FRESH FACE FRIDAY

Our pick this week for “FRESH FACE FRIDAY” Featured Artist is Rudy Gunn! Hailing from a small farm town in the Netherlands, Rudy’s journey to the heart of country music is as unique as the sound he creates. His deep-rooted love for country music can be traced back to his mother, a former country singer in Europe, who ignited the flame of passion within him. Now calling Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, his home, Rudy's music bridges the gap between two worlds, much like his own story.

He was the lead singer of a rock band called “One Way Street” as well as a country band called “Grand River Country”from 2006 until 2010 while simultaneously working as a Radio DJ for Corus Entertainment in Kitchener, Ontario. While he was working as a radio announcer he started DJ-ing local clubs which later led to a massive career. His radio career took off and he relocated to Alberta where he continued playing with various bands and continued his Professional DJ Career as “The World’s Only Cowboy Spinner.”

Rudy has performed as a touring country artist and DJ all over Canada, the US, and Europe.

He has worked alongside bands such as: Trooper, April Wine, Honeymoon Suite, Nazareth, Aaron Goodvin, Owen Riegling, Mackenzie Leigh Meyer, David Wilcox, Dr. Hook, Bret Michaels (of Poison), Prism, Aaron Pritchett, Julian Austin, Hey Romeo, Foreigner, Shane Yellowbird and many more. That is a wide variety of music genres showcased with the artists listed and to be apart of it all, must have been incredible for the experiences alone! 

In 2017, Rudy announced he was taking a break from being a touring act to focus on personal development. After a 5-year hiatus he is now back performing as a touring country artist and focusing on writing and releasing new original music.

With his first two singles, "Queen of the Bar Stool Rodeo," and "Slow Down"
Rudy has stirred a whirlwind of excitement across continents, especially within the line-dance community. From Canada to the US, Australia to Europe, Rudy's music knows no borders. “Slow Down” climbed to #9 on the Canadian Indie Country Countdown. Very exciting! Congratulations! 

His sound, a captivating 90's country hybrid, evokes nostalgia and strikes a chord with the true country crowd. Gunn's voice takes you back to the golden era of country music while adding a new modern twist.

Rudy has always been known to bring a highly energetic show and his calendar is filling up quickly for the upcoming season. You can catch him playing at country bars, casinos, rodeos, and festivals all over Canada, US and Europe in 2024 and is performing TONIGHT in Niagara Falls at BIG TEXAS NIAGARA and this summer, he’s booked already and performing at The Hollyrood Country Jamboree - so get your tickets now! 

Gunn’s latest release is called “When You’re Tipsy”! His music is available on all streaming platforms and where you buy your music! He is definitely one to watch and is going to be around for many more years to come so make sure hop on board his journey now, you’ll be glad you did!

This week's artist pick for Fresh Face Friday is Evan Burrison!

Born and raised experiencing the classic rural Ontario experience of bush parties, hockey games, campfires and farmer's fields, Evan Burrison is a small-town country artist through and through. Hailing from the border town of Fort Erie, Ontario more specifically Crystal Beach, Evan uses his music to express the experience of living in a small town of less than 8000 people and finding himself through country music. Initially, wanting to be a music producer, Evan attended Fanshawe College in London, Ontario to learn music production and songwriting. Through this experience, he received several awards and accolades for his songwriting and performance skills, where it became clear to him that he's a true artist and performer at heart.

As the proud recipient of the Antonio Lanni Songwriter of the Year Award, Evan's work and creativity shine through in various genres, including pop, country, and indie-alternative. In 2023 he was also a Finalist on the Canadian show 'It's Your Shot'.

With over seven years of experience, Evan has established his sound, through contributing to his personal artist projects as well as client collaborations. His dedication to crafting artist's songs sets him apart, as he collaborates closely with singers and bands, transforming their ideas into playlist-ready songs. Evan's reach extends beyond Fort Erie, as he actively works with artists across Ontario and into Buffalo, creating a diverse and dynamic portfolio. His latest venture, "All Is Well Recordings," is a state-of-the-art recording studio based in Fort Erie. This new space reflects Evan's commitment to providing exceptional recording services, further solidifying his reputation as a go-to producer for recording artists seeking top-tier production and songwriting. He says having a combination of both just makes sense for the progression of his career.

