Local singer/songwriters Ryan Langlois, Duane Steele, Gord Bamford and Brandi Sidoryk are among the nominees at the Alberta Country Music Awards this weekend in Red Deer.
Also nominated in six categories — for group of the year, fans’ choice, song of the year (Safe Harbour) and video and single of the year (Who’s Gonna Love Me Tonight) is Stettler band Renegade Station (formerly Domino).
The eighth annual Alberta Country Music Awards, hosted by Canadian country music star Aaron Goodvin, will be presented Sunday evening at a ticketed gala that’s open to the public at the Sheraton hotel.
Langlois is nominated for male artist of the year — as are country singers Brad Saunders, Dan Davidson, Drew Gregory, Karac Hendriks and Trevor Panczak.
Red Deer singer/songwriter Langlois is also in the running with co-writer Duane Steele for the song of the year award for the tune Light >Dark.
Other nominees in the song category include Rocky Mountain House native Brandi Sidoryk of Nice Horse, who wrote the tune Mansplainin, along with co-writers Tareya Green, Katie Biever and Jeff Dalziel.
Nice Horse is also nominated in the group/duo of the year, rising star and video of the year categories.
Lacombe’s Gord Bamford is in the running for the entertainer of the year award (against fellow nominees Aaron Goodvin, Brett Kissel, Lindsay Ell and Paul Brandt).
It will be a full weekend of country music that starts Saturday with round table discussions, industry seminars and the songwriters series of performances that are free and open to the public from 4 t0 6 p.m. at the Sheraton.
Several bands, including Renegade Station, will entertain on Saturday evening at the 2019 Industry Awards and Kick-Off Party (a cover charge applies).
On Sunday, Red Deer-area country music fans can come meet some of their favourite Alberta artists from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at a fan fest at Parkland Mall.
The ACMA’s gala dinner and awards show will get underway Sunday at 4 p.m. with a cocktail hour, followed by a buffet dinner in the Special Events Center of the Sheraton.
There will be red carpet interviews conducted, and the awards show starts at 7 p.m.
Tickets are available from the home page of the ACMA website or abcountrymusic.ca/tickets.aspx
Some other ACMA nominees are:
Female artist of the year: Alee, Andrea Nixon, Krissy Feniak, Lauren Mayell and Michela Sheedy.
Fans’ choice: Dan Davidson, Drew Gregory, Hailey Benedict, Megan Dawson, Renegade Station
and The Prairie States.
Musician of the year: Johnny Gasparic, Josh Ruzycki, Lisa Dodd, Mitch Jay and Weston Blatz.
Album of the Year: Along for the Ride – Renegade Station, Good Place to Start – Drew Gregory,
Lost in the Right Direction – The Prairie States, Songs For Georgia – Dan Davidson and This Road is Mine – Karac Hendriks.
Single of the year: Don’t Hold Back – The Dungarees, Know Good – Drew Gregory, Play it By Beer – Brad Saunders, This Road is Mine – Karac Hendriks, and Who’s Gonna Love Me Tonight -Renegade Station.
lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
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