In The Country with Dave Woods

  In addition to their self-penned songs, The Coyotes play an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary music - and always in their own unique way. The band is made up of members Peter Paolucci, Burke Cullen, Mark LaVigne and Eric Mattila  You'll hear influences of folk, blues, country, rockabilly, early R&B, and rock 'n roll. Their cover repertoire includes the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Jimmy B...

Born in Brantford, Ontario and raised in Vanessa, Ontario, singer/songwriter CHELSEYis a small town girl with big city dreams. “I knew at 9 years old that I wanted to be a singer,” she reveals. “I took singing lessons and always loved music. I have been singing ever since I could talk.” Her influences from the Country world are Keith Urban, Rascall Flatts and Taylor Swift. This talented 16-year-ol...

Country artist JANIE FRICKE began her career in music singing commercial jingles for Coca-Cola, Pizza Hut and Red Lobster. In 1976, she gained attention for singing a line in the Johnny Duncan song Stranger. That attention lead to a recording contract and a string of hits and awards. Her hits throughout the 1980s included He's A Heartache, She's Single Again and Don't Worry 'Bout Me Baby. Janie ha...

Toronto, Ontario singer/songwriter MADDY RODRIGUEZ will release her debut abum Don't Be A Stranger on March 6th. All the songs on the project are written or co-written by Maddy. "Music is such an important part of people's lives," she explains. "It can be a great comfort, and that's one of the best things you can give someone, comfort." The album's lead single Don't Play With My Heart is currently...

Described as having “a voice stolen from angels“, Port Dover, Ontario's 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 to see June backstage to introduce the two. Fast forward to 5 CD releases, 4 CMT videos, 15 years of main stage festivals and headline concert performances, and you h...

After hundreds of festival circuit gigs promoting two independent albums throughout his teens, and a two year stint studying jazz as a guitar/voice major at Toronto’s Humber College, Canadian singer/songwriter RYAN LAIRD left his rural Ontario home for Nashville. “I made friends quickly, and ended up living in people’s basements and pitching tents in backyards for the first year or so I was in Nas...

EMERSON DRIVE has been a part of the Country music scene since they signed their first record deal with DreamWorks Records Nashville in 2001. Their hit songs and videos have earned them fans in Canada, the U.S. and beyond. Over the years, the top of the charts have featured their songs I Should Be Sleeping, Fall Into Me, Moments, I Love This Road & their latest single Let Your Love Speak (to n...

Raised on a small farm in rural Saskatchewan during tough economic times of the 1980s, J.J. VOSS grew up identifying closely with the underdog, outlaw music movement. His heroes include Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Steve Earle. In 2008, J.J. released his debut record entitled Hillbilly Storybook. He has been hard at it playing shows throughout Canada and the United States. Highlight performanc...

Canadian singer/songwriter JIM CUDDY joins me on this episode of In The Country to talk about his current album Skyscraper Soul. The lead single from the project is called Everyone Watched The Wedding. Jim will tell us the story behind the song & others. He'll also talk about performing at Massey Hall in Toronto, singing duets, what it feels like to know Blue Rodeo will be inducted into the Ca...

Country artist AARON PRITCHETT returns to In The Country for his second visit. You know his smash hits (and videos) Hold My Beer, Let's Get Rowdy, Big Wheel, New Frontier, Hell Bent For Buffalo - to name just a few. And along with his uptempo energetic songs, Aaron has proven over his career that he can deliver heartfelt ballads equally as well. You can hear that quality on his brand new radio sin...

Glace Bay, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Country artist Drake Jensen follows up the radio release of his debut single Wash Me Away with the title track to his current album entitled On My Way To Finding You. Nashville producer Kim Copeland describes Drake’s vocals as “warm, rich and unique” and these qualities are what prompted her to work with him on this project. It's very fitting that he finds himse...

Country singer/songwriter STEVE RIVERS, like many other Canadian artists before him, made the move to Nashville where he writes with some of Country music's biggest hitmakers, performs for US audiences and records. His independent debut album Beginnings Of A Work In Progress (2008) has earned him success not only as a talented singer & guitarist, but also as an aspiring songwriter and producer...

Country artist JASON BLAINE – born and raised in Pembroke, Ontario and now living in Nashville – released his full-length debut album in 2005 which included his high-charting radio singles Heartache Like Mine, While We Were Waiting & What I Can’t Forget. Along the way, he’s also had success with videos on CMT, sent more songs to the top of the charts and recorded the powerful and popular duet...

