The

O.C.P.F.A

Kick off

( Ontario Country Performer And Fan Association )

  On February 27, 2000 Nashville North in Norval, Ontario was the site of one of the hottest events of this year for Ontario country music.  The new organization formed by Nashville North’s Jerry Carroll and his co-founder Scott Leslie promises to be a major source of support and representation for Ontario’s artists and fans and so far, it’s looking pretty good.  The turn out by both fans and artists was very impressive as was the show put on by group after group of Ontario’s best.  For the fans the chance to meet and speak to their favourites as they roamed freely through the crowd will probably not be found anywhere else this year in the more structured concert season.  Look for more about this organization because it’ll be a party you won’t want to miss.

   Those performers who appeared were given 15-minute spots to showcase their material and if you think that’s not enough time think again.  Considering that over twenty acts were due to perform from 2pm until after 11pm it made for a very long day, not that you’d want to miss a thing.  After all, there was something for everyone from those that did slower ballads to those that had you reeling from the energy of their 15 minutes.  Interspersed throughout with little breaks for equipment changes or to arrange the next lineup there was enough time to mix and mingle and get to photograph those latest arrivals.  A steady flow of incoming patrons made it a little hectic to find who you were looking for but when you looked around and realized you were standing five feet from Beverley Mahood and three feet from John Landry you didn’t mind the crowd a bit.

A few notes about the show for those who didn’t make it out:  Click on the artists name to see the pics !

·         Art Dayton, who has a CD out from AME Records called “No Strings Attached” gave an excellent performance, lively and very well received by the crowd.

·         Mark LaForme was outstanding and in my opinion could have used a double spot instead of his allotted time.  A real crowd pleaser, he had to leave the show right after his spot due to another performance that same night.  If he shows up near you he’s definitely worth checking out and if you pick up his CD’s you won’t be disappointed.

·         Southern Reign did an excellent job of George Strait’s “Write This Down” followed by their version of “Amazed” which I’m sure Lonestar would have approved of.

·         Kingspeed exploded on stage at 5:15 with an energy that set everyone back on their heels.  Sawyer Brown has nothing over Kingspeed to judge by their energetic stage presence.  Their version of “Hey Good-Looking” makes other versions look like they’re standing still.

·         Printers Alley~ what can we say?  Superb set, starting off with “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” that had everyone on their feet.  This was followed by a ballad that showcased the extraordinary range of this group from Kingston.

·         Homestead did an extremely tight job of “Blame it On Me” off of their CD of the same name. This Hamilton group proved why they’re known as country’s best-kept secret, with tight vocals and polished musicians.

·     Robyn Pauhl delivered her usual power packed performance, bringing a rousing cheer from the crowd after “Second Chance”.  Her delivery of the heartfelt “By Now” drew praise due to the emotion and maturity in her voice.  By the way, this young lady has just turned 16 on March 3, proving that the best is not yet to come but is here right now.

·         Heather Smith also had a good showing, with a hearty, strong performance.  She’s an excellent entertainer and I would like to see more of her.

·         Kelly Vohnn proved that she’s not only beautiful but this lady really rocks.  She has a CD released by the Payback label called “A New Beginning” that is attracting a lot of national attention and her showcase explained why.  If you get a chance to see her don’t miss it.

·         Johnny Reid, who has a video to go with his self-titled CD, had the crowd calling for more after his set.  This Ottawa based artist delivers vocals with strength and a smoothness that belies the surprisingly prominent Scottish accent still present when speaking.  Scotlands’ loss is Ontario country’s gain and we guarantee you’ll hear a lot more about him in the next few months.

·         DW James gave a solid solo effort with his acoustic work and smooth vocals and was well received by the crowd.  He does a great job of drawing the crowd into his show.

·         Thomas Wade sounds amazing and his spot flew by too quickly.  It’s almost a crime to have so much fun while you work, as was proven when he was joined onstage by two of the lovely ladies of Lace who became his background dancers.  What more could a guy ask for?

·         Jim Witter led off with his new “Tough as a Pickup Truck” and I for one look forward to every show he does, he is just excellent on stage. 

·         Jamie Warren gave his usual smooth performance, ending his set with “I Cried All the Way Home”, proving why he wins so many awards.  His voice is almost too good to believe and I enjoy it every time I hear it (live being better of course).

·         Lace!  What a show!  I’m so glad Canada has them.  They started with an a cappella version of “Wine, Women and Song” that left you wondering why they need musicians at all.  “Kiss’ Em All” followed this and it ended all too soon.  Absolutely superb show ladies.  Not only beautiful but talent just flows from this trio.  Stacey Lee is a perfect addition to Beverley and Giselle and the fun they have together is obvious on stage and off.

The only somewhat disappointing part of the night was not getting to hear John Landry perform but with major dental surgery that weekend we were lucky he was able to make it out.  What an amazing man and a real gentleman too.  He looked fantastic for what he’d had to go through and the fans appreciated his support at this event.

For those who wish to learn more about the Ontario Country Performer & Fan Association there will be another kick-off party in Ottawa at Zuma’s on April 9^th, 2000 from 3:00pm until closing.  Contact either Zuma’s or the O.C.P.F.A. for more information.  Check out Nashville North’s website or call 1-877-916-2732 (toll free) for the latest info.

Written by: Kim Jamieson