In The Country With Dave Woods

ELYSE SAUNDERS is a talented artist and humanitarian who believes that music is a great way to bring people together for a greater cause. This year, Warm Coats Warm Hearts Benefit Concert will be held on Sunday Nov 24th at The Revival on College Street in Toronto.The admission is a gently used or new coat/winter wear with a goal to raise 200 coats. The evening will include the incredible magician Baldini, who will also MC, with performances from Elyse Saunders, Donna Ferra, Arlene Paculan, Kat Leonard, Kiri and Universal Music headliner Dane Hartsell. In 2012, Warm Coats Warm Hearts was born and has now become an official annual benefit concert & coat drive produced in conjunction with charitable organization www.OneWarmCoat.org and production company Music Mentor Productions. A national single release & video of the original song Warm Christmas, written by Elyse Saunders and Peter Linseman, was inspired by the cause in 2012 and will be re-released each year for the annual Warm Coats Warm Hearts campa

MEAGHAN BLANCHARD, a vibrant red-headed singer-songwriter, grew up in the rolling hills of beautiful Prince Edward Island. Although a shy and quiet child, Meaghan gravitated towards music with a natural ability to write & hum her own tunes at a very young age. As she grew up, Meaghan’s natural vocal ability had her front and center of a number of community gatherings, children’s choirs and kitchen parties in her home town of Hunter River. Although Meaghan’s shyness followed her throughout her school years, she found comfort in logging away her hopes and dreams in small journals that she kept tucked into her desks. Tired of letting her shyness get in the way of her musical dreams, Meaghan turned to her grandmother Glenda - a Country singer who performed most weekends in the rural halls of PEI - for advice. Grammy Glenda’s words still have meaning to her to this day: “Look for the person in the audience who is looking like they’re having a bad day and sing to them; make em’ smile. It’ll take your fear away,

Seven-time CCMA Award winner DEAN BRODY is set to release his highly anticipated fourth studio album entitled Crop Circles on November 5, 2013. Featuring the Top 10 hit Bounty featuring Lindi Ortega, Dean showcases his abilities as a singer-songwriter to push the boundaries of traditional Country music on the new album. This past September, Brody was honoured for the second time in a row with the CCMA Award for Male Artist of the Year (received in 2013 and 2012), which follows his back-to back wins for Album of the Year (Trail In Life and Dirt) in 2011 and 2012. He has also received honours for Single of the Year and Songwriter of the Year for his self-written Trail In Life. His success has brought him to the forefront of audiences; two-time JUNO Award nominee, chosen as one of Hello! Canada’s Most Beautiful Canadians, his music featured on Degrassi - The Next Generation and has performed on CBC's Fall Season Preview, CBC's Stampede 100!, CITY TV- The Bachelor Canada and more. In January 2014, he begins his C

Tune in for this radio special celebrating the hits of Canadian Country artist Charlie Major. UP TILL NOW is the name of this program whichfeatures songs from Charlie Major’s latest album The Best 20 of the Last 20 - The Greatest Hits. This special presentation looks at Charlie’s successful musical career by sharing some of the hit singles throughout the past 20 years along with two new singles only available on the album. As well, Charlie will be sharing stories about the inspiration behind his songs. You'll hear Right Here Right Now, For The Money, It Can't Happen To Me & more of the hit songs we've come to know and love from Charlie Major.

JUSTIN MOORE'S hit songs include Small Town USA, If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away, Bait A Hook and Til My Last Day. His first two albums JUSTIN MOORE and OUTLAWS LIKE ME were certified GOLD for sales of over 500,000 copies. Justin recently wrapped up his first-ever headlining tour as well as support dates with Darius Rucker. In September 2013, he released his brand new album Off The Beaten Path featuring the first single Point At You. That song has become Justin's fastest-rising single to date. Produced by Jeremy Stover, the new album also features duets with Miranda Lambert (Old Habits)and legend Charlie Daniels (For Some Ol Redneck Reason). The standard version of the album has 11 songs while the deluxe version has 16 songs.

