Country Classroom
Six London country music artists are profiled through Country Classroom in lead up to CCMA celebrations in London. Scaled down performances and discussions about the power of music and songwriting are shared with London area students through recorded performance. Students will later meet the artists they've watched and listened to through a series of video calls.
Country Classroom with Melissa Megan
CloseCountry Classroom with Melissa Megan
As a part of Country Music Week, Country Classroom, presented by the CCMA 2021 London Host Organizing Committee, Concludes this week with featured artist Melissa Megan. To see more exciting Country Music Week content, click HERE. Live performance video below.
Melissa Megan is a soulful Country artist with a little honey & a touch of lace. Her talent has brought her across the world from Trackside Festival in London, to the Bluebird Café in Nashville, to the prestigious Frank Collymore opera hall in Barbados. Melissa is the Country 104 Homegrown Spotlight winner and has been selected for multiple showcases during the Canadian Country Music Association’s (CCMA) Country Music Week. Writing since the age of 12, her song “Grow Up,” co-written with Beth Marie Anderson, earned them an honourable mention in the Canadian Songwriting Competition. Melissa has been assembling an award-winning team to help bring her debut project to life. She continues to travel to Nashville, TN where she is writing with some of the industry’s best and has performed at iconic Nashville venues including The Bluebird Café. She recently completed her Master of Science degree in Cognitive, Developmental and Brain Sciences at Western University.
More information regarding the Canadian Country Music Awards can be found at ccma.org.
Country Classroom w Patrick James Clark
CloseCountry Classroom w Patrick James Clark
This week the CCMA 2021 London Host Organizing Committee highlights local Londoner, Patrick James Clark.
Patrick James Clark is going all in on 2021. 2020 was a trying time for all artists, but it provided an unprecedented opportunity to reflect and refine. Clark did just that by taking a deep dive into his songwriting craft and working tirelessly to dial in his vocal sound. He left 2020 with having multiple songs cut by up and coming Canadian Artists and an entire catalogue of new music for his own project. His forthcoming release 'For The Record' only further solidifies his brand and style within the country music scene.
Patrick talks about his first radio play with his original song "For The Record". Described as a "surreal" experience, Patrick discusses how the song came to be, taking viewers inside the writers throughts. Learn how a song is crafted starting with a single hook and a couple key words.
More information regarding the Canadian Country Music Awards can be found at ccma.org.
Country Classroom with Julia Haggarty
CloseCountry Classroom with Julia Haggarty
As Country Classroom carries on, this weeks artist is the incredible Julia Haggarty. A Western University graduate, Julia has opened for some of Canadian country’s biggest acts, including Paul Brandt (Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir’s “Thank You Ilderton” concert), Tebey on his The Good Ones tour where she doubled as the feature performer on his single, Jessica Mitchell on her Heart of Glass tour and Trackside Music Festival.
Julia discusses the songwriting process then shares the unexpected and incredible journey her song "Stories" took her on. This raw and powerful piano performance showcases Julia's incredible talent and diversity as an artist.
More information regarding the Canadian Country Music Awards can be found at ccma.org.
Country Classroom with Aaron Allen
CloseCountry Classroom with Aaron Allen
As a part of Country Music Week, Country Classroom, presented by the CCMA 2021 London Host Organizing Committee, continues with this weeks featured artist Aaron Allen. Live performance video below.
In 2019, a relatively unknown song writer named Aaron Allen burst onto the Canadian Country scene with his first single "Where Music Comes From". Although he had been writing and playing for close to 20 years, he seemed to appear out of the blue and immediately started turning heads. Aaron caught the attention of Apple Music Curator, George Maniatis, and with the support from Apple, Allen’s EP Highway Mile has amassed over 4 million streams to date. If you ask Allen, he will credit his partnership with Producer Jeff Dalziel as the turning point in his career. Together they have created a sound easily recognizable to the listener. They bonded over artists such as Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen, and the idea that an honest, timeless approach to music and song writing is evident in everything they release. At the 2021 CMAOntario awards Aaron won 3 awards, including Male Arist of the Year and Album of the Year. Born and raised in Chatham but now London based, Aaron Allen's music is deeply rooted in the singer-songwriter atmosphere created by greats like Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle and Bruce Springsteen. You can hear the emotion and honesty in the words Aaron puts forth and because of that there’s no denying 4 chords and the truth is still alive and kicking.