In April of 2024 he released his single 'She Knows Better' which caught the attention of a local radio station, that featured him as their 'New Country 89.1 New Artist Discovery' and they put his single into their regular on-air rotation! His latest release 'You and Me' which came out in August is a catchy tune with a great back beat and we are sure it's going to help take Evan to the next level in his music career.

A few weeks ago we were able to catch Evan performing live in a Songwriter's Circle at the 50th Anniversary of the Balls Falls Thanksgiving Festival and really enjoyed what he brought to the songwriter's session. Most recently he has traveled back to Nashville to focus on songwriting and we can't wait to see what music came out of this trip!

In his early 20s, he has already made major waves in the country music industry, with the release of his debut single achieving over 25,000 streams on Spotify alone in the first week. He's already garnered the attention of country music fans worldwide, and it's clear Evan has a bright future ahead of him!

Our pick this week for “FRESH FACE FRIDAY” Featured Artist is 𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐓𝐎𝐍! 

Anita is originally from Vancouver, BC but has moved around a bit over the years. She is currently residing in Kamloops, BC. Hamilton was raised on country music and classic rock and grew up singing country music with her mama and brothers in the car, and at home with her daddy on guitar and piano ushered her into a natural career in country music.

Growing up she was a high-level figure skater and cheerleader and proudly holds multiple international cheerleading titles and national figure skating designations, in both singles and ice dance. Prior to diving into music full time, she spent a few years in the modelling and acting industries, resulting in features in Vogue UK, numerous runway shows internationally, TV/Film appearances, and more. Having a diverse background lends well to her career in country music, with her strong experience in dance, acting, stage presence, public speaking, PR, and business. Those acquired skills have easily transferred to her music career. 

We asked who inspires her - “I am inspired by many artists and their work. Specifically in country, I have always been inspired by Gretchen Wilson and her fearlessness. As a lifelong performer, I admire the showmanship and charisma of artists such as Cher, Christina Aguilera, Shania Twain, Hardy, and Taylor Swift. Musically I like to refer to myself as a fan of certain bodies of work, or specific songs from various artists throughout their career. Recently I have been drawing a lot of stylistic inspiration in my songwriting from Nickelback’s early 2000s material, Jelly Roll, Ella Langley, and Meghan Moroney.”

Anita also wanted to share that - “This is the first single that I will be releasing to radio, which is an exciting career milestone for me as an artist. I’m excited for people to connect with my story and sing along while they drive down their small-town roads. Falling in love is a universal concept, but listening to simple country love songs is something that reminds me of the 90s country music I grew up on. I learned about what love is from that era of music and am beyond grateful that it inspires me still to this day.”

“Writing my story through country songs has always been my natural way of communicating how I feel and how I see the world, ever since I was a little girl! I have been a country artist from the start and that is where I naturally fit. A country girl at heart, this genre and its people are where I belong.” We couldn’t agree more, we love our country family! 

Outside of music she is a proud puppy mama, and have a variety of passions and hobbies that she enjoys. She is currently in her last year of business school at Thompson Rivers University, while wrapping up her debut album in the studio and preparing for her first full touring season Summer 2025, as a full-time music artist. Definitely a very busy young woman!

“I want fans to know that I really am just a regular girl, writing real stories about my experiences in life. It puts the biggest smile on my face to see people relate to the music I put out, use it in reels and TikTok’s, share it with their friends, and reach out to me saying how much it has impacted them. I never thought there would be a day when anyone cared what I had to say or felt that my experience was like something they are going through. I am truly blessed to share and connect with each one. My fans mean the world to me, and I look forward to sharing this new single with them, as the run up to my debut album, which is coming February 2025.”

Her debut release is called “Love in a Small Town” and is being released  today! Very exciting for her! The song was co-written and produced with none other than multi-award-winning Jeff Johnson of Bailey Way Entertainment. It’s about being in a small town, and rumours fly, and young love runs wild. High school sweethearts sneak around, dreaming of moving away together. After a devastating sports injury, the homecoming queen trades up to a wedding gown, settling down in their little town. The lyrics in her debut song are relatable and will connect with just about everyone who’s lived it or lives in a small town! 

