I went and took in the first session of Diamonds in the Rough. It was being sponsored part in by Canadian Beats and my friend Linda Heldman was hosting it. If you are not sure what this is, it is an opportunity for independent singer/songwriters to showcase their talent. I really enjoyed myself! There was some fantastic talent showcased and it’s hard to even know where to start.

The session began with singer/songwriter Barbara Lynn Doran from Whitby, Ontario backed by well-known Canadian musician Rob Laidlaw.  It is easy to see why Doran was a finalist in The Great Canadian Songwriting Contest. Her songs are deep and personal and her voice is extremely soulful.

Up next was Stephanie Rose. She hails from Debden, Saskatchewan. She grew up on her family farm and had her first horse at 5. Watch out for my interview with this talented gal. She may only be 23, but she has a traditional country voice and an old soul. Her storytelling skills are visible in her song “How to Fish”, which was my favourite of her songs.

As a special guest, Drew Gregory got up and did a couple of songs! I have never seen him live before and he was fantastic! You should really follow him on Spotify. He is great! He sounds amazing and he is very charismatic. 

Connor Wilson is a talented singer/songwriter to watch. He has this light and friendly voice that I could listen to all afternoon. When he added playing the harmonica, I was sold. He played two songs I really loved, “Trans-canada Road” and “I See Smoke”. Both of them are fantastically written. I had a a photo. Buuuuut. I deleted it by accident. I don’t want to talk about it. Let’s move on. 

If traditional country is what you seek, then Steve Pointmeier is the man you need. Right down to the hat and boots, Steve has a traditional voice and a shy demeanor. Be sure to pick up his EP to hear heart-felt songs, like “Pillow Lies”. My photo of him was with Connor’s. I still don’t want to talk about it. 

Newcomer Jeremy Dallas is originally from Prince Edward Island and now lives in Calgary. His first release “Under The Radar” has this great contemporary country sound which fits his look. I was familiar with Jeremy and his work, as I was first drawn in by his Kip Moore sounding voice. He sang a really great song that he worked on with Aaron Goodvin called “One Hand In The Wind” that I really liked. Jeremy is looking to release a debut album toward the end of the year, so keep a lookout for it. 

I had seen Amanda Jordan last year at the CMAO conference. It is easy to see she has matured some on stage since I last saw her last. She still maintains that Taylor Swift vibe that I like about her. One song that really stood out to me was “Driving In The Dark”. This is definitely a young lady to watch for. 

It was a real treat to see Erin Hill. She was backed by partner Alex Runions, who honestly, I was more familiar with. Her voice is soothing and sweet. The fact that she brought out a ukele completely won me over. Listening to her is like a warm summer breeze. I’m glad I had a chance to become more familiar with her work. She is great! You should check her out whenever you have a chance!

I was so glad I finally got the chance to see my friend Rich Cloke in action. I have interviewed him and we have met and now I got to see him perform. He sounds amazing live (as good as he does recorded) and it is obvious that he is passionate about what he does. If you didn’t listen to him after my interview about him, get on it! He is fantastic!!

A while back, I did a great interview with an extremely talented young man by the name of Beamer Wigley. Now 16, he is paired up with another talented teen, Abby Stewart. Putting Abby and Beamer together is an incredible combination! These two are definitely on a fast track to success. Their songs “Falling In Love At 16” and “Put Up A Fight” are spectacular. Beamer’s guitar playing is bar-none some of the best I’ve seen. I can not wait to see what the future has in store for these two!

Country Music Week is a fantastic opportunity to see most of your favourite artists in one weekend. But make sure to check out things like the different showcases and Diamonds In The Rough. There is some amazing new talent in this country that is really worth looking in to.