“It feels amazing to finally have it out in the world,” Karli says. “I love the message behind it, and I think it is something we really need right now. I wanted to put something positive out there and celebrate the good guys, to truly celebrate the good.”

Co-written with Jason Blaine and Deric Ruttan, the track blends uplifting melodies with a bold, powerful sound inspired by one of Karli’s biggest influences, Carrie Underwood. Jason brought the title into the writing session, and together they shaped the song into something that matched her vision. The production captures a big, dynamic energy, with a team of accomplished players helping bring it to life. The song was recorded before her daughter was born last year, making its release an even more meaningful milestone.

Karli’s inspiration for Man Like Mine comes directly from her own love story. “I honestly feel like I found the best guy in the world. Ever since I met him, I felt it was too good to be true. He treats me so well and encourages me.”

While Man Like Mine is her newest release, Karli’s catalogue is already filled with songs that hold deep personal meaning. Feel Like Home reflects on finding love that feels like returning to your roots, while Still Make Cowgirls draws on her upbringing on a dairy farm and her pride in coming from a long line of strong country women. “I am really proud to celebrate that community and those traditions,” she says.

Karli places a strong emphasis on clever writing and staying true to her storytelling. “I always appreciate a good clever hook at the end of the chorus. I am proud of all the songs because they are all authentic to me. I am able to be myself.”

Her music resonates well beyond Canada. She says Canadian fans often connect to her hometown stories, while Australian listeners are drawn to the anthemic, feel-good nature of many of her songs.

Motherhood has brought a new perspective to both her life and career. “It gave me new eyes and grounds me,” she says. “Your kids see how you handle challenges. I try to be really positive, and I hope my daughter has so much fun looking back on these moments.”

Boots and Hearts is a significant milestone for Karli. This will be her second time performing at the festival, and she intends to make the most of it. “I am just grateful, trying to take a moment and pause and soak it in,” she says. Her entire family will be there to watch, and she hopes the audience leaves her set feeling uplifted and encouraged.

From singing on her parents’ coffee table in Listowel, Ontario, to sharing stages with artists like Dierks Bentley and Brett Kissel, Karli remains grounded and grateful. “As an artist you are always focused on the next thing, but I am working on being present in the now. I want to make little me proud, to serve other people through music, and to make somebody’s day,” she says.

Following her Boots and Hearts performance, Karli will travel to Kelowna for the Canadian Country Music Awards and is set to release another single later this fall. For now, she is exactly where she wants to be, sharing her stories, her music, and her joy with the Boots and Hearts crowd.

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With powerful, earthy harmonies, rootsy guitar licks and timeless lyrics, The Redhill Valleys emerged with a force onto the Canadian music scene in 2016. The three-piece Americana alt-country group, whose name pays homage to their hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, is composed of band members Chelsea McWilliams (Bass/Vocals), Tim Allard (Lead Guitar/Vocals), and Matt Soliveri (Drums). The band doesn’t shy away from nostalgia and pulls influence from artists such as Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Neil Young, The Band and Fleetwood Mac.

The group’s new single is available now via MDM Recordings Inc./ADA Canada. The moody track, featuring lyrics like “You wanna go all in? You better raise the stakes. You wanna go for a ride? Get your foot off the brakes,” explores the intensity and uncertainty of a blossoming relationship, capturing the need for commitment and the willingness to take risks to see how far it can go.

To celebrate the release, The Redhill Valleys are gearing up for an exciting run of shows across Ontario, joining The Washboard Union on their Grab The Wheel and Go Tour and bringing their dynamic sound to stages throughout the province. The band will be part of the Country-fied Muskoka lineup at the Speakeasy at Muskoka Foundry on Nov. 23.

“’Ready to Roll’ is a swampy anthem for anyone stepping into the early stages of a new relationship,” said The Redhill Valleys. “It speaks to recognizing your own worth and sending a clear message: if they want to be with you, they’d better be prepared to give it their all and keep up.”

“Ready to Roll” follows the release of “Make It Out Alive,” a high-octane anthem bursting with energy, driven by powerful guitar riffs and captivating vocals. The Redhill Valleys continue to hone their craft with songs like “Rhinestoned,” a sparkling, genre-blending nod to the dazzling ’70s country era, and “Making Rumours” which delves into the intricate web of secret relationships, showcasing their knack for creating evocative, thought-provoking music.

