Dean Brody opened the show with his hit “Canadian Girls,” kicking off a show that would see him win two awards: Best Male Artist and Album of the Year.

Other country faves taking home hardware at this year’s show included Carolyn Dawn Johnson, who won Female Artist of the Year and Hey Romeo, this year’s Group or Duo of the Year. Ottawa’s sweetest and brightest new talent, Kira Isabella, took home the Rising Star award. The Stellas, who have been out on the road with Johnny Reid, took home the award for CMT Video of the Year for their song “In This House.” Johnny, who had a whopping eight nominations tonight, was the recipient of the Fans’ Choice award.

This was the fourth year Reid has taken home the acclaimed Fans’ Choice Award:

“This has been a wonderful year. I have had an opportunity to cross this beautiful country and sing for so many people,” the Scottish-born Nova Scotia-based singer said . “Too many people to thank, but Saskatoon you have always had a special place in my heart. Thank you very much for this honour.”

The stage welcomed countless great performances, including Paul Brandt and a collaboration between Emerson Drive and Doc Walker. American faves, including Pistol Annies, Eric Church, and Jason Aldean made their way up north to rock the stage in addition to a solo performance by Miranda Lambert.

Also of note, the very lovely Taylor Swift made an appearance to both present an award and accept one herself. Taylor was the recipient of the New Generation award, which was introduced by Deric Rutan and Bryan Adams:

“I’m so happy to be in Saskatoon right now I can’t even tell you,” she said. “To country radio in Canada and the country music fans in Canada, you guys are the ones who choose to play my songs, you guys are the ones who choose to buy the albums and sell out the concerts and you’re the ones who make me so at home, I can’t wait to come back and see you every single time.”

Check out our recap of tonight’s winners:

Fans’ Choice Award
Johnny Reid

Single of the Year
They Don’t Make Em’ Like That Anymore – Jason Blaine

Album of the Year
DIRT – Dean Brody

Songwriter(s) of the Year
Is It Friday Yet? (written by Gord Bamford/Roger Brown/Byron Hill; performed by Gord Bamford)

CMT Video of the Year
In This House – The Stellas

Female Artist of the Year
Carolyn Dawn Johnson

Male Artist of the Year 
Dean Brody

Group or Duo of the Year 
Hey Romeo

Roots Artist or Group of the Year
Jimmy Rankin

Rising Star
Kira Isabella

Top Selling Canadian Album of the Year
Fire It Up – Johnny Reid

Top Selling International Album of the Year
Own The Night – Lady Antebellum

Image credit (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards)

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“All of today’s nominees deserve ample recognition for their excellence as well as their tremendous contribution to Canadian country music,” said Don Green, Executive Director, CCMA. “This year’s nominees reflect the depth of musical talent in Canada, and we’re so proud to be able to recognize those artists – both established and emerging – who have impacted Canadians with their music.”

A personal fave, Johnny Reid, leads the nominations with a total of eight. Country cutie Dean Brody follows close behind with seven of his own.

Performers expected to light up the stage at the Awards include Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Pistol Annies, Eric Church, Paul Brandt, Dean Brody, George Canyon, Johnny Reid, Deric Ruttan, Gord Bamford, Terri Clark, Chad Brownlee and High Valley.

Check out the list of nominees below!

FANS’ CHOICE AWARD
Gord Bamford
Dean Brody
Terri Clark
Hey Romeo
Johnny Reid

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

Canadian Girls – Dean Brody
Fire It Up – Johnny Reid
Is It Friday Yet? – Gord Bamford
Somebody Somewhere – Dallas Smith
They Don’t Make Em’ Like That Anymore – Jason Blaine

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
16 & 1 – Doc Walker
DIRT – Dean Brody
Fire It Up – Johnny Reid
Give It Away – Paul Brandt
Roots And Wings – Terri Clark

SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR
Canadian Girls (written by Dean Brody; performed by Dean Brody)
Fire It Up (written by Marty Dodson/Alan Frew/Johnny Reid; performed by Johnny Reid)
Is It Friday Yet? (written by Gord Bamford/Roger Brown/Byron Hill; performed by Gord Bamford)
Mainstreet, 1979 (written by Deric Ruttan; performed by Deric Ruttan)
They Don’t Make Em’ Like That Anymore (written by Jason Blaine/Deric Ruttan; performed by Jason Blaine

CMT VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Canadian Girls – Dean Brody
Fire It Up – Johnny Reid
Give It Away – Paul Brandt
I’m Your Man – Ryan Laird
In This House – The Stellas

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Victoria Banks
Terri Clark
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Tara Oram
Michelle Wright

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Gord Bamford
Jason Blaine
Dean Brody
Chad Brownlee
Johnny Reid

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Doc Walker
Emerson Drive
Hey Romeo
High Valley
The Stellas

ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Ridley Bent
Shane Chisholm
Sean Hogan
Corb Lund
Jimmy Rankin

RISING STAR
Kira Isabella
Ryan Laird
Codie Prevost
Dallas Smith
The Stellas

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The first lines of the song are all you need to know about it: “My best friend, he’s been cleaning up his act/Mowed his front yard, even mowed the back/I can think of just one reason for all that/Must be a woman!” This is the kind of song that has made Gord Bamford’s name. Between his signature vocals and that addictive fiddle, it sets the bar high for the rest of the album.

GB has come a long way since I first saw him open for Terri Clark in 2005. Back then, despite great songs like “24 x 24” and “Classic Country Song”, he was struggling to find an audience.

“It’s not easy; this is a long effort and a long time coming,” he told us recently. “I think it’s just a matter of persistence and believing in yourself.” But his hard work has finally paid off. The 2010 CCMA Male Vocalist Of The Year has a string of hits under his belt already, and can expect several more with this album.

The third song on the album, “Farm Girl Strong”, uses another, similar fiddle progression to great effect. The Lacombe, Alberta native celebrates coverall-wearing country girls with this anthem. If you’re the sort of guy who likes girls with ponytails and baseball caps, you’ll recognize the appeal Bamford is referring to. This one joins Dean Brody’s “Canadian Girls” as a recent rival to the classic Bellamy Brothers song “Redneck Girl” and Brooks & Dunn’s “Rock My World (Little Country Girl)”.

The album’s title track and lead single is another classic Gord Bamford blue collar drinking song in the vein of “Stayed Til Two”. My local station has cruelly been playing “Is It Friday Yet” on the Monday morning drive to work, but it’s great to hear this ode to the end of the work week any time.

These three songs are the surefire radio hits, but they’re not all that Bamford has to offer on this album.

“Disappearing Tail Lights”, according to the singer himself, “really has a Merle Haggard feel to it.” I was reminded of Garth Brooks’ “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)”. Either way, there aren’t many songs like this on radio anymore. It’s a nice throwback, even if the title does hint at a tired concept, explored previously by both Trace Adkins and Clint Black.

 “Leaning on a Lonesome Song” is a much softer song, with relatively modest instrumentals and a refreshingly subdued vocal performance. This is a different sound than we’re used to hearing from Bamford, and it’s a great interlude on the CD.

The album starts to pick back up with a “big band song with a country spin” in “You Make It Better”. This is a song best listened to on a staticky AM radio in an old farmhouse kitchen, while you two-step to the well-punctuated lyrics.

 “I Call It Country” unfortunately reads like a list of clichéd redneck attributes, including Skoal-ringed jeans and dirty ball caps. Lyrically, it’s about as original as Tim McGraw’s much-criticized “Southern Voice”, but without McGraw’s polished vocals and a catchy melody to sell it. “Nothing Hurts As Bad As A Broken Heart”, meanwhile, seems like an honest effort to quietly relate the experience right after a breakup, but it feels incomplete and inadequate. Even Bamford’s regular writing partner, Byron Hill, who contributes on 12 of the 13 tracks, can’t help these two songs.