Singer/Songwriter/Recording Artist SEAN HOGAN arrived on the music scene in 1996 with the release of his debut album. He quickly became popular with radio, CMT and the fans. In 1997, Sean was named the first-ever CCMA Independent Male Artist of The Year. Then, in 2003, the CCMA honoured with the award for Roots Artist of The Year. Over the years, you've heard his songs including Catalina Sunrise,...

Saskatchewan Country artist Catherine Lewans has worked with some of the world’s best musicians & songwriters through her emerging career - including a duet with Country star Dierks Bentley at Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon. Dierks recognized her talent when they spoke before the show and, much to her delight, invited Catherine to perform his hit Long Trip Alone as part of his encore. She co...

The Broad River Band is a group of session and performing musicians brought together by Cowboy Bob Fisher. Their debut CD Country Singer was recorded at Crazy Pearl Studios in Waco, Texas. “The process of recording this album was wonderful and as natural as it comes,” says Cowboy Bob.  “These musicians have worked together for many years and some of us since we were kids learning. The best part is...

Ontario's Stephanie McIlroy has had a busy and exciting 2011. She's living up to the philosophy of her debut CD Life Is Not An Act by going for her dreams with all her heart. And just in time for the holiday season, she's releasing It’s Christmas Time - a song based on Stephanie's recollections of Christmases of her youth. Through the song, you'll get to know Stephanie and her family and how they...

This NSAI Songwriters Special features Christine Tier. She released her debut album in 2007.  Featuring 12 original songs and an all star cast of musicians, the album moves seamlessly from country to jazz to indie-pop.  The song Missing placed as a runner up in the American Song of the Year competition in 2008. Christine's second full length album is in the works and this time her signature genre...

Thomas Wade first appeared on the Country music scene in 1996 as the lead singer of Thomas Wade & Wayward. Their debut album produced 7 singles on the Canadian Country charts - including the Top 10 hits Zero to Sixty, She's Getting Serious & Lying Here With You. They won 7 CCMA awards and received 3 Juno nominations. Thomas went on to have success as a solo artist with hits like Running Aw...

Born in Midland and now calling Barrie home, Amy Rose entered her first singing contest Barrie’s Promenade Days at age 5. That was when her parents realized their daughter had talent to sing. She began to enter other talent competitions including Kinmount Fair which she won 3 years in a row - and got to meet one of her idols, Jason McCoy.  By the age of 10, Amy was mastering the art of yodeling wi...

Manitoba's multiple CCMA and Juno winning DOC WALKER has delivered the hits to Country radio, CMT & fans with songs like She Hasn't Always Been This Way, Rocket Girl, Beautiful Life & I'm Gonna Make You Love Me. They are currently performing across Canada on their Are You With Me Tonight? Tour 2011. In August of this year, the group released their 5th album for Open Road Recordings called...

Country artist Drake Jensen - born and raised in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia and now calling Ottawa, Ontario home - has released his first Christmas single Little Toy Trains to radio. The song is even more special because all proceeds from iTunes downloads will go to the Make-A-Wish Campaign in Canada.  Drake’s goal is to have 10,000 downloads of the single as this is what it takes for a child with lif...

Tune in for this NSAI Toronto Chapter Songwriters Special featuring Caledon, Ontario singer-songwriter John Cheesman. John has been writing songs since the age of 14. He first ventured into songwriting after being assigned a school project. Moved by the death of his musical hero John Lennon, John earned an A + for his tender ode to his idol - and thus the journey began. On this show, you'll learn...

Singer-songwriter Jacqui Sharkey was born in West Donegal, Ireland but grew up in Scotland and then eventually returned to Ireland. She started playing various venues at age 17. Her music style grew into a combination of Rock, Pop, Country and Folk. Along with singing, she found the theatre calling her name. She eventually went on to play the lead female role in many musical theatre productions. N...

In September 2011, MICHELLE WRIGHT was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. The road to that honour has been paved with awards from the CCMAs, the Junos & The Academy Of Country Music. She's had 25 Top Ten hits in Canada (7 of which hit #1), 5 gold and 2 multi-platinum albums as well as worldwide record sales approaching 2 million units. Her hits include Take It Like A Man, H...