More information regarding the Canadian Country Music Awards can be found at ccma.org.
Country Classroom with Genevieve Fisher
CloseCountry Classroom with Genevieve Fisher
As a part of Country Music Week, Country Classroom, presented by the CCMA 2021 London Host Organizing Committee, continues with this weeks featured artist, Genevieve Fisher. Live performance video below.
London born and raised, Genevieve Fisher has earned 9 top 50 hits on both Billboard’s BDS and Mediabase Canadian National Country Charts. While the year has been challenging for many artists, Genevieve achieved the most consecutive weeks on the national chart of her career during 2021. Her name entered onto the top 40 starting with the David James duet “Then There’s You”. This was immediately followed by her own solo top 40 hit “Playing Favourites”. It was also the first time that her name appeared in the top 40 with two different songs at the same time. Genevieve has earned recognition within the Canadian Country Music scene by earning 6 Female Artist of the Year nominations as we well as numerous nominations for Single of the Year and Songwriter of the Year at the Country Music Association of Ontario Music Awards. While still in her teens, The Canadian Country Music Association recognized Genevieve’s emerging talent with her CCMA performance selection at the 2012 New Artist Showcase in Saskatoon. Her songwriting skills continue to be acknowledged by the CCMA as witnessed by her selection to perform for the prestigious Songwriters Series in 2016 and 2018. Her Indigenous background has allowed her to register 3 number 1 hits on the North American Indigenous Music Countdown chart. Genevieve has had the opportunity to perform at some of the biggest music festivals in Canada including Boots and Hearts, Havelock Jamboree, Lucknow Music In The Fields, Manitoulin Country Fest, Trackside and Indigenous Day Live. She has had, and continues to have, the privilege of writing with some of Country music's brightest songwriters including Jason Blaine, Steven Lee Olsen, Patricia Conroy, Michelle Wright, Jason Massey, Jennifer Schott and many more.
More information regarding the Canadian Country Music Awards can be found at ccma.org.
Country Classroom with Justine Chantale
CloseCountry Classroom with Justine Chantale
Over the next six weeks, a series of local country musicians will be featured during 'Country Classrooms' as presented by the CCMA 2021 London Host Organizing Committee. London artists will share their stories behind their music. A one song performance will be shared with local students to learn about artists in their community. Six different artists, one each week, will be featured in lead up to the Country Music Week in London (Nov 26 - 29). A longer, featured performance will be avaiable on YouTube at a later date. The six featured artist will be participating in scheduled video calls with Thames Vallery & London District Catholic Schoolboard classrooms. These calls will allow artists to discuss the meaning behind their music and explore how music has created a safe space.
This weeks artist is Justine Chantale. Justine is a country singer-songwriter from Stratford, Ontario, based out of London. Growing up, she was influenced by her mothers love for old country music and her fathers passion for classic rock. She started her musical journey at the age of 8 years when she began singing in the school choir and at 14 years old she learned how to play the guitar, began to write her own songs and perform them at her high school coffee house. Upon graduating nursing school, Justine ventured to London Ontario to look for full time work and explore the music scene. Since then, Justine has been an active member in London's music scene, performing at a variety of venues, such as The Western Fair District, The London Music Hall, and Trackside Music Festival, to name a few. She has released an EP (Stepping Stones) and three singles. With heartfelt lyrics, soaring vocals and emotional sway in every song, Justine connects with her audience by creating an authentic musical experience.
More information regarding the Canadian Country Music Awards can be found at ccma.org.
The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever.
Celebrating London's long love affair with country music and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees from our region.
Johnny, June & Saul
CloseJohnny, June & Saul
Johnny, June & Saul is classic country music story — and the perfect finale for The Greatest London Country Music Podcast. Ever.
Johnny Cash and June Carter were US superstars and the late Londoner Saul Holiff managed Johnny and June through the troubled 1960s before parting ways in 1973. It was Saul Holiff who brought June Carter into the Cash touring family in 1961. As the tours continued, Cash and Carter — who were married to others — fell in love.