After releasing their two-part EP, Travel Well, in 2022 The Redhill Valleys’ single “Anymore” garnered significant praise including winning first place in the American Songwriter Magazine lyric contest, and receiving regular airplay on SiriusXM’s North Americana, CBC Country, and Tom Petty Radio.

Nominated for several awards, including “Best Group” and “Best Roots Artists” at the Country Music Association of Ontario Awards for three years in a row, the band has built a steady fanbase, extensively touring across Canada, with appearances on prominent stages including Boots and Hearts Music Festival, Big Sky Music Festival, Cavendish Beach Music Festival, along with visits to the US and the UK, including three shows as part of C2C: Country to Country 2024, Europe’s biggest country music festival.

Passionate about bringing music lovers together, they are also advocates for music accessibility and are involved in numerous programs that provide opportunities for education in Hamilton including AIFEC, Girls Rock Camp, and City Kidz.

The Redhill Valleys 2024 Tour Dates

October 29 – Meaford, ON – Meaford Hall*
October 30 – Barrie, ON – Georgian Theatre*
November 1 – Oshawa, ON – Bond St Main Stage*
November 2 – Stratford, ON – Stratford Rotary Complex*
November 3 – Blyth, ON – Blyth Memorial Hall*
November 23 – Bracebridge, ON – Muskoka Foundry
December 6 – Delta, ON – Festival of Small Halls: Delta Old Town Hall
December 7 – Perth, ON – Festival of Small Halls: Oakfield Rugby Park
December 13 – Hamilton, ON – The Westdale
*with The Washboard Union

For tickets to the show on November 23, visit Eventbrite.

The post The Redhill Valleys Come To Muskoka Foundry On November 23 appeared first on Muskoka411.

Taking over Rogers Place in Edmonton, the 2024 CCMA Awards featured a powerhouse line-up of performers and presenters, and saw Josh Ross crowned the top winner of the evening, taking home a trio of awards including Entertainer of the Year presented by Edmonton’s Best Hotels, Male Artist of the Year, and Single of the Year for his smash hit “Trouble”.

MacKenzie Porter earned the title of Female Artist of the Year, while James Barker Band notched a win in Group or Duo of the Year and earned themselves the coveted Fans’ Choice Award. Rising star Owen Riegling scooped up the the CCMA Award for Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year, and Jade Eagleson rounded out the night, winning the Ford F-150 Album of the Year for Do It Anyway.

The CCMA also celebrated a memorable year the night before the show, handing out 35 awards at the 2024 CCMA Music Industry Gala Dinner & Awards. Kicking off the first of two exhilarating evenings celebrating the best and brightest in country music, the gala featured memorable performances from Bahamas, Teigen Gayse, Kalsey Kulyk, Tyler Joe Miller, and Steven Lee Olsen.

The evening, hosted by Stingray Radio’s Jackie Rae Greening, who also took home the trophy for Country Personality(ies) of the Year, was full of special moments, including the 2024 Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductions of Gilles Godard and k.d. lang, and Lindsay Ell honoured as the Gary Slaight Music Humanitarian Award recipient.

Multiple 2024 CCMA Award nominee Josh Ross earned both the Top Selling Canadian Album of the Year and Top Selling Canadian Single of the Year, while both Lisa Jacobs and Linsey Beckett took home their first CCMA Awards for Bass Player of the Year and Fiddle Player of the Year.

Also a first-time winner is Lindsay Hyslop, named Industry Person of the Year, and Boots and Hearts Music Festival won their seventh CCMA Award for Country Festival, Fair or Exhibition of the Year.

The 2024 CCMA Awards show is available for streaming on CTV.ca and the CTV App with an encore presentation airing on Saturday, Sept. 21 at noon ET on E! and 8 p.m. ET on CTV2. For a full list of winners from the gala and award show, visit the CCMA website.

The post Josh Ross And MacKenzie Porter Among Winners At CCMA Awards appeared first on Muskoka411.

With an illustrious career spanning over four decades, lang is the 2024 Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame Artist inductee, adding to her remarkable legacy of accolades that includes four GRAMMY awards, eight JUNO Awards, ten CCMA Awards—including three consecutive “Album of the Year” wins and two consecutive “Entertainer of the Year” Awards—a BRIT Award, an AMA, a VMA, four awards from GLAAD, and Canada’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Canada. In addition to this special performance, lang will be honoured and celebrated in an exclusive induction ceremony during Country Music Week 2024.

