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Alberta country artist Drew Gregory is riding high off the release of his latest single, "Lay it All Out There."

Alberta country artist Drew Gregory is ready to take on the Canadian country music world with his latest single “Lay it All Out There” and more new music coming soon.

Hailing from Standard, Alberta, Gregory‘s music career exists alongside his farm work. ”I grew up in the country, we farm for a living,” he says. It’s this kind of experience that has shaped Gregory‘s songs. The music from his 2010 debut album Country Hurricane is catchy and upbeat. Gregory also has an EP for sale called My Drunk Friends.

The single “Lay it All Out There” was released in January, and since then Gregory and his band, the Hired Guns, have been promoting their music across Canada. “Lay it All Out There” hit #88 on the Canadian country charts, a great achievement for Gregory because he is an independent artist.

A new single will be released at the end of April 2012, but Gregory is careful not to share too many details. He says, ”The new song is a real fast-paced summer tune. That’s all I can tell you.” Gregory‘s new music was recorded at MCC Recording Studios in Calgary. ”[MCC Recording Studios] believe in what we’re doing and they’ve been awesome,” says Gregory.

Most of his music is written in Nashville, and Gregory loves traveling to Music City. “There’s a bunch of Canadian writers down there, it’s a great community,” he says. Regardless of where he is writing, Gregory says “[Every song I write] is about something that happened to me. I’m just not a good story writer, I can’t do a big elaborate story about something that happened to somebody else. Authenticity is very important to me, it’s what we’re going after.”

After returning from Nashville, Gregory and the Hired Guns drove north to Ontario. ”We hit about 17 radio stations on the way back home and had a blast,” says Gregory. That radio tour helped Gregory introduce himself and his music to the rest of Canada.

“I’m really just trying to get further across Canada [in 2012]. We’re going to be going out to the CCMA Awards in [Saskatoon in September]. I want to build a fanbase across Canada. Expanding is really our goal,” says Gregory.

The Hired Guns consist of players Gregory found through family members and mutual friends. He says that after a few years of playing with the guys in his band, he can’t think of playing with anybody else. “They’re all great guys, we’ve never had any of that band drama you hear about,” says Gregory.

Aside from writing and performing, Gregory is actively involved in managing his own career through social media. With the help of his manager Angie Morris, Gregory has built a following on Facebook and twitter. He says that social media sites like Facebook are great because they’re free advertising and perfect for connecting directly with fans.

“I do all my own publicity, and I want to continue to do that. Every time somebody e-mails me I try to get back to them and have that respect. You do that a few times and you make fans for life,” says Gregory.

“All [social media] takes is time. You don’t have to pull out huge ads in newspapers. All this new stuff is free. You don’t even need a big distribution deal, you can get your music spread across Canada with every internet store there is. That’s where everybody’s buying nowadays,” Gregory says.

His experience as a farmer is what guides Gregory through the music business. He says, ”The farm is one of those things where you have to do everything. You have to do your own managing and run all of the equipment. You have a little hand in everything. I’ve taken that over to the music.”

In 2010, Gregory won the Country 105 FM Lamlee’s Best Original Song contest with his song “Country Hurricane.” “There were some great original songs in the finals that guys were throwing out, it’s pretty special to just be in the finals, let alone win anything,” says Gregory.

In July 2012, Gregory will be a part of the Calgary Stampede‘s centennial celebrations by performing every morning at the Calgary Stampede Rope Square Breakfast. Check his official website for more 2012 tour dates.

“Little things happen here and there that help me know I’m doing the right thing, for sure,” says Gregory.

Check out Drew Gregory‘s “Lay it All Out There” on radiowrangler.com

Special thanks to Angie Morris and Sirroma Entertainment

-2012, radiowrangler

Chad Brownlee is currently promoting his latest album, "Love Me or Leave Me."

Canadian country artist Chad Brownlee is hot off the release of his sophomore studio album, Love Me or Leave Me, and a cross-Canada tour with American country superstar Dierks Bentley.

In 2009, Brownlee released his self-titled debut album.Brownlee says, ”I look back on it, and I really can’t believe where I was three years ago with my first single to where we are now. It’s gone like lightspeed.”

Indeed, Love Me or Leave Me is a strong effort from start to finish. The lead-off single, “Love Me or Leave Me,”  cracked the top 10 on the Canadian country radio charts. The album’s second single, “Smoke in the Rain,” has just been sent to radio.

