In The Country With Dave Woods

“Upon listening to Elyse's version of our song called Nobody's Watchin', I was taken in by the husky soulful tone she has. It's the kind of voice that makes you believe in what the singer is saying," proudly says songwriter John Acosta about hearing Peterborough, Ontario's Elyse Saunders sing a song he and hitmaker Cyril Rawson wrote. This talented 21 year old Country Music artist will make you a believer too. Her self-titled debut CD - produced by Cyril Rawson - features 13 songs that showcase her ability to rock out and to sing straight from the heart - she does both to perfection. Elyse joins me on the show to talk about her music career and to share some of her songs. Learn more about her at www.elysesaunders.com.

Brad Johner continues his hot streak at Canadian Country radio with the release of his third solo album, "Lookin' At You." One of Saskatchewan's most awarded and respected artists on the national stage, he has enjoyed over two decades of success as both a group and solo artist. Audiences first met Brad in 1988, when a partnership with his brother Ken began a 14-year-long musical success story as The Johner Brothers. Garnering numerous CCMA, WCMA, and SCMA wins, three Juno nominations, and being crowned SCMA "Entertainers of the Decade" was a testament to Brad Johner's songwriting that contributed to a remarkable 17 singles from four hit albums. In 2003, Brad launched out as a solo artist with his critically acclaimed and Juno nominated "Free" album. The debut established Brad as one of Canada's leading male country stars. "Free" won a 2003 Western Canadian Music Award for "Outstanding Country Album." Brad followed up with a win at the 2004 Canadian Independent Music Awards for "Favourite Country Artist," and

Saskatchewan Country artist Tim Toutant encompasses the new country sound with his high energy performances and overall love for country music. He seems to have the ability to pack the house whenever there is an event or venue. Singing along to Ray Charles, Kenny Rogers, and Johnny Cash since he was 10 years old, Tim has acquired his own unique sound that seems to grab the attention of audiences wherever he plays. In 2007 he completed his first full album with the help and guidance of producer/songwriter Steve Fox. The result is “Speed Of A Sweet Life” featuring high energy songs like “Men Are Stoopid” & “Play Now”, and songs that will go straight to your heart. Tim joins me on In The Country to talk about his music career & share some songs from his CD. Learn a bit more about this talented singer/songwriter at www.timtoutant.com.

Scotland-born/Canadian Country Music artist Johnny Reid has released three highly successful albums since 2005 which have featured the smash singles "Thank You", "Love Sweet Love", "A Woman Like You" & "Dance With Me" - and more. He was named Male Artist of the Year at both the 2008 and 2009 Canadian Country Music Association awards. Johnny's first live DVD, "Live at the Jubilee" was released earlier this year & has also aired on CMT. Recently, Johnny Reid signed with EMI and a new album release is expected this summer. Johnny joins me on the show to talk about his music career and share the stories behind some of his biggest hits. Learn more about this talented singer/songwriter at www.johnnyreid.com.

Country artist Kymberly Bryson grew up in Warren, Michigan listening to the Gospel sounds of her mother and Motown. But it didn’t take long for artists like Trisha Yearwood and Martina McBride to capture her attention and spark her interest in country music. At age 15, Kymberly started competing in talent competitions which led her to win Best Female Vocalist in 1996 at the Hoover Roadhouse in Michigan. In 1999, Kymberly moved to Nashville, ready to take her chances as a performer. Before long she was opening for artists such as T. Graham Brown, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, and Sammy Kershaw, Like other artists, chasing their dream in Nashville and working for pennies, Kymberly has spent many nights performing at legendary music venues such as Legends, Second Fiddle, and The Broken Spoke. Three of the seven songs on her recently completed self titled CD are originals and will soon be available on iTunes. Kymberly joins me to talk about her music career and to share some of her songs.

Although Dawson has been singing and performing most of his life, he began his professional music career six years ago working the indie circuit in local bars and festivals across Ontario. During this time, he was also performing, recording and developing strong relationships in the music industry in Nashville. Taking advantage of every possible opportunity to perform, honing his skills as a vocalist, entertainer and songwriter, his hard work and dedication have begun to pay off on both sides of the border. Dawson now spends equal time at his residence in Cambridge and in Nashville. His debut CD "Enjoy The Ride" - produced by Jason Barry at his Barrytone Studios in Waterloo, ON - features the successful radio single "If Crazy Wasn't So Beautiful" & the brand new release "Empty Handed". This Kitchener-born Cambridge-raised Country artist is scheduled to head overseas this October and perform throughout the United Kingdom at small venues that will lead to performances at festivals in 2011. Tune in to go beh

Tom Ghent's songs have been recorded by Kris Kristofferson, Gene Watson, Bobby Bare, Bobby Goldsboro - and the list goes on. He has played lead guitar for Mickey Newbury, appeared as background vocalist on Joan Baez’ “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” and Steve Goodman’s “City of New Orleans.” His performances have taken him from the coffeehouses of the Greenwich Village folk scene, to country honky tonks, to the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Big Sur Folk Festival, Monterey Pop Festival, Willie Nelson Picnic, and the Hollywood Bowl. Tom also sang the title song on the soundtrack album for the Mick Jagger movie "Ned Kelly". This talented singer/songwriter joins me on this special Sunday afternoon show to talk about his music career and share some of his songs including one of his best - "Whiskey, Whiskey".

