In The Country with Dave Woods

Born & raised in the small Alberta Peace Country town of Hines Creek, music found DUANE STEELE early on. He fondly remembers parties at his parents' home with everyone sitting around singing and playing various instruments. As teenagers, Duane and his cousins started a band spending summers and weekends playing for weddings and community dances. In 1984, Duane's professional career began, fron...

JAKE MATHEWS was born and raised in a northern Ontario town immortalized by Stompin’ Tom Connors for its wild Saturday nights. He couldn’t have known it then, but one of his early memories foretells his country music future. “When I was 14, I traveled to Canada’s Wonderland in Toronto and entered this booth where you could record the song of your choice,” recalls the laid back Sudbury-born singera...

It's time for another visit from Country artist MICHELLE WRIGHT! She has just released a brand new single to radio called "Laugh A Little."  Michelle was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame in 2011. Her long list of country hits includes “Take It Like A Man”, “He Would Be Sixteen”, “One Good Man” & “Nobody’s Girl”. Fans raved about Michelle’s Songs From The Halls Tour 2012. T...

With over 25 hit singles and 12 CCMAs in the past two decades, DOC WALKER's Chris Thorsteinson and Dave Wasyliw have seen it all - but at the end of the day, they know what - and who – is ultimately important. That’s What I Call Love, a romantic tribute to their wives, follows the top ten single Put It Into Drive, the summer jam Shake It Like It’s Saturday Night and the catchy That’s How I Like It...

Described as having "a voice stolen from angels", TIA MCGRAFF first stepped into the international spotlight on a CBC TV special with Johnny Cash and June Carter. Johnny was so impressed with Tia, he invited her into June's dressing room to introduce the two. Johnny Cash wasn't the only one who recognized this shining star. Soon the likes of Randy Bachman (BTO), Dan Hill (Celine Dion), Andrew Gold...

With a blend of Country and Pop/Rock backgrounds, AUSTIN BELLE is equipped with the perfect combination of well-written songs and two talented artists. Lead guitarist and songwriter Jesse Wainwright hails from the hit-making, award-winning rock band State of Shock, lending his musical skills and incredible stage presence to the group. Jesse is balanced by lead singer and songwriter Stacey McKitric...

Whether as a solo artist or in a duet with with Helen Cornelius, JIM ED BROWN never fails to make magic with a song. But, any discussion about the career of Jim Ed would have to begin with the years he spent singing with his sisters Maxine and Bonnie as The Browns. Recording together for well over a decade, the trio put together a catalouge that included “Lookin’ Back To See,” “I Heard The Bluebir...

HEATHER BALLENTINE is a country girl right down to her roots. Raised in Arkansas, she has been singing and writing songs her entire life. Thanks to her father’s love of retro music, her early influences included Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Roy Orbison, and Buddy Holly. During University, Heather began modelling and was selected for the Catalina Swimwear campaign, which featured her in adverti...

RIKI KNOX is a singer, songwriter and entertainer who’s unique sound and genuine lyrics have seen her blazing a new trail in the country music scene. She has a style that is authentically her own. With the term ‘Bro Country’ at its peak, she offers a strong reminder that being “raised country” is a way of life…without gender attachment. “I grew up as one of the guys” she recalls. "Sure, I was happ...

The Western Swing Authority is a unique collaboration of seasoned professionals whose bios include multiple Canadian Country Music Awards (band members hold at least six CCMA awards and over 20 nominations among them), Juno nominations, and resumes that span from working with Gordon Lightfoot, to Ian Tyson, to George Canyon. They have been spreading the gospel of Western Swing around the world, be...

A group of three friends who made music in a house in Lubbock, Texas, recorded an album that wasn’t released and went their separate ways into solo careers. That group became a legend and then - twenty years later - a band. The Flatlanders - Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock - are icons in American music, with songs blending country, folk, and rock that have influenced a long list of...

BLACKWELL returns to radio with their latest single called Welcome To The Country which has already became a huge favorite when the band performs live! BLACKWELL is a vocal trio led by singer/songwriter Braiden Turner along with singer/songwriter/guitarist Carey Blackwell and brother Dan Blackwell. All three are from musical families. Although Braiden is from Ottawa, much of her life has been spen...