JUNO & CCMA-nominated Saskatchewan Country artist DONNY PARENTEAU introduced the anti-bullying campaign Bully Free Zone to Canada recently. At a media conference/school presentation at James L Alexander School in Saskatoon Fairview, Donny spoke about the epidemic of bullying and premiered his new song and music video for Imagine A World. MLA Jennifer Campeau, Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Education (Anti-Bullying Initiative) commented on the government’s perspective and support of the Bully Free Zone campaign. The song has been released to radio and is available for FREE download to the public at www.donnyparenteau.com.Imagine A World is performed in song and on video by Donny Parenteau with Michele Dubois. In addition to a thriving music career, Donny Parenteau speaks passionately to groups on a wide variety of topics, but most dear to his heart is the series he does for schools entitled It Starts With A Dream. Recently after one of his talks, Donny had a conversation with a young girl who had

In Merle Haggard: The Running Kind, DAVID CANTWELL takes us on a revelatory journey through Haggard’s music and the life and times out of which it came. Taking in the entire breadth of the Hag’s career, David focuses especially on the 1960s and 1970s when Haggard created much of his best-known and most influential work. Listening closely to a masterpiece-crowded catalogue (including such songs as Today I Started Loving You Again, Okie from Muskogee, Sing Me Back Home, Mama Tried, Working Man Blues, and If We Make It through December, among many others), David Cantwell explores the fascinating contradictions - the desire for freedom in the face of limits set by the world or self-imposed, most of all - that define not only Haggard’s music and persona but the very heart of Country music. This book is published by the University of Texas Press as part of their American Music Series. Order the book from them here: http://utpress.utexas.edu/index.php/books/canmep Music critic and longtime Haggard fan, DAVID CANTWE

Carleton Place, Ontario Country artist BREA LAWRENSON'S collection of songs reflects her own personal experiences and aspirations. Her musical career has taken her across Canada, and to London, UK. She frequently travels to Nashville to write and record. She's worked with many different songwriters and producers including Stu Epps (UK producer who has worked with the likes of Elton John and Led Zeppelin), Barry Brown (of The Family Brown) and Keith Glass (of the Juno award winning Canadian Country band Prairie Oyster). She's released two music videos, one of which has received over 14,000 views on YouTube. The video for If I'm Not Here Tomorrow is dedicated to all military men and women and has been aired over the Military Network and on Majic 100's Top 20 Countdown Television Broadcast. Brea was recently asked to perform her song on Parliament Hill in Ottawa for the Commissionaires. As well, her song Black And Purple co-written with long-time friend and singer/songwriter Braiden Turner was taken on by the Ca

In Dwight Yoakam, award-winning music journalist DON MCLEESE offers the first musical biography of this acclaimed artist. Tracing the seemingly disparate influences in Yoakam's music, Don shows how Dwight has combined rock and roll, rockabilly, country, blues, and gospel into a seamless whole. In particular, Don explores the essential issue of "authenticity" and how it applies to Yoakam, as well as to country music and popular culture in general. Drawing on wide-ranging interviews with Yoakam and his management, while also benefitting from the perspectives of others closely associated with his musical success (including producer-guitarist Pete Anderson, Yoakam's partner throughout his most popular and creative decades),Dwight Yoakam pays tribute to the musician who has established himself as a visionary beyond time, an artist who could title an album Tomorrow's Sounds Today and deliver it. Don McLeese was formerly the pop music critic for the Chicago Sun-Times and the Austin American-Statesman as well as coun