CTV is the exclusive home to catch the 2024 CCMA Awards presented by TD on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. ET – watch on CTV, CTV.ca and the CTV app. Visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times.

“Reuniting with The Reclines after 35 years in Edmonton for the CCMA Awards feels like a full-circle moment,” shares lang. “The bond we shared, both musically and personally, remains as strong as ever, and revisiting a song that shaped our journey together is incredibly special. I’m thrilled to bring this experience to life on such a celebrated stage and share it with fans, both old and new.”

Stepping on the stage as newly announced presenters for the 2024 CCMA Awards are Hailey Benedict, Ty Bentli, Dax, Shannon Ella, Gilles Godard, James Barker Band, Kwesi Kwarko-Fosu, Madeline Merlo, Steven Lee Olsen, Brad Rempel, SACHA, Tim & The Glory Boys, Julia Tocheri, Tenille Townes, Alli Walker and more.

Today’s news adds to a stellar line-up of previously announced performers including Dasha, Jade Eagleson, Brett Kissel, Madeline Merlo, The Reklaws, Owen Riegling, Josh Ross and Julia Michaels, MacKenzie Porter, Thomas Rhett, Dallas Smith, Tenille Townes, and Jake Worthington, with Porter and Rhett doing double duty as the show’s hosts for the evening.

Country Music Week 2024 kicks off in Edmonton on Wednesday, Sept. 11, offering fans the unique opportunity to celebrate the magic of country music and the genre’s brightest homegrown stars, all culminating with the 2024 CCMA Awards on Sept. 14.  Country Music Week 2024 is possible with the support of the Government of Alberta, the City of Edmonton, Explore Edmonton and the 2024 Host Committee.

With CTV as the exclusive broadcast partner for the 42nd annual CCMA Awards, Bell Media will deliver extensive multi-platform coverage and content across broadcast, radio, digital and social media properties, including iHeartRadio Canada’s PURE COUNTRY.

For the latest CCMA news, follow along at Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube, or visit www.ccma.org.

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Recognized for her powerhouse vocals, one-of-a-kind lyrics, and a tenacious attitude, Reid was one of 14 Canadian artists featured in this year’s lineup.

“Being able to perform at Boots and Hearts was a full circle moment for me,” said Reid. “I’m a local girl, and I’ve been going to the festival for years to watch all the amazing artists. I used to dream about being up on that stage and singing my songs one day, so it was definitely a ‘pinch me’ moment when I finally got the opportunity to do so. It was pretty surreal to go from staying in the camping section a few years ago to being behind the scenes and up on that stage.”

Reid, a native of Elmvale, Ontario, performed her singles This House, Love Nowadays, and Still Believe in Love, as well as her Top 40 radio single She’s Me, on The Front Porch Stage

“I always say that [Elmvale] is a small town with a big heart,” said Reid. “It’s the kind of town where basically everyone knows each other, and I’m really lucky for all the support it has given me.”

She’s Me, from her debut EP, put Reid on the map and earned her the titles of iHeartRadio’s Future Star and Stingray Radio’s Trending Track. She was also selected for the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition this year, and has opened tours for major artists including Tim Hicks and the Hunter Brothers.

Reid is currently working on her new album, which will be released within the year. She will also be performing at Lucknow’s Music In The Fields on August 23.

“2024 has been an amazing year,” said Reid. “And there’s still so many good things to come!”

The post Elmvale’s Dayna Reid Debuts At Boots And Hearts appeared first on Muskoka411.

Now in its 12th year, Boots and Hearts has become the largest country music festival in Canada. This year’s event ran from August 8 to 11 at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds in Oro-Medonte. Jason Aldean, Matchbox Twenty and Cody Johnson were among the headliners for the festival, which kicked off with an emerging artist showcase on Thursday evening. Goldie, a Kingston, Ont. native who moved to Nashville, was one of seven finalists in the showcase.

“Any chance to perform at Boots and Hearts on one of those stages was a dream for me,” Goldie said. “I had been to the festival [for the] six years prior, so this was my seventh year going and being able to be on the stage alongside so many talented artists is so cool.”