Her debut album is expected to drop in February 2025 so keep your eyes open for that!
We met Anita in Edmonton at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. She is such a doll! We hope that we get to see her perform live sometime soon and we can’t wait to watch her music career take off, the sky’s the limit for this one! 

Our pick for your 'Fresh Face Friday' artist this week is Dawson Gray!

Hailing from White Rock, BC, Dawson Gray is one of the most intriguing new additions to the ranks of country music in quite some time. With an undeniably original sound, Dawson has rapidly garnered attention as one of the best young talents in Canada. Specifically known for his songwriting and charismatic live performances, Dawson has built up an impressive track record that includes playing in support for acts such as: Ernest, MacKenzie Porter  & James Barker Band, 37 sold-out concerts across Western Canada, and over 3.5-million streams across all platforms.

Growing up, Dawson devoted most of his time to chasing a career in professional baseball. It wasn’t until his career was cut short due to a diagnosed eye disorder that he first picked up a guitar. Though music started as a hobby to fill his idle time at university, it quickly became much more than that for Dawson. Working alongside friend and musician Ben Dunnill, Dawson quickly realized he had a special talent for songwriting. In 2020, Dawson began writing his first batch of songs that would eventually lead to current singles like “Running Back Home” and “All She Did.”

Since then, Dawson has become one of the most prolific songwriters in the Canadian music scene. With over 10 single releases in his first 2-years as a recording artist, Dawson has shown no signs of slowing down. His single, “Friends With The Bar Staff” earned Dawson his first major DSP cover nod on Apple music’s Canada’s Country playlist. It’s no surprise that Dawson was also selected as one of Canada’s top-5 rising artists to watch in 2024 by Front Porch Magazine.

On October 4th, Dawson dropped his latest single,'Blue Skies Grey', and on October 7th, he had the opportunity to play the iconic Dierks Whiskey Row - Nashville in Nashville. Last week, he also played the Rivoli in Toronto with Riley Taylor!

Between Dawson’s streaming success, massive demand for live performance, and his commitment to continuous improvement as an artist, it’s clear that Dawson is soon going to be a household name in country music. Shoot him a follow and check out his music on all streaming platforms!

Our pick this week for ‘FRESH FACE FRIDAY’ Featured Artist is Robert Ross Music! 

Robert was born and raised the small town of Miramichi, New Brunswick. That area was a breeding ground for folk songs that were written from the heart and from life. From an early age Robert found his love of music in hearing his Mother (Betty) singing around the house. The songs of the country greats like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Randy Travis and other country artists such as Sawyer Brown, as well as good ole Rock n' Roll were sung daily. Those songs became the basis of his music today. Robert’s voice and sound is reminiscent of authentic classic country music that we grew up on and mixed with a dash of today’s country, that we love. 

His debut album titled “IT’S NEVER TOO LATE”  consists of 10 original songs written and composed by Robert.  A total of 6 singles have been released and have risen on the Country Music Charts both in Australia and on the Indie international charts. His songs "JACK DANIELS" and "DRIVING ME INSANE" reached #1 on the charts in Australia and also on the world indie charts. His song "DON'T YOU CRY" Was #1 on the world indie charts and was also nominated for single of the year at the Josie Music Awards in Nashville. His #1 single "JACK DANIELS" also made the top 40 radio play for 2021 in Australia. Congratulations! 

Robert served in the Canadian Army for 11 and a half years traveling coast to coast in Canada and in that time served overseas for 3 and a half years. He moved to Australia in 2009 and became an Australian Citizen in 2014. He moved to Nashville in November 2023 to begin recording his second album, working with Award winning Canadian Artist/Producer Gil Grand.

“My music comes from life.  The good, the bad and the hilarious!  Where we all have something in common.  I am pleased to share with you my original songs and will continue to promote the classic tunes from our past.”