CCMA award-winning country star Aaron Pritchett ("Hold My Beer", "Let's Get Rowdy", "Boat On The Water") is joined by special guests Cory Marquardt and newcomers King & Cash on the West Coast leg of their Outlaws & Outsiders tour this winter. Beginning last week in Victoria, BC, the tour will continue east with more dates to be announced soon. Outlaws & Outsiders promises rowdy, high-e...

Country artist JAMIE WARREN lives in Kitchener-Waterloo, but was raised in Hanover Ontario, where he pursued an adolescent dream of playing hockey professionally in the NHL, with music as a background distraction. When he realized that his natural abilities for singing and playing guitar might make it easier to attract the attention of girls, he hung up his blades. It was a logical progression for...

Nova Scotia's E.B. Anderson & The Resolutes derive their sound from a vintage country foundation, a keen sense of blues, and songwriting skills that catch the ear of even the most hardcore folk fans. Their latest album is called Broken Down Horse. Here are a few of their recent accomplishments:  2014 Music Nova Scotia "Americana/Bluegrass Recording of the Year" Nominee 2014 ECMA "Rising Star R...

AMELIA MARCUS was born and raised in the small town of Bothwell, Ontario. Ever since she was a little girl, her interest in singing and performing was quite evident. She started singing at the age of 4 and every night she would sing along side her Dad while he played away on the keyboard. Amelia also took piano, drum, guitar and modeling lessons throughout her childhood years. In 2008, Amelia got...

MIKE CASE is the owner of Case Music Store in Sault St. Marie. He is the NOCMA 2014 recipient of the Carol Patterson award. Mike is an important part of the continuing success of the NOCMA (Northern Ontario Country Music Association.)

CCMA Award-winning country star Aaron Pritchett will be joined by special guests Cory Marquardt and newcomers King & Cash to kick off the West Coast leg of their Outlaws & Outsiders tour this winter. Beginning on January 15, 2015 in Victoria, BC, the tour will continue east with more dates to be announced soon. Outlaws & Outsiders promises rowdy, high-energy shows from both Aaron Pritc...

Northern Ontario recording artist and entertainer Sacha-Lee is a singer songwriter with an edge. Her music is a mixture of Country, Rock, Blues and Pop, which reflects the different styles she was raised listening to.  Born into a family of musicians, Sacha-Lee has been performing since the age of seven which would explain her comfort on stage. Her ever ready smile and intoxicating energy makes ev...

Hamilton, Ontario's ROSLYN WITTER had the chance of a lifetime to sing on stage with country superstar Keith Urban this past September. She was given the opportunity after winning a contest through radio station KX94.7 - she entered a video in which she sang the hit Keith Urban/Miranda Lambert duet We Were Us. Roslyn grew up surrounded by country music. Her father is award winning country singer J...

“At 14 I booked myself into a studio and recorded a demo and it was sent to a producer in Nashville. He liked it and I flew back and forth to Nashville a few times. So Nashville was the very first place I ever made music in a studio,” Toronto's Meredith Shaw explains. “And I know I have come back to this place very naturally. Every moment of putting these new songs together has felt right. I just...

Tune in to hear conversations & country music with Jessie Tylre Williams, Codie Prevost & Koreen Perry! Eclectic singer/songwriter Jessie Tylre Williams - Manitoba born, and now an Alberta girl - surrenders her strong sense of ability through authentic acoustic sounds and melodies derived from the deepest realms of an intimate and personal journey. In both her writing and performance, Jess...

Tune in to hear conversations & Christmas music from Leah Daniels, Barbara Lynn Doran & Nancy Laberge. Leah has steadily been building a fan base for the past couple of years. She credits the on-line social media world for much of the audience she’s already secured and it shows. She’s a two time CCMA Award nominee for “Interactive Artist” and the winner of the 2014 CCMA Spotlight Performan...

Join us for this special Christmas episode of In The Country featuring Country artists Riki Knox, Mike Biggar & RyLee Madison. Each of them has a Christmas song to share. A true performer, Riki has been described by her audiences as charismatic and highly entertaining. Whether she’s getting people up on their feet dancing, or engaging them with the strength of her original songs, Riki has a kn...

Holiday Extravagnaza 2014 is your opportunity to hear holiday favourites performed by Tori Hathaway and Friends: Shay Lee, Kasey Kohring, Grace Micallef and Heydon George, with a professional five piece band. These talented Barrie youth bring you the very best holiday entertainment this season! Bring an unwrapped gift for CTV-Barrie Toy Mountain in support of the Children's Aid Society of Simcoe C...