The new single Let It Burn for Country artist LISA BROKOP was recently released to Canadian radio and was produced by her friend and fellow Country artist Carolyn Dawn Johnson (who also co-wrote the song). The two of them are co-producing Lisa's upcoming album. "This song so perfectly sums up where I am in my life and in my career," says Lisa. "I wrote the song with Carolyn and Brad Crisler just days before hitting the studio for my new project.  It was one of those songs that just came out of nowhere. I always find those are the best ones. I'm excited for everyone to hear it. Carolyn did an amazing job! We're both so proud of it." Born & raised in Vancouver, British Columbia  - now living in Nashville - Lisa has delivered hits to Country radio & CMT for years including Give Me A Ring Sometime, Take That, She Can't Save Him, I'd Like To See You Try & How Do I Let Go. Lisa's success as a songwriter is not only evidenced by the songs she's written for herself to record but as well by the songs she's

Award-winning Country artist DERIC RUTTAN will release his new album entitled Take The Week Off on October 15th. The lead single is the title track and is now the fastest rising single of his career. The new project was recorded in Nashville and produced by Deric and Grammy-nominated producer Luke Wooten (who has also produced for Brad Paisley & Dierks Bentley). No doubt you've heard Blake Shelton's new songMine Would Be You climbing to the top of the Country charts - Deric is a co-writeron the song. He has also had a hand in writing Aaron Pritchett's hit Hold My Beer,Eric Church's Guys Like Me and a couple of Dierks Bentley's hits What Was I Thinkin' & Lot Of Leavin' Left To Do - to name just a few. Deric's upcoming tour is called Your Town Throw Down - with Chad Brownlee & Jason Blaine - across Canada starting October 16th. He's here to talk about the new album, new single, his recent hit Main Street 1979, Blake's current hit & much more!

Originally from Manhattan, Kansas and now living in Nashville, Country artist LARA WISDOM is currently working on her third album. It'll be the follow up to her previous albums Someday and Enough Is Enough. Her passion is not only in performing songs but in writing them as well. Her influences include Trisha Yearwood, Linda Ronstadt and Jann Arden. These days, her favourite venues for taking in live music are the more intimate places where she can listen to singer-songwriters perform. One of those places she enjoys is one she'll also be playing at later in October calledBelcourt Taps. Jace Carlton of 1423 Music in Nashville says: "Easy on the ears and the heart is the best way I can describe the experience of listening to just a few of the songs from Lara Wisdom's latest offering Enough Is Enough. Her voice and melodies are very easy on the ears, while the lyrics tugged at my heart with a gentle, yet passionate intensity."   We'd love to get your feedback on this show or any In The Country interview you've li

Collingwood, Ontario country music artist GRAHAM TRUDE is also known as The Singing Soldier (a title given to him by the legendary Good Brothers). He's an avid outdoorsman who shares his love of life and Canada through his music. In 2007, Graham joined the Canadian Forces and served as an armoured crewmen for five years in Edmonton, Alberta and Toronto, Ontario. Training several areas around the world, he deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 for a nine-month operational tour as a front line soldier. Graham's music career started in 2010 upon his release from the forces. He began to write his own songs and perform across Ontario. His first single Redneck Pride earned him radio airplay at Canadian Country stations. He also sings & co-wrote the theme for the TV show The Real Canadian Joes. Graham is releasing an EP this fall with the lead single & video When I Met God Today.

ANN CHAPLIN is a singer/songwriter from Deep River, Ontario. Her 2008 debut EP What I Meant To Say received 4 nominations from The IMAs (Independent Music Awards). Her Country album Drive was released in January 2013. Growing up in Northern Ontario, Ann began writing songs on the family piano as soon as she was tall enough to reach the keys, and was a part of every choir and band that her school had to offer. In high school, she played viola in the Deep River Symphony Orchestra. Her love of sports and the outdoors also kept her very busy, as she taught sailing and karate for years. Music was the path she chose and years laters she found herself at Noble Street Studios recording her first Country album with some of the industry’s finest musicians and produced by Toronto’s Douglas Romanow. Her first single Wylie received national radio play and created a platform for her second single Whiskey Days which was a top 10 DMDS radio download. Now, Ann has released Drive - the title track from her current CD - to Coun