But after those misses, the Canadian is back with strong vocals and an upbeat, interesting melody with “She Makes Me Look Good”. Every man can relate with this one. He does the same thing for family men with “On My Best Days”, singing about how good days are spent working hard, fishing and playing golf, but his best days are spent hanging out at home, watching his kids play.

That pair evoke a bit of early GB, similar to “My Heart’s a Genius” and “I Would For You”, both musically, and in his admiring affection for his loved ones. “On My Best Days”, especially, is a real feel-good song. His feelings are plainly, sweetly obvious for his real-life wife and three kids.

The singer then tries to imagine life without his wife in “Now That You’re Gone”. The lyrics “You made it look so easy being Mom/It’s going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done” sum this one up.

“Sing Another Song About Love” hints at an Alan Jackson influence, while telling what sounds like an autobiographical story about the life of a touring singer.

Bamford closes the album out with what he describes as the sleeper hit of the album. It’s a melodic farewell to a deceased friend, “A Cowboy’s Last Ride” – a fitting conclusion, and a good song in its own right. You can hear more than a little George Strait during this number.

Comparisons like that are why Gord Bamford’s star continues to rise. Five albums in, he still may not have completely hit his stride, but he gets closer with each effort. The hit potential on “Is It Friday Yet?” is impressive. Look forward to hearing a lot more GB on the radio in the next few months as the singles are released – they’re addictively catchy.

RATING: 8/10

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Gord took some time to give us a call to talk about the signing today before heading to Mexico to film the fun music video for the single. Get the details on what to expect from his album, the music video, and how he feels about finally scoring a major label home in our exclusive interview with the Canadian singer-songwriter below.

First of all, congratulations on being signed to Sony Music. How excited are you to be joining their roster?

It’s kind of a great Christmas present for us. We’ve definitely been looking for a partnership that would fit with what we’re all about, and obviously Sony has a great track record. I’ve known a lot of the people that have worked there for a number of years and I have a great respect for them. It’s a great place for me to be in and I just couldn’t be happier. We’re extremely excited about the deal and we know that its going to be taking us to the next level.

You had the most-played Canadian song on Canadian radio in 2011. Why do you think people connected with “My Daughter’s Father” so well?

You know what, I’m not sure. I never really sit down to write stuff about myself, except obviously that song was about family. Most of my stuff I try to make sure people can really relate to it. “My Daughter’s Father” obviously tugged at a lot of hearts. I was surprised when I heard it was the top song. I was a little bit shocked to hear how well it really did on the charts. Anytime you can have something like that it’s a notch on your belt, and something you want to try to achieve again. The toughest part is trying to do it over again. It’s very exciting and we’re glad that people liked it and that radio played it, and that they supported us the way they have been.

How has reception been for your new single that you just released?

Well it’s been out for two days and the Sony team has been doing a good job and pushing it hard. So far we’ve been getting a great response. We’re looking forward to see where it goes next week. It’s a typical anthem that anyone can relate to, “Is It Friday Yet?”, even if it’s a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday… (laughs).  I think its going to be great, it’s a great lead single. We’re actually shooting the music video in Mexico in a couple of days here, so it’s been doing tremendous.

Any hints for what that music video will be like?

You know what, it’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s a fun song and it’s going to pretty much be blue-collar sort of fun. Think of a Kenny Chesney / Billy Currington sort of thing with a big cowboy in it.

You do a lot of charity work, why do you feel it’s so important to give back?

