A few names keep coming up again and again as the finalists in the B.C. Country Music Association’s annual awards for best of everything – from songwriting through to production.
The shortlist for the October awards was released Friday and there is a reoccurring theme, said former Langleyite and fellow nominee Linda Corscadden.
Langley’s own Chad Brownlee, Dallas Smith, Aaron Pritchett, Karen Lee Batten, and Me & Mae’s names pop up again and again in multiple categories.
With only five finalists selected in each of the categories, Corscadden pointed out that Langley contenders almost shut out all other musicians, whether it’s for album or song of the year, or video, website, or single of 2014. Other locals in the running include Trevor Murray, Mitch Merrett, Scott Cooke, and Smith of Smith & Jones.
The BCCMA winners will be announced at a special awards show at Hard Rock Casino in Coquitlam on Oct. 19 [tickets available at 604-533-5088].
BCCMA released a list of performers for the night's festivities. Leading the list are none other than Langley's own Dallas Smith, Aaron Pritchett, Chad Brownlee, and Karen Lee Batten.
Making the shortlist is a pretty big deal for Walnut Grove’s Shawn Meehan, of Me & Mae.
“There’s something special about being recognized by our local peers in the BCCMA, we are honoured by the nominations,†he told the Langley Advance.
“I can’t believe that I’ve been nominated for the SOCAN songwriter of the year… sharing the nomination with some great writers – so cool!.â€
The group’s first CD just came out a few months ago, so Meehan said the entire experience is feeling a little “surreal.â€
But to “be taken seriously†by the BCCMA’s, he said, well that is just glorious.
Finalists list revealed
The BC Country Music Association is proud to announce its final nominees, in no particular order:
• Album of the Year
Chad Brownlee – The Fighters (Langley)
Dallas Smith – Tippin’ Point (Langley)
Karen Lee Batten – Cause A Scene (Langley)
Me & Mae – Off The Rails (Langley)
One More Girl – The Hard Way (Maple Ridge)
• Country Club Act of the Year
Appaloosa (Chilliwack)
Chris Buck Band (Burnaby)
Me & Mae (Langley)
Smith & Jones (Langley/White Rock)
Whiskey Jane (Vancouver)
• Country Club of the Year
Cactus Annies – Merritt
Cactus Jacks – Kamloops
OK Corral – Kelowna
Roosters – Maple Ridge
• Country Music Person of the Year
Curtis Pope (Abbotsford)
Geoff Dueck (Mission)
Jim Cressman (Penticton)
Linda Corscadden (West Kelowna – Langley for 40 years)
Tom McKillip (Maple Ridge)
• Country On-Air Personality (Area Code 250)
Roo Phelps/Casey Clark – Country 100.7 Penticton
Howie Reimer – Country 103.1 Kamloops
Louis McIvor – Country 103.1 Kamloops
Tim Tyler – Country 103.1 Kamloops
• Country On-Air Personality (Area Code 604)
Barbara Beam – Country 93.7 Vancouver
Chris Coburn – Country 107.1 Abbotsford
Curtis Pope – Country 107.1 Abbotsford
Docc Andrews – Country 93.7 Vancouver
Jaxon Hawks – Country 93.7 Vancouver
• Entertainer of the Year
Aaron Pritchett (Langley)
Chad Brownlee (Langley)
Dallas Smith (Langley)
Karen Lee Batten (Langley)
Kenny Hess (Mission)
The Matinee (Coquitlam)
• Fans Choice Award
Aaron Pritchett
Chad Brownlee
Dallas Smith
Karen Lee Batten
Todd Richard (Harrison Hot Springs)
• Female Vocalist of the Year
AJ Woodworth (Vancouver)
Hayley (West Vancouver)
Karen Lee Batten
Mackenzie Porter (Vancouver)
Madeline Merlo (Maple Ridge)
• Gaylord Wood Traditional Country Award
High Bar Gang (Vancouver)
Jackson Hollow (Surrey)
Kenny Hess (Mission)
Mike Sanyshyn (Surrey)
Trevor Murray (Langley)
