On behalf of myself and the boys, an enormous thank you to everyone involved in presenting us with 2013 Saskatchewan Country Music Association Roots Artist of the Year. It’s been a lot of work and we’re going harder than we ever have – looking forward to summer dates with Corb Lund and Jim Cuddy as well as all the festivals, honky tonks, theatres, and whatever else gets thrown at us…

Until then, we’ll be in the warehouse practicing…

The third and final chapter to our Coyote mini-documentary produced by Jean-Jean Productions

TOMORROW NIGHT
Friday, April 5, 2013
Sudbury, Ontario
Theatre Cambrian (40 Eyre St S, Greater Sudbury, (705) 524-7317)
8:00 pm
Tickets $16.50 available at
http://www.theatrecambrian.ca/#!online-box-office/c10ae or at Theatre Cambrian

…and here’s the nice little clipping in today’s Northern Life Edition

(A huge thank you to Linda Heldman and Theatre Cambrian for all their work going into tomorrow night’s performance)

Part II of the Coyote minidocumentary by Jean-Jean Productions.

For the next three consecutive Monday’s we will showcase a new part from the recently filmed mini documentary on the Coyote album and how Blake’s rural upbringing has played such an important role in the development of his writing and artistry.  Enjoy.

The Saskatchewan Country Music Awards will be held on Saturday, April 27 in Saskatoon, SK in which Blake is nominated for seven including:

Male Vocalist of the Year
Album of the Year
Roots Artist of the Year
Roots Album of the Year
Video of the Year (Love’s Never Made a Mad a Living)
Keyboard Player of the Year
Manager of the Year

Congratulations and good luck to his fellow nominees.

My apologies for those expecting my top ten albums of 2012 list in December 31 issue of Regina’s Leader Post.  As explained, there was an executive decision made by the outsourced designers in Hamilton (I probably should have kept my lengthiness down..haha)  With that said, a huge thank you to both Taron Cochrane and Jeff DeDekker for including “Coyote” in each of their lists. Much appreciated gentlemen.

Here’s the link: LEADER POSTS TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2012 LISTS

As for me, these are my picks for my favourite recordings of 2012

1) 3 Pears – Dwight Yoakam – even though the decision to move away from long time producer/guitarist Pete Anderson could have been extremely crippling, the inclusion of Beck producing “A Heart Like Mine” and “Missing Heart” recreated an Oribison-esque vibe present through the entire work. Easily my top pick of the year.

2) Cabin Fever – Corb Lund – Corb has successfully made the hype leading from album to album increase substantially.  The writing is his best yet and like 3 Pears, was approached with a fresh production mind. Very live off the floor and authentic.

3) The Grifter’s Hymnal – Ray Wylie Hubbard - The 16th album from the 66 year old songwriter is drenched in youth. Tales of being 18 with hardships cursing the path, early maturities, post war angst, and corporate frustrations.

4) Wasted – Lukas Nelson & The Promise of the Real - An extremely organic approach to his last name and close to perfect voice.  As Willie Nelson’s son, enormous songwriting shoes are filled. Staying true to his blues, rock, and country influences. THE outlaw in today’s music.

5) Cigarettes and Truckstops – Lindi Ortega – a dark, wasted, hurting package wrapped in a sound that could easily be mistaken for a 1940′s analog recording. Blackie and The Rodeo Kings’ Colin Linden produced a gem.

6) Headwaters – Del Barber – Del’s first release from Six Shooter Records (Toronto, ON) surpassing his reputation as one of the nations most prolific songwriters.  Beautiful elements of rural influence and blue collared depression – could be an ideal prologue to a genre that would change the Canadian Country Music industry.

7) Dirt Road Home – J.R. Louis - an indie rocking, basement dwelling, pedal steel soaked follow-up to his experimental album “Talk is Cheap, Whiskey Costs Money”.  There’s a common theme to artists turning on the industry of their past styles and reverting to writing truthful and rootsy…J.R. has done this since day one.

8) And So It Goes – Don Williams – a comeback album (hopefully not his last) picking up at the height of his career.  His all-star assembly of behind the scenes names release their egos and commit to the style of Don Williams – from Garth Brooks in the writing process to Keith Urban and Vince Gill in the vocal duties.  We need five or six more of these albums before Don calls it a day.  My favourite vocalist of all time.

9) Release Me – Lyle Lovett - the only cover album to make my top 10 (Jamey Johnson’s “Living For a Song” – honourable mention) can only be described as sexual. Extremely sexual. Anti-country. Lyle can do whatever he wants (including Julia Roberts) and it will always propel his name.

10) Coyote – Matt Mays – the timing of this release was on the cusp of crucial. I felt completely deprived of his sound as every other album played an important role in my life chapters.  Matt’s artistic approach is rounded out with his pop sensibilites and hooky staples. The only way to top his albums are to attend the live show.  Great album titles as well.

Oceanman Records and The Regina Country Music Association present The Roots Rodeo at The Royal Saskatchewan Museum Theatre with Del Barber & Blake Berglund

A split bill of stories and wit from two prairie artists dedicated to the discipline of a lyric. Anecdotes of upbringings and warnings about the Journey, Barber and Berglund have each crafted their own genres while staying true to their Troubadour Predecessors.

Enjoy an evening at The Royal Saskatchewan Museum Theatre on Saturday December 1.

Doors opening at 6:30 pm with the show to follow at 7:30 pm.

Just sittin’ around, singin’ songs, pickin’ 1955 Martins.