Barrie, Ontario Country artist Shari Lynn was signed to a distribution deal last year with Louis O'Reilly of 306 Records/EMI Music Canada - landing her debut album titled ‘Can You Cut It?' in stores in July of 2009. Shari was interviewed by Casey Clarke for the Chevy Cross Canada Countdown on CMT, toured Western Canada and Ontario as well as appeared in many newspaper articles and did many radio interviews. The CCMAs highlighted Shari's talent by printing an article and had it featured on their website for the month of July raving about Shari 's musical climb with ‘CCMA On The Horizon With Shari Lynn'. The article quotes, “The CCMA quickly found that many people in the industry will attest to her undeniable talent.” Shari's debut single, “Love Somebody” - co-written by Victoria Banks - received radio play nationally (and a video on CMT), and she followed up with the popular singles “You Don't Know Jack” & "Play Now". Her new single "I Love Myself More" was released to radio this month. This talented Count

Beginning with a solo performance at the Cleary Auditorium in Windsor, Ontario at only six years of age, Denni-Lee Hayes has been singing ever since! An eager participant in school and church choirs, as well as school musicals, she can now be seen in many of Calgary and area’s hottest music venues. She began writing songs as a teen and has since written over 100 songs. Most recently, Denni-Lee was in the studio working on her debut album "Reflections" with Producer Kevin Lato . Denni-Lee describes the album as "reminiscent of eras gone by, but with a contemporary feel, unique unto itself." She adds: “Songwriting is the expression of one’s soul – lyrically and melodically.” Tune in as this talented Calgary, Alberta Country artist talks about her music career, songwriting, performing live and more. Plus, she'll share some songs from her new CD.

Born and raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Donny Parenteau is one of Canada’s most versatile and dynamic country music singer-songwriters. He’s a talented multi-instrumentalist who performs with energy and enthusiasm on the fiddle, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitars, and the unique double-neck mandocaster guitar. With 3 CDs released since 2003 and without the backing of a major music label, Donny has garnered numerous provincial and national music nominations and awards including a 2008 Juno nomination for ‘Aboriginal Recording of the Year’. Donny's recently released single 'Turn it Up' is his fastest rising yet. While that song is pure energy from start to finish, he can also touch your heart with a song like “Postmarked Heaven” – one of his earlier chart successes. Donny drops by to share both of those songs with us and to talk all about his music career. Be sure to check out his brand new website www.donnyparenteau.com.

The 2010 TOMMFEST - June 18th & 19th at Loughborough Lake Holiday Park (north of Kingston) - will feature great Country, Bluegrass and Folk acts. TOMMFEST is 'short for' the Tristin Osborne Memorial Music Festival. Various musical acts come together for this weekend (this is the 5th year) to raise funds for the Tristin Osborne Scholarship Fund – a fund that provides a scholarship to a student with a learning disability who is determined to attain a post secondary education. For ticket info and to read more about Tristin's story, visit www.tommfest.ca. Performers from the weekend featured on today's show are Valdy, Valerie Smith (& Liberty Pike), Rik Reese (Neon Highway) and Trevor Brunton (Desert Heat). Listen to the show closely for your chance to win 1 of 3 TOMMFEST prize packages!

The 2010 TOMMFEST - June 18th & 19th at Loughborough Lake Holiday Park (north of Kingston) - will feature great Country, Bluegrass and Folk acts. TOMMFEST is 'short for' the Tristin Osborne Memorial Music Festival. Various musical acts come together for this weekend (this is the 5th year) to raise funds for the Tristin Osborne Scholarship Fund – a fund that provides a scholarship to a student with a learning disability who is determined to attain a post secondary education. For ticket info and to read more about Tristin's story, visit www.tommfest.ca. Performers from the weekend featured on today's show are Aiden McGill, Nikki Sage and Reuben DeGroot. We'll start off the show with a call from Judy Osborne. Listen to the show closely for your chance to win 1 of 3 TOMMFEST prize packages!

Born and raised in the small coastal village of Cap-Pelé, New Brunswick, Melanie Morgan discovered her passion for music at a young age. As the years went by, Melanie performed at schools, talent shows and local charities. In the spring of 2006, Melanie's dreams of becoming a country music recording artist started to take shape. With the help of fellow New Brunswick country recording artist J.R. Vautour, Melanie recorded her debut CD Brand New Day. Melanie received national recognition in Canada at the East Coast Awards for Country Recording of the Year as well as airplay on CMT Canada and on Canadian country radio. In the Fall of 2008, Melanie recorded her second album which showcases her songwriting abilities on songs co-written with Nashville hitmakers such as George Teren, Wade Kirby, Rick Huckaby and Monty Criswell. Tune into to catch up on all the latest news and music as Melanie Morgan pays a visit to In The Country.  