• Group Duo of the Year
Austin Belle (Mission/Delta)
GB Roots ( N Vancouver)
Me & Mae (Langley)
One More Girl (Maple Ridge)
The Matinee (Coquitlam)
• Male Vocalist of the Year
Aaron Pritchett
Chad Brownlee
Dallas Smith
Gord Maxwell (Port Coquitlam)
Kenny Hess (Mission)
Todd Richard (Harrison)
• Mike Norman All Star Band – Bass
Craig Alan Mack (Coquitlam)
Dennis Marcenko (Vancouver)
Kirby Barber (N Vancouver)
Rob Becker (Vancouver)
Scott Cooke (Aldergrove)
• Mike Norman All Star Band – Drums
Geoff Hicks (Vancouver)
Jerry Adolphe (Pitt Meadows)
Pat Steward (Vancouver)
Ryan Vikedal
Tobi Duquette (N Vancouver)
• Mike Norman All Star Band – Guitar
Darren Savard
David Barber
Hayley
Jay Buettner (Port Coquitlam)
Mitch Merrett (Surrey)
• Mike Norman All Star Band – Keyboard
Carly McKillip (Maple Ridge)
Daryl Havers (Burnaby)
John Dean (Surrey)
Marc Gladstone (Richmond)
Simon Kendall (Vancouver)
• Mike Norman All Star Band – Special Instrument
Eric Reed – Mandolin/Banjo (N Vancouver)
Jeremy Breaks – Banjo (Vancouver)
Julie Kennedy – Fiddle (Victoria)
John Ellis – Steel Guitar (Vancouver)
Matt Rose – Mandolin/Banjo (Coquitlam)
Scott Smith – Steel Guitar (Vancouver)
• Producer of the Year
Jay Buettner (Port Coquitlam)
John Ellis (Vancouver)
Mitch Merrett (Surrey)
Paul Shatto (Vancouver)
Scott Cooke (Aldergrove)
Tom McKillip (Maple Ridge)
• Radio Station of the Year
Country 107.1 – Abbotsford
Country 103.1 – Kamloops
Country 100.7 – Penticton
Country 93.7 – Vancouver
• Ray McAuley Horizon Award
GB Roots (N Vancouver)
Lisa Nicole (Surrey)
Mackenzie Porter (Vancouver)
Madeline Merlo (Maple Ridge)
Me and Mae (Langley)
Wes Mack (Vancouver)
* Recording Studio of the Year
Armoury Studios (Vancouver)
Blue Frog Studios (White Rock)
McKiller Music (Maple Ridge)
Rolin Sound (Maple Ridge)
Studio Downe Under (Abbotsford)
• Roots Canadiana of the Year Award
Angela Harris (N Vancouver)
Carli & Julie Kennedy (Victoria)
GB Roots (N Vancouver)
The Matinee (Coquitlam)
Washboard Union (Vancouver)
• Single of the Year Award
Boat on the Water – Aaron Pritchett
Cause a Scene – Karen Lee Batten
Fallin’ Over You – Chad Brownlee
If You Ask Me – Mackenzie Porter
Tippin’ Point – Dallas Smith
Why Baby Why – AJ Woodworth/The Matinee
• Socan Songwriter of the Year Award
AJ Woodworth/The Matinee – Why Baby Why (Louise Burns & Dave Wilson)
Amanda Thate – Hit & Run (Britt & Carly McKillip, Kathleen Higgins)
Austin Belle – Just Drive (Stacey McKitrick, Jesse Wainwright & Jeff Johnson)
Chad Brownlee – Just Because (Chad Brownlee, Mitch Merrett, Brian White & Phil Barton)
Madeline Merlo – Sinking Like a Stone (Dan Swinimer & Jeff Johnson)
Me and Mae – Watcha’ Wearin (Shawn Meehan)
• Video Director of the Year Award
Cliff Hokanson (van)
David Tenniswood (Van)
Gene Greenwood (surrey)
Stephano Barberis (surrey)
Wes Mack (Vancouver)
• Video of the Year Award
Aaron Pritchett – Boat on the Water
AJ Woodworth/The Matinee – Why Baby Why
Chad Brownlee – Fallin’ Over You
Dallas Smith – Tippin’ Point
Karen Lee Batten – Cause A Scene
One More Girl – Love Like Mine
• Website of the Year Award
Chris Buck Band – Chris Smolko www.chrisbuckband.com
Karen Lee Batten – Ali Adab www.karenleebatten.com
Mike Sanyshyn – Robert White/Tianna Lefebvre Sanyshyn www.mikesanyshyn.com
One More Girl – Andrew Lorimer www.onemoregirl.com
The Matinee – Noel Planet www.thematineemusic.com
• Humanitarian of the Year Award
Chad Brownlee – Tim Hortons
Kenny Hess – Kids Forever
Linda Corscadden – Journey On Cancer Foundation/FCK Cancer
Todd Richard – Run for the Cure