Getting a second Juno nomination this week confirms Gord Bamford’s belief that his focus on real “blue-collar, grassroots country” music is right on the money.
The Lacombe-based country singer is content to let other artists reinvent the country sound, taking it closer to pop or R&B.
“I think the main reason people like my music is that I’m sticking to what I do well — which is country music,” said Bamford. “I never stray away from blue collar, grassroots country. There’s a consistency to what I produce.”
Bamford’s last album, Day Job, spawned several hits, and has been singled out for a 2011 Juno nomination for Country Album of the Year. Bamford was last nominated for a Juno in 2008 for his break-out album, Honkytonks and Heartaches.
Last year proved a great one for Bamford, who was declared Male Vocalist of the Year by the Canadian Country Music Association, as well as winning the CCMA’s Album of the Year, CMT Video of the Year, and Record Producer of the Year, along with Byron Hill.
Now getting a nod from the Juno nomination committee, on top of that, has been a thrill.
“It’s pretty exciting, like icing on the cake,” said the singer, who plans to attend the star-studded event. It will be held on March 27 in Toronto, and Bamford will already be touring in Ontario.
Although the country music Junos will be presented the night before the televised ceremony (Bamford acknowledged the Junos are much more focused on the pop and rock categories), he said the 2008 ceremony he attended in Calgary was “one of the greatest events I’ve ever attended.”
He even got to perform on that televised Juno Awards show, since country music was seen as being an integral part of Calgary culture.
After touring in Ontario this spring, Bamford is planning to sing in Provost in April, at the Ponoka Stampede this summer, record a Christmas album of original songs and standard carols, to be released in November, and begin work on his next country album, which will tentatively be out next February.
Other than all that, the singer said he’s just looking forward to spending some time at home with his wife and kids.
lmichelin@www.reddeeradvocate.com