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Stettler band Domino puts Central Alberta on the map at the Alberta Country Music Awards

Winning two years in a row is a “shock” said bassist Luanne Carl
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Winning twice is super nice for Stettler’s Domino.

The Central Alberta band won 2016 Group of the Year for the second year running from the Alberta Country Music Awards. Domino won the same award, as well as a Fans’ Choice Award, in 2015.

When group members took the podium last weekend at the award ceremony in Red Deer, “we were so humbled and honoured to be chosen by our peers,” said Luanne Carl, the bassist and singer.

Since other musical talent in Alberta is “incredible,” and Domino already won in the category last year, she said, the band wasn’t taking anything for granted. “You always have hope, but we were still shocked to win.”

Carl said the 2016 ACMA award “seals the deal” on an amazing year for the band.

Domino — including Kent Nixon on lead guitar and vocals, Scott McKnight on drums and Russ Carl on guitar and mandolin — performed all over the province in 2016, from Grande Prairie to Southern Alberta.

The Central Alberta musicians played at various music festivals, toured Saskatchewan, performed at the Canadian Music Awards in Toronto, and did a radio station tour of Ontario.

“In July, we had 14 shows,” said Luanne Carl — which is pretty impressive considering she and her fellow group members still have day jobs.

They also released two singles to radio from the 2015 album Ghost — and We Just Did rose to No. 84 on the national radio charts, the best standing yet for a Domino tune.

On top of everything, Carl was nominated for a Canadian Country Music Association Award in 2016 for Bass Player of the Year. She didn’t win, but still considers it a thrill to be among the top bassists in Canada.

This year, she and her band mates are doing more writing in order to record a new album later in 2017. No title has yet been chosen. “We just want to put our best songs on the album.”

She thanked Domino fans for supporting the group, and looks forward to a new festival season this summer and more tours to other parts of Canada.

lmichelin@www.reddeeradvocate.com