andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

George Stroumboulopoulos is taking his “Hour” to the West coast.

From Monday to Thursday next week, Stroumboulopoulos will air live from The Roundhouse in Yaletown, Vancouver. Rocker Matt Good, former-Miss Canada Nazanin Afshin-Jam, and wildlife painter Robert Bateman are among the guests who will chat with him on these special dates.

Stroumboulopoulos will follow up his trip to the West with a Holiday Musical Special, airing Christmas Eve. Paul Potts (winner of “Britain’s Got Talent”), Jully Black, crooner George Canyon, Diana Krall and Elvis Costello will all perform their unique versions of seasonal tunes. More fantastic guests are yet to be confirmed.

The Hour airs weeknights at 11 p.m. on CBC Television, 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBC Newsworld.

Nashville Star has started auditioning for its fourth season in cities across the United States.

Auditions began on Oct. 21 in Los Angeles and will run through December.

The USA Network’s Nashville Star is a country singing competition, much like American Idol.

“Nashville Star works because it showcases the best untapped musical talent on television,” said Jeff Wachtel, USA’s executive vice-president of original programming. “One thing we’ve learned over the past three seasons is that there’s an incredible pool of talented performers whose voices have yet to be heard.”

Many artists have turned into household names after winning the singing competition, including Canada’s George Canyon who was a runner-up on the show and walked away with more Canadian Country Music Awards at this years show than any other artist.

The Nashville Star winner receives a recording contract.

The fourth season is scheduled to premiere in March.

CASTING TOUR SCHEDULE:
October
21 – Los Angeles, CA
29 – Chicago, IL
29 – Morgantown, WV
29 – Phoenix, AZ
29 – Oklahoma City, OK

November
05 – Dallas, TX
05 – Lincoln, NE
05 – Raleigh, NC
05 – Tampa, FL
12 – Portland, OR
12 – Washington, DC
12 – Pittsburgh, PA
12 – Atlanta, GA
18 – Nashville, TN
21 – Indianapolis, IN
30 – Houston, TX

December
08 – Las Vegas, NV

Ready to get back to your down-home redneck roots?

The 2005 Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs) will air tonight with Canadian country star Paul Brandt acting as host.

“They’ve turned the [Calgary Pengrowth] Saddledome into a giant projection screen so the visual aspect will be very impressive,” says Brandt, who is taking on hosting duties for the sixth time. “The amount of music we’ll be able to play for the audience will be unmatched.”

Also impressive is the six stages erected at the Saddledome.

“It’s a lot more scattered and responsive and there’s a lot more room for me to completely screw up,” Brandt says. “There’s going to be a lot of energy because of the way it’s set up.”

Brandt is also slated to perform on tonight’s show. He’ll sing his new single “Alberta Bound” during a special tribute to Alberta’s centennial.

“All the things I love about Alberta just fell out — it took about 15 minutes to write,” says Brandt.

Dierks Bentley, George Canyon, Terri Clark, Doc Walker and Carolyn Dawn Johnson are also scheduled to perform.

Look for newcomers The Road Hammers to come out on top following the success of their debut disc and single “I’m A Road Hammer”. The group is nominated for best group, album, single, video and song of the year, and rising star.

The CCMAs air tonight at 8 p.m. on CBC in most time zones. It’s also being broadcast to audiences in the U.S. and Australia.

Officials say the CBC lockout will have no affect on the broadcast since it’s an independent production.

Complete list of nominees for the 2005 CCMAs:

KRAFT CHEEZ WHIZ FANS? CHOICE AWARD

Paul Brandt
George Canyon
Terri Clark
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Jason McCoy

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

Convoy ? Paul Brandt
Die Of A Broken Heart ?Carolyn Dawn Johnson
I?m A Road Hammer ? The Road Hammers
My Name ? George Canyon
Sister Golden Hair ? The Poverty Plainsmen

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Hey, Do You Know Me ? Lisa Brokop
Lap Of Luxury ? The Poverty Plainsmen
One Good Friend ? George Canyon
The Road Hammers ? The Road Hammers
This Time Around ? Paul Brandt

SOCAN SONG OF THE YEAR

Dress Rehearsal (written by Carolyn Dawn Johnson / Troy Verges;
recorded by Carolyn Dawn Johnson)
Hey, Do You Know Me (written by Lisa Brokop / Kim McLean;
recorded by Lisa Brokop)
Home (written by Paul Brandt; recorded by Paul Brandt)
I?m A Road Hammer (written by Denny Carr / Jason McCoy;
recorded by The Road Hammers)
My Name (written by George Canyon / Gordie Sampson;
recorded by George Canyon)

CMT VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Convoy ? Paul Brandt
Girls Lie Too ? Terri Clark
I?m A Road Hammer ? The Road Hammers
John Roland Wood ? Aaron Pritchett
Roughest Neck Around ? Corb Lund Band

TOP SELLING ALBUM

(This is a non-voting category)
Be Here ? Keith Urban
Greatest Hits ? Shania Twain
Greatest Hits 2 ? Toby Keith
Here For The Party ? Gretchen Wilson
Live Like You Were Dying ? Tim McGraw

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Lisa Brokop
Terri Clark
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Shania Twain
Amanda Wilkinson

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Paul Brandt
George Canyon
Jason McCoy
Aaron Pritchett
Deric Ruttan

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR

Corb Lund Band
Doc Walker
Emerson Drive
The Poverty Plainsmen
The Road Hammers

ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Corb Lund Band
The Cruzeros
Kathleen Edwards
The Good Brothers Ian Tyson

CHEVY TRUCKS RISING STAR AWARD

Gord Bamford
Lisa Hewitt
Johnny Reid
The Road Hammers
Amanda Wilkinson

The nominations for the Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs) were announced Wednesday, with Paul Brandt and the Road Hammers leading the way.

The Road Hammers, headed by singer Jason McCoy, recieved six nominations.

Their signature tune about truck drivers, I’m a Road Hammer, earned nominations for song of the year, single of the year and video of the year.

The group is also in the running for album of the year for its self-titled debut disc, as well as for group of the year honours and the rising-star award.

Brandt, who is hosting the Calgary show, was also given six nods. He is nominated for fans choice, album of the year and male artist of the year.

His cover version of the C.W. McCall hit Convoy earned nominations for single of the year and video of the year.
He also got a nod for song of the year for the single Home.
“Nashville Star” runner-up George Canyon is close behind with five nominations. Alberta singer-songwriter Caroyln Dawn Johnson was nominated in four categories.

Aaron Pritchett, Lisa Brokop and Terri Clark received three nods each.

This year’s awards are being handed out at the Pengrowth Saddledome during a CBC broadcast on September 12.