Stay tuned for  pictures from the showcase!

How do you top a highly-successful Opry North Country Music Showcase held August 31 in Kitchener? The tireless tandem of Kim Jamieson and Wayne Tozzi never cease to amaze, as they once again produced a highly-professional afternoon of entertainment, this time at the Stampede Ranch in Guelph. With yet another outstanding lineup of Canadian Country Music talent – including the Showcase staple of The Bareback Riders – this event was one for the records.

On this Guelph afternoon, the joint was jumping, to say the least. On top of all of the talented artists & Showcase regulars who had gathered at this outstanding facility, a large group of motorcycle enthusiasts also gathered for the 2^nd Annual Memorial Ride for Little D, raising money for cancer research. Little D was a young boy who died from cancer at age 2 in 2000. What resulted was a full house of Country Music fans, and an electric atmosphere surrounding a full afternoon of entertainment.

As always, The Bareback Riders were at the top of their game. We as Country Music enthusiasts are very fortunate to have such talent right in our own backyard. Polished professionals, Chris Mancini on bass, Mark Mancini on lead and acoustic guitars, Colin Connors on drums, Kurk Bernard on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, and the man with the omnipresent smile and best steel guitar licks this side of Nashville, Joe Allain (also handling acoustic and lead vocals) warmed up the crowd with a strong selection of Country favourites. Their renditions of George Strait’s, Write This Down, and Brad Paisley’s, Wrapped Around, certainly proved that they can perform any song in a crowd-pleasing style.

Speaking of crowd pleasing, the lovely and talented Linda Martelli of 820 CHAM introduced The Bareback Riders as part of her emcee duties. It’s easy to see why Martelli was one of five CCMA nominees as On-Air Personality of the Year (in a major market). Her sense of humour, and sense of timing, kept the entire afternoon running very smoothly – not an easy task, given the amount of activity at the Stampede Ranch on this September afternoon. Indeed, Martelli applauded The Bareback Riders, as well as every invited performer, as an example of "great Canadian talent in our own backyard."

Speaking of The Bareback Riders (who pulled double duty this weekend as the featured performers at the Stampede Ranch), a couple of special occasions added to the festivities of this day. Chris Mancini was celebrating a 32 nd birthday, while Kurk Bernard and his wife, Lisa, were celebrating the birth of their fourth son! Looks like the Bernard family may have their own band in the making. Bernard had just returned from a European tour with the group, South Mountain.

It won’t be long before the first guest performers of Sept. 28 are known by an overseas audience, as well as here in North America. The sister act of Jaclyn & Cassandra of Newmarket, Ont. totally blew me away with their vocals and stage presence. Jaclyn, 15, and Cassandra, 18, posses the unique ability to blend their vocals in a way which is truly magical. Combined with a solid list of song material, these young performers combined are a can’t-miss act on the Canadian Country Music scene.

Jaclyn and Cassandra’s reputation preceded them, as buzz about their abilities had reached my hometown of London, Ont. Speaking with the sisters after their Showcase performance, Jaclyn told me, "We used to sing alone, then one day we sang together, and it just clicked." Said Cassandra, "There’s just something special about music when we sing together."

This was evident immediately, as Jaclyn & Cassandra opened with, Same Train, then moved to Shania Twain’s, Honey, I’m Home. The siblings really came into their own when they performed their own material. The performance of two new songs, If I Could, and, Catch Me, both recorded in Nashville for a new CD slated for Spring 2003 release, totally silenced an attentive crowd until time to applaud – and there was a lot of hand clapping and whistling for this duo, who are headed for a much bigger stage.

The best was saved for last, as Jaclyn & Cassandra performed, No Need For Sayin’ Goodbye, the last cut from their outstanding six-song CD, The Country Comin’ Out In Me, released one year ago. This song is tailor made for their vocal harmony. Jaclyn’s Country twang and Cassandra’s smooth crooning create unforgettable harmonizing. And what dance moves they demonstrated! Choreographed by 17-year-old Jesse Weafer, the combination Country-Hip-Hop steps had the entire audience moving in their seats.