Johnny, June and Saul tells how that passion led to an on-stage proposal in London on Feb. 22, 1968. Making the proposal on-stage at the old London Gardens in Holiff’s hometown was a nod to Holiff’s support of Cash during the worst times of The Man In Black’s career.
Researched by Emily Stewart and Roberto Figueroa, Johnny, June and Saul is a podcast hit in their own voices.
If you enjoy this episode of the Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever, be sure to check out more episodes on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts and londonmusicoffice.ca.
It's Country, Country
CloseIt's Country, Country
Everybody knows how much London loves country music. So does this episode of The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever.
But how many London region country performers and industry icons are in the Canadian Country Hall of Fame? Who are those inductees? The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever team thinks it has the answers.
They are revealed for the first time in this episode titled It’s Country Country Around Here.
Start your own list now — no Googling.
Hint — it’s more than three. We have stories about three inductees from the London region In this episode because It’s Country Country Around Here.
This episode of The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever which was researched and written by Oshi Mudiyanselage and Emily Stewart.
This episode arrives just in time for CCMA Country Music Week 2021 in London.
Let’s party again!
Maple Sugar Hoedown: Great Canadian Fiddle Traditions
CloseMaple Sugar Hoedown: Great Canadian Fiddle Traditions
The London region has two iconic fiddlers in the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame called Allen — and The Best London Country Podcast. Ever bows to both of them.
John P. Allen and the late Ward Allen are celebrated in this week’s episode — Maple Sugar Hoedown: Great Canadian Fiddle Traditions.
Kirkton’s Ward Allen won fiddle awards from a young age and wrote the fiddle classic Maple Sugar in the 1950s, when he was a national star. He died in 1965. John P. Allen is in the CCMA-backed HOF as a member of Prairie Oyster — one of many groups he’s starred with — and is in the FCLMA London Music Hall of Fame as a solo performer. If we are doing our job right in Maple Sugar Hoedown: Great Canadian Fiddle Traditions, you will learn the relationship between Maple Sugar and Maple Sugar Sweetheart, a Hank Rivers song — and if Ward Allen and John P. Allen are related. Researching and writing for this episode of The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever were Western University public history program graduates Lis Edwards and Lorraine Tinsley.
If you enjoyed this episode of the Best London Country Music Podcast, Ever, be sure to check out more episodes on londonmusicoffice.ca.
The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever is grateful to the Canadian Country Music Association and 2021 London host organizing committee. Thank you to Western University’s Public History Program, Tourism London, London Music Office, Jonathan Holiff, Purple Hill Country Opry, Forest City London Music Awards and FCLMA London Music Hall of Fame, Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, Rocklands Talent and Longview Advertising, London Public Library, CBC and our wonderful team of researchers and writers. Here's to the 2021 CCMA Country Music Week. The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever is hosted, produced, recorded, and mastered by Zahra Habib, with additional production support from Guillermo Gucciardi. The podcast was Executive Produced by CCMA 2021 London Host Organizing Committee Legacy members Harina Mokanan and James Stewart Reaney. The podcast showcases diverse, inclusive voices and creators across the London community. The Best Country Music Podcast. Ever is a testament to the remarkable talents of our researchers, historians, editors, and radio hosts.
Country Stars, Canadian Soldiers
CloseCountry Stars, Canadian Soldiers
In times of war, as well as times of peace, providing entertainment to our armed forces has been one way talented Canadians have come together to cheer, comfort and regale the troops with song and music, comedy and dance. And it can be said that Canadian country music not only played an important part in this effort during World War II, but also came of age as the result of the war.
Remembrance Day and Country Music
Among the soldiers who served and sang during World War II were two future Canadian Country Music Hall Fame inductees from the London region — Earl Heywood and Gordie Tapp. Another Canadian country star, Hank Rivers, also wrote songs about army life. All three of these late icons entertained fellow recruits in training camps, or on board troop ships waiting in harbour before heading out to battle.
