The cream of the Canadian country music crop was honoured in Edmonton on Sunday night courtesy of this year’s edition of the Canadian Country Music Association Awards.
Aussie-born Albertan Gord Bamford walked out of Rexall Place with some prestigious hardware worth boasting about. The Canadian country radio star earned Single of the Year honours thanks to his hit “When Your Lips Are So Close”; and he also pulled in the prize for Male Artist of the Year. Not too shabby for a performer that just signed a deal with the U.S. wing of Sony.
“Cheap Wine and Cigarettes”; singer Jess Moskaluke earned Female Artist of the Year honours at Sunday night’s ceremony, while Small Town Pistols snapped up the Group or Duo of the Year trophy. “Here Comes The Thunder”; hitmaker Tim Hicks was crowned with the Rising Star prize.
A fifth Fans’ Choice award was bestowed upon Johnny Reid at this year’s shindig and Dean Brody wrangled the Album of the Year statuette thanks to his full-length Crop Circles.
Canadian cultural staples Jann Arden and Rick Mercer co-hosted this year’s broadcast, which included a standard hearty helping of live performances. In addition to sets from Bamford, Moskaluke and Hicks, the Edmonton crowd were also treated to live music from Little Big Town, Terri Clark, Kira Isabella, Paul Brandt and Dierks Bentley among others.