J&C have opened for such acts as Jamie Warren, Diane Chase and Sawyer Brown, and I believe their music already provides Canadian Country Music with some very marketable songs. With producers Al Connelly (Glass Tiger), Mike Kerwin (Salads), and Corey MacFadyen (Serial Joe), plus energetic manager Debbie Dennis on their team, Jaclyn & Cassandra are headed for stardom. Good luck, you two! You provided a perfect example of how the stars of tomorrow grace the stage of Opry North Showcase today.

From a young act to veteran performers, Hamilton group, Burnt Rose, took the stage next with their unique blend of music borrowing from the genres of Country, Rock, Folk, Celtic and everything in between. Decade-long performers always tweaking their tunes for specific audiences, Burnt Rose found just the right combination of songs to keep this afternoon of fun rolling in the right direction.

Five original songs were performed this day: Seems To Me; Nose To The Stone; Why Can’t People; Runnin’; and Rotten Low-Down Blues. Multi-talented Debi Ferguson (lead vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica) and John McCullough (vocals, guitar, flute) handle all the songwriting for this band (currently including four full-time members) with an extensive repertoire of songs, influenced by artists ranging from Elvis to Terri Clark. Ferguson’s vocals are reminiscent of Sass Jordan and Melissa Etheridge.

Burnt Rose’s song, Seems To Me, is an up tempo tune with Celtic influence, but, Why Can’t People, really helps Burnt Rose shine as performers. Clever lyrics and soulful music make this tune, to be included in an upcoming CD, a hit song. Their 11-song debut CD, Piece Of The Part, released in 2001, also demonstrates that Burnt Rose never lacks for fresh, original material.

After the show, Ferguson and McCullough told me, they are chameleons of Country music: you never know what type of music you are going to hear from this outstanding Hamilton talent. That’s a compliment to their diversity and professionalism, which always makes Burnt Rose an entertaining act. At this Opry North Showcase, Phil James handled bass and vocals, "Bungalow" Bill Taylor played drums, and Natalia Manley, a Classically-trained 20-year-old violinist, joined the group on stage to play her instrument in the style of a Country fiddle, adding greatly to the performance.

Burnt Rose is well-known across southwestern Ontario. Their originality, solid talent and entertaining storytelling make them worth checking out next time they perform at a venue near you.

The Colleen O’Brien Band, featuring lead vocals and keyboards from another Hamilton artist, Colleen O’Brien, was the perfect follow-up act to Burnt Rose. Like the group before them, the Colleen O’Brien Band is capable of pulling off tunes from a myriad of genres, while keeping true to Country roots. With the exception of a fun, original version of The Dixie Chicks’, Goodbye Earl, O’Brien belted out four original songs, each one an expression of her extraordinarily wide vocal range.

An emotional singer/songwriter with professional stage presence, Colleen O’Brien delighted the Stampede Ranch crowd with, Day You Said Goodbye, Holding On, Why (her first songwriting effort and worthy of much applause and recognition), and, Open A Window. This quartet of songs allowed O’Brien to showcase her powerful voice which earned a round of "encore" from the audience. Watching O’Brien sing while playing her keyboard is truly an exercise in enjoyment. With her many talents, the sky is the limit for this 24-year-old talent.

A singer since age 7, O’Brien is also a professional theatrical performer, graduating from Sheridan College’s prestigious Musical Theatre program, and moving onto stages across Canada, including: P.E.I.’s Charlottetown Festival; Hamilton Place’s Millennium Performance; and Theatre on the Grand in Fergus, Ont. In 2000, her debut CD, a self-released Pop/Rock album, immediately grabbed audiences by the collar; songs have been included in both Canadian television and film projects. A new CD is slated for a Winter 2002 release.