“It’s been fortunate that country radio in Canada has been playing my songs and the fanbase is growing. Can’t ask for more than that,” Brownlee says.

Love Me or Leave Me features a more mature, adult sound than Brownlee‘s debut record. He says, that ”I knew more going into this album. I was a little more experienced, a little more confident in what I wanted. It was a very rewarding experience.”

Brownlee cites “In His Own Terms” and “Leave Here Dying Young” as his two favourites off of Love Me or Leave Me. “In His Own Terms” was written for his grandfather and “Leave Here Dying Young” is about his dad. Brownlee says that he loves songs with a deep personal connection.

In February, Brownlee toured with Dierks Bentley from Vancouver to Winnipeg. The eight-date tour was a great experience for Brownlee, both personally and professionally. ”[Dierks] and everybody on his crew were so welcoming. We got along great. We had a blast, we just wish we had more shows to play together,” he says.

Brownlee is a former professional hockey player. He was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the sixth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He last played for the Idaho Steelheads of the East Coast Hockey League in 2008.

Brownlee shared his love for hockey with Bentley when the two were in Winnipeg on the last date of their tour. “We went out with guys that do a game-day shinny, guys that work for the [Winnipeg Jets]. It was me, Dierks and his fiddle player [Dan Hochhalter]. It was definitely one of the highlights.”

Bentley is somewhat of a poster-boy for the NHL in southern U.S.A. markets like Nashville. During the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Bentley‘s “Am I the Only One” was used by the league for promotional purposes. Brownlee says that ”For the amount that [Dierks] has probably been out on the ice, he does pretty good for a southern boy. He just enjoys it, it’s fun to be around people like that.”

Brownlee says that overall, his hockey career has had a lasting influence on his music. ”I don’t regret a second of my hockey days, hockey’s turned me into a person who can navigate his way through the music business. You need a thick skin at times, you can’t just stop at an obstacle that gets in your way.

“Hockey’s definitely one of those sports that teaches you that. You’re gonna have teams you don’t make, coaches who are yelling at you. You can’t just cower and look away, you have to face the music. That’s what makes you stronger. If I didn’t have those years of hockey I wouldn’t be in the position I am today,” says Brownlee.

Love Me or Leave Me has been getting great feedback from fans via Facebook and twitter, and Brownlee admits to checking social media to gauge fan response to his new music.

In 2012, Brownlee and his band will be playing a series of show dates at country music festivals like the Craven Country Jamboree in Craven, Saskatchewan, the Boothill Hill Country Jamboree in Bothwell, Ontario, Manitoulin Countryfest in Little Current, Ontario and Capital Hoedown in Ottawa, Ontario.

Brownlee says that for theses summer festivals, his band is preparing to bring their live show to a whole new level of entertainment.

Check out Chad Brownlee‘s latest single, “Smoke in the Rain,” on radiowrangler.com

Special thanks to Holly Cybulski at HC Consulting.

-2012, radiowrangler

Clayton Bellamy is celebrating the release of "Everyone's a Dreamer" and a new charity project.

Clayton Bellamy has just released his third solo album called Everyone’s a Dreamer. A veteran of the Canadian country world, Bellamy‘s latest effort combines his charity work and music into one entity.

When asked about Everyone’s a Dreamer, Bellamy says, “Doing this record for me was a lot more work. I found my groove creatively as a solo artist. [With my solo music], I can delve into different topics and characters and move outside of the lines a little bit more.”

Bellamy is of course referencing his previous membership in the country-rock supergroup the Road Hammers. The Road Hammers featured fellow Canuck country artists Jason McCoy and Chris Byrne. The Road Hammers called it quits in 2010.

“If there’s fan out that love the songs I wrote and sang with the Road Hammers, and they’re definitely going to like the songs I write on a Clayton Bellamy record,” Bellamy says. It’s true, the fun vibe of the Road Hammers is still with Bellamy‘s music. Everyone’s a Dreamer is packed with optimistic, upbeat songs that showcase Bellamy‘s talent.

Bellamy says his favourite song on the album is “Drop ‘er in Low.” Available only as a bonus track to digital downloads of Everyone’s a Dreamer, “Drop ‘er in Low” is one of the few love songs in Bellamy’s catalog. “I’m not great at writing love songs, I think I’m better at expressing other emotions,” says Bellamy. ”There’s not enough songs that mention the fact that love is hard work. Sometimes you just have to put ‘er in low gear and push on through the hard stuff to get to the other side where the good stuff is.”