Robert's new album titled "BETTER WITH TIME" is compiled of 10 original songs written or co-written by him. He released the first single “Drink ‘em Down” from the new album this past summer. There is a lot of great songs on his album, they all show his growth and abilities in storytelling, and connecting with his fans through every word he sings, which makes him an artist that you’ll want to listen to over and over. 

We met Robert at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards in Edmonton. We had a chance to chat with him and he told us of his radio tour in Nashville following the CCMAs and then he’s off to Australia to continue his radio tour and to promote his album.  We wish him all the best in his musical journey because we couldn’t say it better than him - “It’s Never Too Late” to follow your dreams! 

His music is available wherever you buy your music and you can stream it on all platforms!  

Our pick this week for “Fresh Face Friday” Featured Artist is Chelsea Atkinson Music! 

She is 24 year old singer/songwriter that currently resides in Grande Cache, Alberta since 2022. 

She grew up in Springhill, Nova Scotia home of Canada’s Songbird, Anne Murray. She was exposed to a musical family on both her mother and father’s side and discovered her passion for music and her journey began at the age of eight. It all started with singing in school talent shows, local coffee houses or simply in front of a TV screen during a family karaoke night. Sounds like a whole lotta fun! 

She sites her musical inspirations as Johnny Cash, Carrie Underwood, The Chicks, Little Big Town and Canadian Country Music artists Brett Kissel, The Reklaws and Dallas Smith.

Fast forward to age 12 in her first year of Junior High School, she quickly joined her schools music program, and told her parents that she wanted to learn how to play guitar. She received her first guitar for her 13th birthday. She is self taught and she also plays the ukulele and can play some piano. A very talented young woman! 

She was able to start developing her own style, which she knew from the very beginning was going to revolve around country music. At 14 she began writing her first songs siting personal struggles with mental health, and dreams of becoming a country star in her lyrics.

At the age of 16-year-old she had the privilege of opening up for Canadian Country Music Association and Juno Award winning Brett Kissel in Liverpool, NS after winning a contest. and was even lucky enough to share the stage with him for a duet of his heart wrenching song “I Didn’t Fall In Love with Your Hair”. That is one of our all time favourite song of his. Such an incredible opportunity for her! 

In 2015, she was able to perform with multi Canadian Country Music Association Award winning fiddler, Tyler Vollrath during a performance of his in her hometown. Amazing experience no doubt! Summer of 2017, she was invited back to Liverpool to perform in the annual Hank Snow Tribute Concert which features talented country musicians from across Canada and the United States. In November of 2017, she was invited to share some songs at a George Canyon Show in Amherst, NS. In 2018, she performed at the Canann Country Music Festival in New Minas, NS which also featured accomplished Canadian country artists such as Blue Rodeo, Tim Hicks, River Town Saints, Jimmy Rankin and Tristan Horncastle.

Things were quiet between 2018 and 2022 as she was attending university to obtain her degree, however she still continued to tour around her country performing at local bars/pubs and continued to write music music during this time. With the relocation to Grande Cache, AB in 2022, she has continued to grow as a musician and songwriter in her new home.

Most recently September 2024, she attended the “Diamonds in the Rough” Showcase in Edmonton, AB for her first CCMA week performance and she hopes to return next year! 

We had the opportunity to meet and see Chelsea perform at the Diamonds in the Rough, during the CCMAs in Edmonton. We were impressed and so were the rest of the people there. She did great! 

She is actively working on her first single release in which she hopes to be released sometime in 2025. Her goal is to eventually release a full length album, and potentially open for some of her Canadian Country Music Heroes such as The Reklaws, Dean Brody and Dallas Smith! They are all pillars of Canadian Country right there and with a lot of hard work, passion and perseverance, anything is possible! 

Keep your eyes open for Chelsea as she continues building her future in Canadian Country music scene! We know we will be there cheering her on! 

Our pick this week for “FRESH FACE FRIDAY” Featured Artist is Teagan Littlechief! 