Heywood, Tapp and Rivers — who had family in London — all had major careers in country music after the war. In Country stars, Canadian soldiers we remember how those careers began when the world was at war — lest we forget. Researching and writing for this episode of The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever were Western University public history Prof. Michelle Hamilton and director of its public history program and Lorraine Tinsley, a graduate of the program.
The Medicine in the Music: Indigenous Country Music
CloseThe Medicine in the Music: Indigenous Country Music
From Inuit throat singing to the rhythmic sound of Anishinaabe water drums, Indigenous communities across Canada have musical traditions that are unique to their nation’s culture and history.
In this episode, five London region performers and creators — Summer Bressette, Genevieve Fisher, Dawn Redskye, Shawna Redskye and Gordon Nicotine-Sands — help connect their Indigenous traditions with Canadian country music. Among those connections shared in this episode are the ways their music is also medicine to them and their cultures.
Credits section
The Medicine in the Music: Indigenous Country Music was researched and written by Elisabeth Edwards, Oshi Mudiyanselage and Emily Stewart. The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever is hosted, produced, recorded, and mastered by Zahra Habib, with additional production support from Guillermo Gucciardi. The podcast was Executive Produced by CCMA 2021 London Host Organizing Committee Legacy members Harina Mokanan and James Stewart Reaney. The podcast showcases diverse, inclusive voices and creators across the London community. The Best Country Music Podcast. Ever is a testament to the remarkable talents of our researchers, historians, editors, and radio hosts.
Queen Marie & Canada's Country Gentleman
CloseQueen Marie & Canada's Country Gentleman
“The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever” celebrates London’s long love affair with country music and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees from our region. It is inspired by London’s role as host of CCMA Country Music Week 2021 on Nov. 26-29.
As a CCMA 2021 London Host Organizing Committee legacy project, the weekly six-part series is an enduring contribution to our incredible music city.
Queen Marie & Canada’s Country Gentleman
Host and producer Zahra Habib opens with the stories of two icons. Marie Bottrell and Tommy Hunter are truly London country music royalty. They are honoured in their hometown and loved by fans across Canada,
Tommy Hunter’s CBC-TV show welcomed many guests, including his Forest City friend and fellow Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Marie Bottrell.
Marie talks about that in the first episode of The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever — and Tommy’s friends talk about the good times they’ve had over the decades.
There is also some great music by London’s Country Music Queen and Canada’s Country Gentleman.
Queen Marie & Canada’s Country Gentleman
If you enjoyed this episode of The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever, be sure to check out more episodes on londonmusicoffice.com or on Spotify by searching for The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever. We will be sharing stories about Indigenous artists, Gordie Tapp, Hall of Fame fiddlers, and more.
The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever is executive produced by CCMA 2021 London Host Organizing Committee members Harina Mokanan and James Stewart Reaney. The podcast showcases diverse, inclusive voices and creators across the London community. The Best Country Music Podcast. Ever is a testament to the remarkable talents of our researchers, historians, editors, and radio hosts.
This episode was researched and written by Roberto Figueroa and Scott Taylor with contributions from Marie Bottrell, Donna and LeRoy Anderson, and Brian Edwards.
Special thanks to Guillermo Gucciardi and Radio Western. The Best London Country Music Podcast. Ever is grateful to the Canadian Country Music Association and the CCMA 2021 London Host Organizing Committee. Thank you to Western University’s Public History Program, Tourism London, London Music Office, Jonathan Holiff, Purple Hill Country Opry, Forest City London Music Awards and FCLMA London Music Hall of Fame, Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, Rocklands Talent and Longview Advertising, London Public Library, CBC and our wonderful team of researchers and writers.
We Find Country Everywhere
Local London musicians perform across a variety of instruments and breathe new life into classic Canadian tracks. We Find Country Everywhere showcases the strength of the London music community and country music's versatility. This project also allows Fanshawe College Audio Postproduction, Film & Television students the opportunity to showcase their talents and support 2021 Country Music Week activities. Videos coming soon.
It's Only Love - Bryan Adams & Tina Turner
We Find Country Everywhere: Somewhere Down The Crazy River
We Find Country Everywhere: Ironic
Questions?
- Inquiries: ccrossma@london.ca
- Call Us: 519.661.2500 Ext.7308