Everyone’s a Dreamer‘s promotional video includes a guest appearance from Inuit NHL hockey player Jordin Tootoo. Both Tootoo and Bellamy share a mutual friend in fiddler David Pichette of Emerson Drive. The Everyone’s a Dreamer promotional video is meant to introduce fans to another side of Bellamy‘s latest release.

“We use the video to not only promote the song but also promote the Everyone’s a Dreamer project. We took the project to 16 different schools in Alberta this past spring,” says Bellamy.

The Everyone’s a Dreamer project is a speaking tour that Bellamy uses to teach school-aged children about following their dreams and achieving their goals. ”I didn’t want the Everyone’s a Dreamer album to be just another thing I had to sell. I wanted to be the change I wanted to see in the world, y’know?,” says Bellamy. Being the change he wants to see in the world is influenced by his favourite Mahatma Gandhi quote.

“Out of the blue I got a call to do an alumni speech in my hometown [of Bonnyville, Alberta]. It went over like gangbusters. I got together with a few teachers after the event and we put together a program based on my story and tools that kids can use to figure out their dream, make a plan and work towards accomplishing their goals,” Bellamy says.

The Everyone’s a Dreamer project teaches kids that, ”You can’t just say ‘yeah, I wanna be this.’ You have to know how to do it.” Bellamy makes sure to stress the importance of hard work and goal-setting on the road to living out dreams.

“I’m really trying to grow Everyone’s a Dreamer into a national program. I’d love to go across the country and speak to kids about following their dreams and finding their passion in life,” says Bellamy.

He also says that, “Being a dad now, definitely I want to inspire my own kids to do what they love and change the world. That’s how we change it, one person at a time. It’s not broad strokes. Every person has to be motivated to want to make a little bit of change.”

This summer, the Clayton Bellamy Band will be touring across Canada and performing at three major country music festivals. The Clayton Bellamy Band will be appearing at the Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, Alberta, Countryfest in Dauphin, Manitoba and Saugeen Summer Nights in Harriston, Ontario.

When Bellamy is touring as a solo performer, he says that “There’s extra pressure, but also, I can do whatever I want. There’s no borders to sound like this or look like that. If I wanna break down and do an acoustic set, I can. If I want to do some rockers, I can too. [Being a solo artist] allows me a bit more freedom, I think.”

Also, Bellamy does a webcast on the 29th of every month where fans can interact in a live webchat with him. Bellamy’s next webcast happens on April 29th at 6 p.m. CST/7 p.m. EST on stickam.com.

For more information on Clayton Bellamy tour dates and the Everyone’s a Dreamer project, check out his official website.

-2012, radiowrangler

The Washboard Union are preparing to release their self-titled debut album in 2012.

The Washboard Union are prepping their self-titled debut album for release, and these Vancouver alt-country ramblers could not be happier.

radiowrangler.com spoke with Dunner, one of the band’s lead vocalists and banjoist, about the Washboard Union‘s forthcoming release and plans for the rest of 2012.

Dunner is best known to Vancouver music fans as the Program Director of 99.3 FM The Fox. He says that he spends all his time away from the station working as a member of the Washboard Union. Dunner has been a country fan his entire life.

“I’ve always listened [to country music]. My dad played me enough Sons of the Pioneers and Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings as a kid to fill up a boat. My brother [Aaron Grain] and I were just played that music from early on, and it turned out our buddies loved it too. So we started playing together and just made it our own. [Country music] has just always been there.”

Dunner and Grain, as well as band members Sam Masterton, David Roberts, Craig McCaul, Matt Van Dyke, Scott Paulley and Dougal Bain Maclean make great music together. From electric guitars to stand-up bass to actual washboards, the Washboard Union combine their rootsy vibe with great songwriting.

“I think I’m a fan of great songwriting, first of all, and whether you find that in country or hip hop or you find that anywhere. We were all punk rock guys early on, and I think that the stories you find in those songs are the same great stories you find in country,” says Dunner.

The sense of community within the Washboard Union is something to be admired. The members were friends before starting the band, and that relationship is especially valued by Dunner. ”I’m lucky enough to have some of the best friends in the world. We just found out that we make really great music together. We’d be together anyways,” he says.