She is a proud Cree woman from the White Bear First Nations north of Carlyle, Saskatchewan.
She has a passion for recording, performing live, songwriting and sharing her story through Motivational Speaking. In the winter you will often find her in a cold arena singing the National Anthem for the Regina Pats and in the summer and Fall you may find her wearing her green tuxedo singing the National Anthem for the Roughriders! “It was a huge honour to sing the Canadian National Anthem for the 109th GreyCup, in English, French and Cree”. She’s incredible! 

Littlechief, a musical prodigy deeply entwined with her Cree roots, stormed into the limelight at the tender age of 15. Yes you read that correctly - 15 years old! The GX94 contest became her battleground, where she wielded her vocal prowess like a warrior's weapon, seizing victory with a spellbinding rendition of Martina McBride's "A Broken Wing.” (A favourite song of ours). Her triumph echoed through the annals of history, etching her name as the inaugural First Nations victor, igniting the flames of a journey unparalleled in its passion and purpose.
Fueling her artistic fire were the celestial voices of Celine Dion and the late Selena, guiding Teagan's path toward the heartland of Country Music. Their melodic whispers stirred her soul, infusing her sound with a timeless resonance that reverberates to this day. With a vocal range that defies gravity and a fearless spirit that dares to soar to unimaginable heights, Teagan channels the essence of her idols, crafting a sonic tapestry that transcends the ordinary and embraces the extraordinary.

She is proud and rightly so for being the First Indigenous Female to win the SCMA Female Artist of The Year - 2 times! Congratulations! 

We met Teagan at the “Diamonds in the Rough” as part of the Canadian Country Music Association’s in Edmonton earlier this month. That was our first time hearing her live and we were so impressed with her voice, and her overall performance! We can’t wait for the next time! 

Teagan is a country singer with a background in good old Rock N Roll! Her sound is the perfect combination of high energy rock and storytelling country.  Her latest release is called “Need You to Go”. She also has new music coming soon so keep an eye on her socials for the date! All her music is available where you stream and buy your music. Make sure you give her a follow on all media platforms! 

Our pick this week for “Fresh Face Friday” Featured Artist is Charlie Weston! 

He was born and raised in Waterloo, Ontario. His music journey began when Charlie was quite young. They say he’s  been singing since about the time he could walk, but it wasn't until he was in grade 7 or 8 that he started playing guitar.  His dad came home one day with an electric guitar he had bought from a friend, and showed him where to place his fingers and which strings to pluck, and he soon realized that he was playing Good Riddance by Greenday.  Let’s just say, he was hooked after that.  

He grew up listening to both rock and country.  A few of his favourite artists growing up were Paul Brandt, and Great Big Sea.  ( Us too!) As time went by, he found that the songs that he genuinely loved to play and sing on guitar,  were mostly country and that’s why he’s in the genre, but he still loves all kinds of music. We believe that’s a good quality because then he’ll be inspired and influenced to create music that will reach a broader audience,  possibly crossing over to other genres as well. Anything is possible! 

When he was in Grade 9, Charlie sustained a pretty serious concussion from rep volleyball.  It took him close to 3 years to fully recover.  In that time he had to take a break from music to heal. That must have been so scary for him and his family. When he felt up to it, he started his very own fine woodworking business, and have built too many commissions to count at this point. He went from one creative outlet (music) to another in woodwork. 

“I still love to do woodworking, but aside from the odd order, I try to keep it as more of a hobby at this point.” 

When he’s not working on his music and during the warmer months, you can find him spending  a fair bit of time in the garden.  He shared that he loves growing all kinds of vegetables, and berries, and it's generally the first place he heads, to check on when he gets home from work.

About 4 years ago, it took a lot convincing for his dad to get Charlie to record and release a song he had written called “As the Days Go Rolling On.” It was that recording that is actually how most of his friends found out that he played music, as he had never really shared that part of him.  We’re so glad his dad did. He has a great voice and it would have been a shame not to have shared his talent with all of us! Charlie makes singing look easy and effortless. 