'Country Music News' celebrates 30 years of putting Canadian Country Music stars in the spotlight! From cover stories on the biggest & latest names to album reviews, CMN is a must for Country Music fans. Publisher and Editor Larry Delaney joins me on the line from Ottawa to talk about his monthly publication. Tune in for this special episode that takes you behind the scenes of CMN and back to when it all began.

Since hitting the country music scene in 2002, Alberta's Craig Moritz has been wowing crowds with his from-the-heart performances that are packed with lively vocals and rockin' beats. Born in Medicine Hat, Craig grew up listening to country music and could often be heard singing along to Don Williams, Randy Travis and George Strait. After moving to Fort McMurray at age 12, Craig explored his passion for music through the school band playing saxophone, but as he says, "I figured if I couldn't wear a cowboy hat, strum a guitar and sing a few country tunes, it just wasn't for me." After a chance meeting with Toby Keith at a concert in Regina, Craig was encouraged by the Country superstar to pursue his dreams. His latest CD "Down And Dirty" is produced by Dean Sams (of Lonestar) and Dean Miller (song of legendary Roger Miller). We'll catch up with this talented singer/songwriter and hear his latest single plus a brand new song set to appear on his next project.

Calgary, Alberta songwriters Troy Kokol and Joni Delaurier co-wrote the hit Country song "Pickup Truck" which appeared on Shane Yellowbird's debut release. The Canadian chart-topper earned the duo a 2007 CCMA nomination for Songwriter(s) of the Year. In 2008 they won a SOCAN award for the song in the Country Music category. Whether writing with other writers or together, they continue to get more cuts and singles. Troy and Joni will join me on the show to talk about songwriting and share some of the songs they've written. If you're a fan of their songs or are an aspiring songwriter, be sure to tune in for this special show with these talented hitmakers.

"George Strait is my hero. I can die happy the say I get to shake his hand", jokes Jessica Ridley. This talented Alberta singer/songwriter also cites Reba, Shania Twain & Loretta Lynn as strong musical influences. Along with a great voice and songwriting skills, Jessica plays piano (she completed her grade eight with the Royal Conservatory of Music) and guitar (self-taught). Her debut album entitled "Fit To Be Tied" - produced by Nashville's Billy Simon - features her songwriting as well as material from some of Nashville's best writers. Don't miss this insightful interview which also includes an exclusive debut of a brand new song from Jessica!

Burlington-born Carly Schnurr entered her first talent competition in 2006 singing Celine Dion’s “When You Look At Me”. She made it to the finals in the Western Fall Fair. But aside from her pop influences (Celine, Whitney Houston & Kelly Clarkson), Carly’s love of country music is what drives her desire for a career in singing. She entered a number of singing competitions in 2007, earning first place rewards for performances in The Ontario Country Open Contest (under age 12 category), the Burlington Idol Youth competition, and the Milton Steam Era Festival's Junior Talent Contest. Carly now resides in Milton, Ontario and has just been signed by Blue Sapphire/Universal Music. Her debut album is being released this month and includes the first single “I Know I Love You (But I Don’t Know Why)”. Her new single "Go Back" - which she co-wrote - is now at Canadian radio stations coast to coast. Tune in to learn all about this talented 15 year old Country artist!

Calgary, Alberta Country artist Sarah Beth Keeley knows how to write a great song and how to sing it with honesty and heart. For proof of that, just listen to the songs on her current CD 'Reinventing Myself.' She makes a statement about what she wants in a relationship in 'Good Kind Of Love'. She sings about loss and the healing process in 'With Your Goodbye'. And if you've had the chance to see her perform at various venues throughout Calgary, you'll know this country girl can rock! Tune in to hear Sarah talk about her music career, her songwriting and what's ahead for her in 2010. This talented singer/songwriter will also share some of her songs with us and the stories behind them.

Country artist Ryan Guillet was born and raised in Chetwynd, British Columbia, lived in Grand Prairie, Alberta and now calls Penticton, BC home. Through his teens and early twenties, he entered local talent contests including the Country Rising Competition at Edmonton's Cook County Saloon where he placed 3rd. In February 2009, he released his debut CD "Livin'" with the title-track being released to radio at the same time. It was played on over 30 stations across Canada. Later that year, Ryan released another single "Slow You Down". This talented singer/songwriter is a true fan of Country Music and writes his songs from real life experiences that he or someone he knows has gone through. Ryan pays a visit to In The Country to talk about his music career and to share some of his songs and the stories behind them.