The Washboard Union is the band’s debut album. Recorded with producer Gggarth Richardson (Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers), Dunner says the entire experience was a dream come true.

“[Gggarth Richardson] hadn’t done an album like this before, he’d done a ton of rock artists over the years and had some incredibly successful records. He wanted to try this, he really liked our music. For us, as songwriters and musicians, it was an experience not a lot of us get to enjoy. It was absolutely incredible. He’s been a huge part of the band and the music that we make,” says Dunner.

“We did most of the Washboard Union record up at the Farm Studio in [Gibsons, British Columbia] with Gggarth and we did some of the album in Vancouver at Nimbus Studios as well.”

Richardson part-owns Nimbus School of Recording Arts and the studio space with award-winning producer Bob Ezrin (KISS, Pink Floyd). Ezrin recorded the song “Half Cree” with the Washboard Union, a song that is included on their debut album. Dunner says that Ezrin personally decided to work with the band after Richardson sent Ezrin a tape of some hot Vancouver bands.

The Washboard Union just played Canadian Music Week in Toronto and are preparing for a summer of record promoting and tour dates. ”We’re getting lined up for the summer. We’re going to be headlining Kelowna on Canada Day, we’re gonna be heading up to Merritt Mountainfest as well. We hope to have a very busy summer.”

Check out the Washboard Union‘s music video for “Lost and Found“ on radiowrangler.com

For full tour dates and news, check out the Washboard Union‘s official website.

-2012, radiowrangler

Trevor Murray will release his debut album "Leave it Up to Me" in April 2012.

With his catchy songwriting and fresh take on traditional country music, Trevor Murray is an artist to watch in the Canadian country scene.

Murray‘s music is well versed in tradition. A longtime fan of country music, Murray‘s sound is a combination of musical and family influences. ”I was born in [Cloverdale, British Columbia], but my family moved to [White Rock, British Columbia], when I was four. There’s just a lot of good people out there,” says Murray.

“I listened to a lot of different music growing up. On car rides [my family and I would] always be listening to Waylon Jennings and George Jones tapes. Country was around, I was also into rock and Pearl Jam too growing up, but the country kings just kinda stuck with me.”

Murray speaks with a trademark drawl that is unlike his fellow Fraser Valley residents. His twangy voice translates into his singing style, giving Murray a rich vocal range that is unlike his contemporaries. Murray attributes his unique way of talking to his father.

“My dad was from Windsor, Ontario, a border town. Everywhere he went people were always asking him if he was from the States. I get the same thing wherever I go. Neither of us are faking, it’s just part of us,” he says.

When he begins to detail his music career, Murray‘s passion for great songs and live performances comes through. ”Whether I was living at home or wherever, I was always singing. I was a pretty shy kid growing up, but when I was about 20 or 21 I started working with some people. I learned to play guitar over the years at parties and stuff, sorta came out of my shell a little more,” he says.

“It’s all about playing songs that people can relate to. Whether its families, little three and four year-old kids dancing in front of the stage, or driving music.” says Murray.

Murray founded the Murray Band in 2008 with John Grant, Jim Ingram and Noel Peters. The Murray Band released an album, Down this Road, in October 2008.

After a few years of playing in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland of B.C., the Murray Band went on hiatus. Murray says, “”The guys in the Murray Band are supportive [of my solo career], they’re all busy guys. Life gets in the way sometimes, y’know?”

Murray will release his debut album, Leave it Up to Me, on April 17, 2012. The album will be available on iTunes and CDBaby.

“Leave it Up to Me is a collection of 11 original songs and I feel real good about it,” Murray says. The album is a mixture of all his influences, and features a cowrite on the song “Louise” with former Murray Band member Noel Peters.”‘Louise‘ is kind of a throwback tune. Noel wrote the music way back. He played me the song a while ago and I came back with the words a couple of days later,” says Murray.

When asked about the recording process behind the album, Murray says, ”I just realized it was time for me to take a shot.

“I went down to Nashville, my wife came with me. It was a great experience. I worked with Dan Drilling from Panda Productions. What’s cool about Dan is that he was one of Randy Travis‘ first guitar players, but I think for the last 20 years or so he’s been Jimmy C. Newman‘s guitar player on the Grand Ole Opry stage. He played some guitar on my album as well.”