I come from a small community and I still live there. Growing up I had the opportunity to work jobs come and go, and pursue my dreams and had everybody behind it.  I really think the country music business is a big family, even the fans. In order to make a living and do what I do, people have to buy tickets and come out to my shows and buy records. This makes a lot of sense to get to a point in your career where you can make a difference in other people’s lives. It just made sense for us to develop our foundation which is right around the $800,000 mark now in four years. Our big event is our golf tournament which we have here in Alberta, and it’s year five this year. It’s been great and the money we’ve made has been directed back to the organizations that either I have a soft spot for or that I’ve been involved in as a kid growing up – Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Make A Wish Foundation, Ronald McDonald Houses – all of those have either impacted my life or the lives of my family and friends somewhere along the way. It’s been great to have been able to do that, and there’s nothing better than giving a $10,000 check to a little girl whose only dream is to swim with the dolphins and to see the look on her face puts life into perspective. It’s something that’s very important to me and something that we’re going to build for a very, very long time.

Do you have any advice for anybody looking to get into the industry?

You know what, I get that question quite a bit. It’s not easy; this is a long effort and a long time coming to get lined up with the great people at Sony. I think it’s just a matter of persistence and believing in yourself. I compare it sometimes to going into a car lot and a salesman trying to sell you a car that you just don’t like. You aren’t going to buy it, so you gotta have the music. The song has to be there and the quality has to be there, then you have to have the drive to continue to do it and believe in what you can do. I’m sure Sidney Crosby had this dream his whole life of being a hockey player and playing in the NHL, and if he didn’t have that he wouldn’t be there. Then you have to surround yourself with great people, have a great team, and I know I’ve got a great team over at Sony. I think the sky is the limit for us and this is the best record that I’ve been able to put together yet. It should be some exciting times.

Speaking of your new record, what can fans expect from it?

Well it’s definitely what you think Gord Bamford would do. There’s two things on the record that are a little outside of the norm and might surprise people. The lead single is blue collar, working class kind of song. It’s got everything for you: uptempo, ballads, songs that will make you laugh, songs that will make you cry, and songs that anyone can relate to. It doesn’t matter if you’re a lawyer or an accountant in a big office in Toronto, or whether you’re a farmer on a tractor you can relate to my stuff. That’s the way we try to do things.

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Gord released the first single from the album to Canadian radio stations earlier this week. The title track from the album is a blue collared party anthem that celebrates the countdown to the weekend.

“Sony Music is home to some of the biggest names in Country music today. We welcome Gord to the roster that made us the #1 airplay label at Country radio for a second year in row (Mediabase Canada). As well as his burgeoning career, Gord ‘s philanthropic efforts are to be commended. We are thrilled to have him call Sony Music Entertainment Canada home” stated Shane Carter, President, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc.

Gord has over 16 years of traveling and performing all over the world and he’s excited to bring his talent to the table. The now-formerly independent singer-songwriter had already found massive success and a huge following based on his talent alone in Canada. His latest album garnered the singer 15 Canadian Country Music Award nominations last year alone.

“It has been a long road to get to where I am today and I am very proud of the team of people that have helped me to this point. It is every artist’s dream to play music and do what they love for a living. I have been searching for a major label home that houses a team with the same vision and goals as myself, one that really believes in the music I make…Country Music! Signing with Sony Music Entertainment Canada was probably the best Christmas gift a guy could have received. I’m ecstatic, proud and honoured with my new partnership with the label and look forward to great fun and success. I feel like a part of the Sony family already, and we are just getting started.”

His efforts through The Gord Bamford Charitable Foundation has raised over $800,000 to date and has helped support groups such as Big Brothers and Sisters, Ronald McDonald House, Children’s Make a Wish, McMaster Children’s Hospital (Hamilton) along with many regional charities and initiatives.

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Next year’s line-up is as follows:

Friday, August 10 – Reba, Ronnie Dunn, Gord Bamford, and Marshall Dane

Saturday, August 11 – Taylor Swift, Dean Brody, Tara Oram, Chad Brownlee, and others TBA

Sunday, August 12 – Brad Paisley, The Band Perry, Terri Clark, High Valley and others TBA

To keep up to date on all artist and line-up updates, stay tuned to Keepin’ it Country and capitalhoedown.net. We will be interviewing Marshall Dane, who is opening the Hoedown, in a few minutes. Watch for that interview tonight!

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