JIM WITTER released his self-titled debut album in 1993 resulting in a string of top 10 hits: Everything & More, Stolen Moments, Distant Drum, Sweet Sweet Poison & Chevy Coupe. He followed up that success with an album entitled All My Life. The title track - which also climbed the charts - was a co-write with Country artist Steve Wariner. Jim has won several CCMA awards and has been nominated for multiple Juno awards. In 2003, he released a Christian album entitled Forgiveness which earned him a GMA Dove Awards nomination for Album of the Year. In recent years, Jim has been touring in The Piano Men - his tribute to the music of Elton John & Billy Joel. Tune in for some great stories, wonderful memories & a couple of Jim's biggest songs. We'd love to get your feedback on this show or any In The Country interview you've listened to. Please e-mail inthecountry@mail.com with your comments.  

Produced by Grammy award-nominated producerDave Cobb (Jamey Johnson, Secret Sisters, Shooter Jennings), LINDI ORTEGA'S new album Tin Star (to be released Oct 8th) builds on the success of her previous two critically acclaimed works - 2011’s Juno Award-nominated Little Red Boots and 2012's Cigarettes & Truckstops (longlisted for the 2013 Polaris Music Prize). “It’s always my goal to raise the bar with each record I put out. I have witnessed so much talent living in Nashville that has inspired me to push myself even further,” says Toronto-born Lindi. “I like to work with different musicians and producers to change the feel of every release. I don’t want to risk making the same record over and over. Working with a new group brings a new spirit and new ideas to the music.” Several songs on the album touch on the classic themes of country music: loneliness, unrequited love, crumbling relationships and primal desire. Lindi's songs have been featured on the ABC hit TV show Nashville and she made a guest appearan

JULIEN KELLAND is a 14 year old Canadian singer/songwriter from Uxbridge, Ontario. She started singing around the same time she started talking and has been singing with her band in and around Uxbridge & Durham Region since a surprise wedding performance at the age of six. Julien quickly realized that singing and performing were her passion, and that it was all she wanted to do. Her Dad helped develop her love for artists like The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac and endless pop & rock from the past. Later, she discovered artists like Coldplay and Kelly Clarkson. Julien describes her style as being similar to Taylor Swift with an edge. She studies Voice with the Royal Conservatory Of Music, sings with an award winning young woman's ensemble & has been dancing Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical & Tap since she was 3. Her self-titled 4 song debut EP is available on iTunes.

On a Sunday night in September, In The Country once again taped an on location episode at Paul Malysa's Studio. The guest performers include Tia McGraff & Tommy Parham, Chase Stevens, All Night Mule and Kent Leggett. Tune in for a mix of conversation & songs - and some very special musical moments. For more Country music interviews, be sure to visit www.inthecountryinterviews.com.

VICKI LAWRENCE'S comedic adventures as Thelma Mae Harper - better known as Mama - began on the classic and much-loved Carol Burnett Show. Soon after, Vicki starred in six seasons of Mama's Family throughout the 1980s until the final episode in February of 1990. Along with her TV success, Vicki can claim the original recording of the hit song The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia. Her recording of the song climbed the charts in the early 1970s. Mama's Family: The Complete Series featuring all 130 episodes is now available for purchase online at timelife.com. Tune in for my conversation with Vicki Lawrence about the hilarious Mama's Family. This In The Country special presentation also features music from Canadian artists: Alberta group Domino, Saskatchewan's Samara Yung & Ontario's Zac Wrixon.

Manitoba Country artist KIM ERICKSON held her CD Release Party recently at the Park Theater in Winnipeg. Her debut CD is entitled Miss Me and features her previous single Girl Thing as well as her brand new single Miss Me Song. Kim began singing at family weddings at just 4 years of age with her Dad. At age 12, she started studying with well-known vocal coach Cindi Cain. Soon, Kim was participating in talent contests, which led to her winning the Orange Crush Talent Contest, the CFRY Radio Contest, and the Hi Neighbour Festival's Transcona Idol. Tune in and learn more about this talented 19-year-old Canadian Country artist and hear a couple of songs from her album.