Playing with some of Nashville‘s elite session musicians was only a part of his time in Music City, USA. Murray soaked in the night life and music scene every chance he could.

“It was a dream come true. I love the live music scene on Broadway. On city block there’s maybe 15 to 20 bars that are playing my kind of music. George Jones, Dwight Yoakam, just good music. No cover charge. You got one or two dollar beers. If you’re tired of the music you just walk next door, leave a few bucks cause they all play for tips down there, and hear a new band,” says Murray.

Once the album is released, Murray will play a series of shows throughout B.C.. ”I’ll work this new album as far as I can,” he says.

“I’m opening for Crystal Shawanda at the Cascades Casino in Langley, British Columbia on April 26. 93.7 JRfm and Rock.It Boy Entertainment are co-sponsoring the event. I’m really excited about that opportunity, it’s gonna be a fun show.

“We’re also playing July 14 and 15 at the Township 7 Vineyards & Winery in Langley to support the Fibromyalgia Wellspring Foundation.”

His shows at the Township 7 Vineyards represent the charitable side of Murray‘s personality. “If there’s an opportunity to help out a good cause than we like to do so,” he says.

“The country community in B.C. is a really tight group. We all rally around each other. One of the first gigs the Murray Band ever did was at the Crescent Beach Legion to support a little girl named Ella-Ray Lewis [who was battling skin cancer]. Those are the kinds of gigs we like to play.”

“We’ve all got to help each other. The music industry isn’t necessary an easy thing all the time.”

Check out Trevor Murray‘s “Faster Every Time” from his forthcoming album, Leave it Up to Me.

Stay tuned to everything Trevor Murray  at www.trevor-murray.com!

-2012, radiowrangler

Read the full press release below:

Look out Toronto! The Washboard Union is coming to Canadian Music Week! Known for their incredible live show, The Washboard Union is a 7-piece outlaw bluegrass band from Vancouver, BC and is the only band in Canada to feature banjo, mandolin, dojo, harp, dobro, guitar, fiddle, lap steel, drums, 4 singers and of course, the mighty washboard.

The Washboard Union recently completed their self-titled debut album with acclaimed producer Gggarth Richardson (RHCP, Rage Against the Machine) which is set for release this summer. The 12-track album includes a cover of the 1947 Alton Delmore song “Midnight Train” and original songs such as “Lost and Found” and “Halfcree” which was produced by the legendary Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Lou Reed).

Described as “a 3 car pile up of Steve Earle, Drive By Truckers and Old Crow Medicine Show”, The Washboard Union will be rolling into Toronto for 3 separate shows at Canadian Music Week 2012 – March 21st at The Silver Dollar, March 22nd at Dakota and March 23rd at Supermarket. That’s 3 opportunities to see The Washboard Union live – don’t miss out!

For more information, check out the Washboard Union‘s official website for more information.

Check out the Washboard Union‘s new single “Lost and Found” on radiowrangler.com!

B.C. country artist Roger Schmidt is currently recording his sophomore album, due out later this year.

Roger Schmidt‘s music is a product of his Hope, British Columbia, raising. Schmidt brings to B.C. country a fresh take on traditional country music.

When it comes to discussing his music, Schmidt is both humble and gracious. He says, ”There wasn’t a whole lot to do in my hometown so music was kind of a good way to pass the time.”

“I’ve been playing guitar since high school, but I just started the writing recently. I’ve been writing for about three or four years now and I’ve been singing for about five or six,” says Schmidt.

Schmidt is an independent artist, and that brings with it a whole list of trials and tribulations. Self-managed and actively involved in the production side of his music, Schmidt says “everything I’ve learned is from friends and colleagues. It’s all from picking people’s brains. It’s a great industry.

“Everyone tells you tips and what to avoid. Music conferences are great to go to as well. You learn who to hang out with and who not to hang out with. There’s a lot of pitfalls but there’s a lot of gratification.”

Having enough money to record and promote his music is the biggest challenge facing his independent music career. He says that when artists make albums, they should be prepared to spend the same amount or more promoting their music afterwards. Paying musicians and producers to make his music sound so good is another necessary part of the business. “It’s all about trying to get it to the next level,” says Schmidt.

“As an independent artist you have to be involved [in the business side of your music]. When you look at the words music business, “music” should be in small letters and “business” should be in big letters,” says Schmidt.