Goldie said it was wild to be able to open for Lonestar, Midland and Shantaia as part of the showcase. Before she went out on stage, the crowd started chanting her name. It felt surreal standing backstage, nerves building.  

The anxiety turned to excitement when she saw people wearing her merch and singing along to her songs, including her recent single “Bad Boy”. She even had fans say they’d been following her from festival to festival throughout the summer. She said she’d love to do it all again, but she hopes in the future to be part of the main lineup.

“Being a part of a competition is a little bit different than being called back as an artist, so that’s on my bucket list for the next few years,” she said. “I would love to do it.”

She enjoyed the rest of the festival weekend with her mom, a tradition they had made in the years before she took the stage. They went back and forth between the two stages, aiming to catch every artist. They took in as much of the festival as possible with the exception of the rides, as Goldie admits she’s scared of them.

Though she’s familiar with the festival, being a performer has changed the experience. Fans asked her for photos and autographs as she walked around, and an artist pass got her backstage at the shows.

The excitement from fans is what defined the festival for her, especially during her set. Energy from the audience is what drives her performance, and the crowd at Boots and Hearts was up to the task.

“I was probably the highest energy I’ve ever been just because of them,” Goldie said. “Looking out, everyone was jumping, their arms were up in the air, everyone was hooting and hollering. We have loudspeakers up there on stage, but you could hear straight through them with all the audience singing along.”

Goldie is heading to a few more festivals to round out the summer, opening for Jade Eagleson and Gord Bamford. She also has a new single, “Cheat Time”, coming out later this month and a music video to follow soon after.

Elyse Saunders, a singer-songwriter from Peterborough, also started out in the audience at Boots and Hearts.

“I was on the other side, in the audience, several years ago watching Thomas Rhett, and I imagined playing the stage one day,” Saunders said. “It was cool to be officially on the lineup these years later, and Thomas Rhett was the headliner.”

Saunders said it was a dream and a full-circle moment. Being an artist at the event is different, of course, since she got the chance to see behind the scenes, but the energy at Boots and Hearts is “awesome on both sides of the stage.”

She and her band had a blast and want to keep coming back every year. They pay a great deal of credit to the event staff who made the festival happen. Along with being a well-oiled machine that kept things running smoothly, the team went above and beyond to make the artists feel welcome.

“It seems really evident that they pick a staff of people that are really easy to work with, very friendly, very accommodating,” she said. “They really put a lot of effort into the small touches that really do go a long way to make us feel at home and comfortable, and when that happens, it makes us ready for the stage and puts us in the right mindset.”

After her set, she ran down to the gate to meet fans and give autographs. She ended up signing several pairs of boots, a fitting way to commemorate the festival. Her family tagged along for the performance, so she said it was special to see new and familiar fans in the crowd alongside her loved ones.

During the rest of the festival, she talked to members of the media, spent time with other artists and enjoyed the live music. She got to see another Thomas Rhett show, this time with an artist pass. She was running on adrenaline after some sleepless nights leading up to the festival, but she was determined to make the most of it.

Saunders said country music has some of the best fans out there, and the sweet people she’s encountered are no exception. She has a new song coming out in September and an exciting tour announcement to make in the near future. For now, she’s riding on the high of hearing the audience sing her song, “Never Have I Ever”, back to her.

“As a songwriter and as an artist, that’s how I know I’m doing my job is [if] my music is connecting to people and making them feel something,” Saunders said. “I love being an entertainer and giving people that experience, and then to have them give that back to me, that was definitely a gift and something I won’t forget.”

For more information on Boots and Hearts, visit the festival website.

The post Elyse Saunders And Alexa Goldie Reflect On Boots And Hearts 2024 appeared first on Muskoka411.

SiriusXM, in partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association, is looking for the next big name in country music.

Graye is now vying for a finalist spot in the competition.

“The SiriusXM Canada Top of the Country program has been an incredible opportunity to grow my fan base,” said Graye. “Having this level of recognition and exposure from an organization like this is truly so helpful as an independent artist. Making it into the Top 3 Finalists would be so great for my career.”

Whether it’s heartbreak, introspection or love for a good sad country song, Graye’s music takes listeners to the depths of their own emotions.

The Orillia native’s breakout smash single “Good At Gettin’ Gone” reached #39 on Canadian country radio, earning Graye her first Top 40.