The Colleen O’Brien band included: Dave Romanello, guitar; Scott Bray, drums; and new bass player, Dave Ricottone. It was a real treat watching these talented performers on this afternoon, and meeting the vivacious Colleen O’Brien. Keep your ears open for word on her new CD.

The final performer of the day was well worth the wait, as her vocals are not only easy on the ears, but also one of the best-kept secrets on the Canadian music scene. In reality, Julie Gibb is no stranger to music. In fact, she is a polished performer, a professional in every sense of the word. But you can’t help but to think that like Jaclyn & Cassandra (who have studied vocal lessons under Gibb), there is a much larger stage waiting around the corner for this Richmond Hill resident.

A national performer on the Tommy Hunter Show age 12, Gibb has performed since age 10. Her bio reads like a Who’s Who of musical influences. She studied vocal technique with Jazz legend, Billie Holiday’s, former accompanist, Alan Ray. She has shared performance billing with Bill Monroe, Porter Wagoner, John Conlee, The Good Brothers, Jamie Warren, Barenaked Ladies, and her good friend, Kris Kristofferson. An accomplished musician who delighted the Guelph audience with her guitar, Gibb also plays piano, mandolin and bass. Her primary guitar teacher was Gordon Lightfoot’s longtime guitarist, Red Shea. And as a 12-year-old songwriter, Gibb became the youngest active member of the Nashville Songwriters’ Association’s storied history. Amongst her many current projects, Gibb performs as a guest with Canadian bluegrass sensation, Jughead.

Gibb sang a true cross section of songs at the Opry North Showcase. Her original tune, Finding My Heart, was up first. Sweet vocals, fun lyrics and a catchy chorus make this a memorable tune. Patsy Cline’s, I Fall To Pieces; The Dixie Chicks’, Tonight The Heartache’s On Me; and, I Can’t Help It If I’m Still In Love With You (Hank Williams) were followed by, I Try To Think About Elvis (Patty Loveless).

Gibb’s original songlist includes the ballad, Some Part Of Me, an outstanding love song which helps separate Gibb from the rest of the pack. I strongly encourage audiences to keep tabs on this talented Canadian artist.

Speaking of talent, a fifth performer not able to strut his stuff this day, Vince Roy of Toronto – always the trouper – stepped up on stage to talk with Linda Martelli about his current projects. Recovering from recent surgery, Roy still shook his hips, much to the delight of the females in the audience. This Toronto-based artist has all the tools to go far in the Country Music industry.

New recorded material and videos are gaining recognition by CMT, amongst other industry insiders. It won’t be long before Vince Roy is a household name. His songs, Mr. Fixit, Settle For A Dance, Lovers In Love, and If Only are just four examples of his Country-Honky-Tonk vocals emulating the styles of Paul Brandt, and even Elvis himself. The fans won’t disagree.

Born in Quebec, raised in Barrie, a former Vancouver resident now living in Toronto, Roy has opened for Jamie Warren, John Landry and Johnny Reid. He has collaborated with such songwriting talent as Kenny Hess and Ron Irving. Look for a 14-song Fan Appreciation CD to soon be released.

As always, the Opry North Showcase provided non-stop entertainment. Intermissions showcased songs by Roy (Way Of Life, Never Alone); Jaclyn & Cassandra (The Country Comin’ Out In Me, Daddy’s Angel); Brenda Lynn; Kyla; Mark Blayney; Teagan Beedell; Cory Gallant; Erin Fleury; Mia Kulba; and Laura Rose, who recently became the third member of The Daughters – congratulations, Laura! Is there any doubting that we are blessed by an abundance of local Country Music talent?

Consequently, Kim and Wayne are proud to announce the new Opry North Songwriters’ Café, starting Tuesday, November 5 at The Stampede Corral in Kitchener – which, incidentally, hosts the next Opry North Showcase on Saturday, October 26. Another exciting lineup awaits an eager crowd of Canadian Country Music fans. We’ll see y’all at the Corral!