The best part about all the hard work Schmidt puts into his music is performing on stage. He loves working a crowd and having people connect with his songs.

A late-comer to country music, Schmidt discovered how much he loved this music after getting his British Columbia Class 1 driver’s license, which allows drivers to handle semi-trucks.

“I was really struggling with my truck driving, so I thought I should get into the mood. I put on the country radio station, listened to some Road Hammers, and the next thing you know, I’m listening to country all the time. I guess it sort of helped me learn how to drive!” says Schmidt.

He laughs when he says that as a kid, his house was full of country music. His parents were big fans of the genre. “Going through high school, though, I was a heavy metal head,” says Schmidt.

“I tried singing rock, but it just didn’t fit. When you listen to a country song, it always has a story to it. You’re not just trying to get a really good chorus,” says Schmidt. He loves the storytelling aspect of country music, and cites Brad Paisley as a huge influence.

Schmidt is working his sophomore album, due out in 2012. Working with producer Rob Begg has helped Schmidt take his music to the next level. He says that Begg can always find areas in the music that can be polished or re-arranged, a skill that Schmidt really admires. Every song on the album will be written by Schmidt.

“I’ve got a few live gigs coming up. I’ll be doing  the Hell’s Gate customer appreciation day up in [Boston Bar, British Columbia], again this year. I’m also booked to play the Summer Smash demolition derby in Hope too. I just want to get as many gigs as I can but focus more on the recording right now,” says Schmidt.

Check out Roger Schmidt performing his song “Drink You Pretty” at the 2010 BCCMA Awards.

-2012, radiowrangler

Gabriel Marshall and Bryon White of the Damn Quails: "What you hear on the record is what you're gonna hear live."

From their back porch in Norman, Oklahoma, the Damn Quails settle in around a webcam. With birds chirping in the background and the bright Oklahoma sun beating down on their backs, the members of the Damn Quails settle in to share their music with the Great White North.

Marshall and White combined their efforts into the Damn Quails. With additional musicians surrounding them, the Damn Quails embody an Americana vibe that is also in-line with the Red Dirt music of acts like Cross Canadian Ragweed and the Great Divide.

The Damn Quails‘ debut album, Down the Hatch, has met with both critical and commercial success since its release in 2011. The record’s lead-off single, “Fool’s Gold,” is in the top 10 of both the Texas Music Chart and Tex Net. Down the Hatch has also broken the top 10 on the Americana Music Chart.

“It was a surprise to us [to break the top 10 on the Americana Music Chart]. You’re not really on the chart until you hit that #40 mark, and when we hit the top 40 it was amazing. When we hit the top 10, it didn’t really feel real,” says White. This is the first music that either Marshall or White has charted. As of now, the Damn Quails are on every music chart in Texas.

The band’s music is country, folksy and bluesy. The songs have a great backbeat that gives the lyrics and melody a chance to flow.

Integral to the Damn Quails‘ sound is multi-instrumentalist Jon Knudson. Knudson says he played mandolin, fiddle and “some of the keys stuff” on Down the Hatch. The album’s co-producer, Joe Hardy, also played most of the dobro parts on Down the Hatch. “Joe’s parts kinda tie the whole record together,” says White.

The band’s record label, 598 Recordings, is an up-and-coming label based in the Damn Quails‘ home state of Oklahoma. Run by fellow Red Dirt artist Mike McClure, the Damn Quails were one of the first acts to be signed to McClure‘s new label. ”Being the first band signed is a little weird but everything’s gone real good so far. It’s a cool deal, man. We’re living high,” says White.

“McClure was one of the first guys to come out of Stillwater and kind of started the whole thing with his band the Great Divide. He’s kind of a legend around Oklahoma and Texas,” says Marshall.

Marshall‘s not exaggerting. McClure‘s reputation as a champion of roots-rock music is known throughout the Oklahoma-Texas area. “McClure‘s really on our side with everything, like he’s very artistically minded. What we want is what we get. He’s real good with giving us breathing room,” says White.

“He knows what not to do,” says White. “He didn’t want to put anybody else through that. He really digs our stuff and we’ve got this mutual respect thing.”

The Damn Quails are up for three Lone Star Music Awards in 2012, including Best Americana/Roots-Rock Album. Critical success, however, is not as important to the Damn Quails as connecting with fans through live performances.

