin, Kira Isabella, Ryan Langdon, Leaving Thomas, The Lovelocks, JoJo Mason, PETRIC, Bobby Wills. 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Fan Village. Free. Melissa Marchese/Kelsi Mayne The Diplomat, 43 King William St., 5 p.m. Reservations advised, 905-5234343. CCMA Awards Red Carpet An opportunity to star gaze as performers, presenters and nominees walk the red carpet on their way into FirstOntario Centre for the nationally televised awards show. Get there early if you want a prime spot. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Fan Village. CCMA Awards Show Shania Twain hosts the grand finale of Country Music Week at FirstOntario Centre before an expected audience of 12,000 fans. The two-hour show, which starts at 8 p.m., will feature performances by Keith Urban, Terri Clark, Kira Isabella, Tim Hicks, High Valley, Brett Kissel, Burlington’s Tebey, The Reklaws, Serena Ryder, Dallas Smith, The Washboard Union, Madeline Merlo, Jess Moskaluke, and American 11-year-old yodelling sensation Mason Ramsey. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. CBC will broadcast the show live. Tomi Swick If you’re looking for something to do after the show, Juno-winning Hamilton singer-songwriter Tomi Swick is performing from 9 p.m. to midnight at Radius, 151 James St. S.
Canadian Country Week is much more than an awards’ show, however. It’s the annual showcase and meeting place for the nation’s country music industry. Most of the city’s major venues are booked day and night. Many downtown bars and restaurants are also featuring live country entertainment.