Adding to a year of big firsts, Graye landed her first festival slot, performing at Boots and Hearts Music Festival in Summer 2023, and surpassed five million catalogue streams across platforms.

The winner of SiriusXM’s competition will receive $25,000, have the mentorship opportunity of a lifetime, and the chance to perform in front of some of the best crowds in country music including CCMA’s Country Music Week.

Voting is open online from April 2-9.

The post Parker Graye Named SiriusXM Top Of The Country Semi-Finalist appeared first on Muskoka411.

The event was held in partnership with The National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA).

Notable NHL alumni including Doug Gilmour attended the event.

In addition to mingling with some of hockey’s greats, guests had the opportunity to view the newest outerwear from Nobis.

Canadian country duo, The Reklaws, delivered a late-night performance of five songs.

The Reklaws were also selected to sing the Canadian national anthem at the NHL All-Star Game, later that weekend.

Muskoka411 contacted The Reklaws, however the band’s publicist Richelle Umali of penelopePR and manager Mike Kozelj of Starseed Entertainment, declined to comment.

The post Nobis Hosts Private Party For NHL All-Star Weekend appeared first on Muskoka411.

The Compass Tour is Kissel’s most ambitious endeavour to date, and the live companion to his 2023 roll out of The Compass Project.

The Compass Project is a four-part album experience that showcases various themes, and Kissel’s versatility as a musician and songwriter.

“The Compass Project was a package that was 10 years in the making,” said Kissel. “I’ve always wanted to do a large-scale project like this, and now that I’ve been in the business for 20 years – and 10 on the international level – I wanted to do something that would honour that.”

The project’s first album, South Album, showcases Kissel’s signature style of commercial country hits, including the lead track “Never Have I Ever”.

East Album is a heartfelt collection of stripped down, acoustic songs that was inspired by Kissel’s love of Canada’s east coast, and featured a new level of emotional depth in his songwriting.

West Album pays tribute to his deepest musical and thematic passions – the rich tradition of country and western music.

Now, with North Album, Kissel gives fans his greatest collection of hits live from the stage.

“My prior albums have always had one or two songs in the sub-genre of country music,” said Kissel, who draws on inspiration from country music legends including George Strait, Garth Brooks, and Dolly Parton. “With The Compass Project, I spread my wings a little bit and I dipped my toes into the waters of pop country, heavy rock country, and of course classic country, which is a big part of who I am. The diversity was really important to me.”

Kissel is known for his charismatic personality, dynamic stage presence, and unique music style, soaring to the top of the Canadian country music charts as one of country’s most celebrated and beloved entertainers.

Throughout his career, he’s amassed 22 CCMA awards, three Juno awards, two gold-certified albums, a platinum record, ten gold singles, and an impressive track record of fifteen top-10 radio hits.

To purchase tickets for The Compass Tour at Deerhurst Resort, visit the Huntsville Festival of the Arts.

This is an all-ages event. There is also a free shuttle service available, departing from Bullock’s Independent at 131 Howland Dr.

The post Brett Kissel’s The Compass Tour Stops In Huntsville appeared first on Muskoka411.

He will be joined by emerging singer-songwriter, and military veteran, Dallas Alexander.

The tour follows the release of Bamford’s 11th studio album, featuring the track Canadian Dirt, a triumphant anthem about celebrating Canadian pride.

“I was really just reflecting on how grateful I was to raise a family and to live in a great country like Canada,” said Bamford, on his inspiration for the song. “Canada presents so many opportunities for so many people and I’m no exception. I’m very proud to live, and make a living, and do what I love in this country.”

Bamford – who was born in Australia, and raised in Alberta – stands as one of the most decorated and awarded artists in Canadian country music history. He has been the recipient of 26 Canadian Country Music Association Awards (CCMA) including Album of the Year, Single of the Year and Male Artist of the Year, and has received multiple JUNO Award nominations.

Beyond his musical accomplishments, Bamford supports numerous charitable initiatives through the Gord Bamford Foundation. He has raised $5.4 million for Canadian children and youth, touching the lives of over 700,000 children and communities.

“I feel it’s important to remember where you come from and it’s only natural to always go back and give back,” said Bamford. “Growing up in a small town I believe is the grassroots of what built my success and career.”

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