“It’s great to be out on the charts and its great that so many people are playing the record, but what really gets us going is the crowds,” says Marshall. White agrees, saying that the shenanigans of the road are what really drives him to play music for a living.

“When we first started doing this thing is when I started playing around with ReverbNation and facebook. I didn’t get into twitter until about six months ago. It’s ridiculous. Literally at every show at least three or four people that know us through twitter come out and want to see us play,” says White.

“We started out, Bryon and I, doing a weekly song-swap at this place called the Deli in Norman. We’ve known a lot of musicians just from playing around and bands that we enjoy listening to. Every Monday night, people would come on stage with us at the Deli to the point where it was a weekly thing with about 10 people on stage,” says Marshall.

The Damn Quails really feel that Down the Hatch is the best way to describe their live show. ”What you hear on the record is what you’re gonna hear live,” says Marshall.

Marshall and White admit to being studio-lovers. They love the process of writing, recording and performing music. ”I love being in the studio. It’s just a totally fun, different twist on the same concept. We come up with new ideas on the fly and try to make sense of it all,” says White.

The rest of 2012 is filled with more live dates and promotion of Down the Hatch. ”We’re booked solid throughout the summer and fall, we just want to get out and play. We’re gonna stretch this one out as long as possible,” says Marshall.

“It’ll give us time to take these new songs out on the road too. That’s what made the first record so good. We’re not gonna mess with that process. See how people react to new songs without the benefit of having heard it before,” says White.

While the band has yet to tour Canada, both White and Marshall say they are interested in coming up above the 49th parallel. They are keen to share their take on Americana with Canadian audiences.

Check out “Fool’s Gold,” the lead-off single of the Damn Quails‘ Down the Hatch.

-2012, radiowrangler

High Valley's new single "Have I Told You I Love You Lately" is now spinning on country radio.

La Crete, Alberta’s High Valley have charted four Top 20 singles on Canadian country radio and have another hit on their hands with “Have I Told You I Love You Lately.” After a busy year of touring with Paul Brandt and promoting their debut album, High Valley has also received a 2012 Juno Award nomination for Best Country Album of the Year.

Singer-guitarist Brad Rempel says “[Have I Told You I Love You Lately] is the fastest chart ascension for us ever.” He says that having his music on Canadian airwaves is “pretty mindblowing, we’ll never get sick of hearing ourselves on the radio.”

“Have I Told You I Love You Lately” was written by Rempel and Danny Wells. Wells is the writer of hits like George Strait‘s “Check Yes or No” and Rascal Flatts‘ “These Days.” Rempel says that he and Wells just loved the melody and played the song’s chorus over and over after writing the lyrics.

High Valley, a trio that features brothers Brad, Bryan and Curtis Rempel, has been one of Canadian country’s biggest successes of the past year. Their hard work has been rewarded by the Canuck music community in the form of a 2012 Juno Award nomination.

“It’s crazy,” says Rempel, “we hadn’t even thought of being potentially nominated. To have our debut record considered in the same category as [artists like Jason McCoy, Doc Walker, Terri Clark and Jimmy Rankin] is great.”

Brad and Curtis Rempel will also be playing in the Juno Cup hockey game during the Juno Awards‘ festivities in Ottawa on March 30. Jim Cuddy, Sam Roberts, Luke Doucet and Dustin Bentall are among the some of the other artists involved in the event. After the game, High Valley, Jason McCoy and Jimmy Rankin will play a show together.

High Valley‘s tour with Paul Brandt wrapped March 12 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. After months of being on the road with Brandt, Rempel says “we’re thankful for Paul and what he’s done for us. He’s opened a lot of doors.” Brandt cowrote High Valley‘s hit single “On the Combine” and Rempel helped to cowrite Brandt‘s new single, “Together Again.”

Off stage, Rempel says the atmosphere with Brandt is fantastic. Rempel laughs when he says that after shows both bands often watch Brandt‘s favourite movie, Nacho Libre, together.

In 2012, High Valley will release their sophomore album, Love is a Long Road. Rempel says, “we just finished recording about two weeks ago. I fly to Nashville soon to finish mixing and mastering.” He adds, “we’ll be touring hard this summer, playing shows all the way from P.E.I. to Vancouver.”

Check out High Valley’s latest single, “Have I Told You I Love You Lately” on radiowrangler.com.

-2012, radiowrangler