“I was always really shy, and I never performed live outside of campfires with friends and family until this summer. “

It was one of his closest friends that sent him the post from Sauble Beach Party for the ‘Emerging Artist Competition’ at the beginning of May.  His initial response was "no" because it sounded pretty scary and then he forgot about it.  It wasn't until later that month after a game of pickleball that it popped into his head again, and he quickly looked it up when he got home to see when the application was due.  He was very lucky that night, he realized that he had about an hour before the entry closed. He quickly decided to make a video and submitted it thinking no one would ever see it.  Well much to his surprise and delight, they liked his video submission, and when it was all over, Charlie ended up winning the whole Emerging Artist Competition! 

“Playing a set at the Silo in Wiarton at the end of June as part of this competition was the first set I ever played, and I was super lucky to have lots of family and friends there to support me.  Sharing the stage with my music mentor John McKinley at the Sauble Beach Party Tailgate is the biggest show I've played and my favourite.”

The whole competition and experience was well worth it and now he’s super excited for more music adventures, whatever and wherever they take him! We were thrilled to have met Charlie at the Sauble Beach Party. 

He’s looking forward to releasing new music in the next few months and we can’t wait! Make sure to keep an eye on his socials for when that is and check out his videos from Sauble Beach Party on YouTube! If you are not following him on Instagram, please make sure that you do! 

Our pick this week for “FRESH FACE FRIDAY” Featured Artist is Mitch Zorn! 

Mitch is originally from BC. His childhood, was spent growing up in a town of approximately 1,500 people, where he spent summers in the BC backwoods with his grandfather. 

Mitch gets his passion for music honestly! “My dad had a guitar in his hands my whole life. He’s a singer, my grandma’s a singer, and my aunties are singers. We played all kinds of shows and practiced twice a week for most of my life.” That strong work ethic and dedication have proven to be a solid foundation that will assist Mitch in maneuvering through the music industry and for many years to come. 

Mitch took up guitar at age eight, and joined his father’s country blues band on rhythm guitar at the age of nine. By age twelve, Zorn was writing his own songs, not so much to develop the craft, but as a way to get things off his chest. “Songwriting was cathartic. I didn’t think of music as a career. I just loved it, so I’d bury myself in my room and write every day.”

After high school and the first of many trips to Nashville however, he decided to give music a shot, but, knowing full well a straight nine to five job would interfere, got his
electrician’s ticket and took a gig in the Canadian oilfields – two weeks on/two weeks off – leaving plenty of room for music. Later, he landed a job in Texas – 4 weeks on/2 weeks off – splitting his time between the oil fields and Nashville, where he made the rounds
of local studios, met with working musicians, and booked writing sessions roughly five times a week. Now that’s a dedicated and driven artist who is willing to do what it takes, to give his passion, the chance to grow and thrive! 

“This album is a decade in the making. Some songs I wrote in oil camps in Northern Canada and Texas, some in Nashville, but they all tell the story of the last ten years.”

He approached his debut album, “Back To You” (604 Records), in the same way he’s always approached his songwriting, as the best way he knows how, by being authentic and saying what he wants to say. Mitch’s new release is called “Home”! Finding his place is a thread Zorn teases about his title track, that beautifully sums up Zorn’s ‘full circle’ musical and personal journey from his hometown of Nakusp, BC, across Canada and the US, and back again. You can find “Home” and all the rest of his music, everywhere you buy and stream your music across all platforms! 

That’s abundantly clear on each and every track of Back To You, particularly on the title track, ‘Back To You.’ “It’s one of those songs that just seemed to fall out of the sky,” Zorn says. “I wrote it in twenty minutes. And, personally, it’s the song that’s the most ‘me’ in terms of finding my sound.”

Over time, between his father’s band, shows in Texas and Nashville, and two years of regularly playing six nights a week in Western Canada, Zorn’s put in his 10,000 hours and then some on stage. He’s also developed a knack for taking the stuff of everyday life we all deal with, weaving in his personal experiences, and writing songs that speak to the kind of yearning we all feel for finding that one place where we belong.

For Zorn, writing is about capturing the emotions of a story, of a moment or moments in time, inviting listeners to set their own lives to his music and words. The  ‘what if’s and might have been’ moments combined with what he's experienced personally, in a way that’s simultaneously upbeat and personally revealing, yet instantly relatable.

Mitch had a few co-writes on his album “Back To You”,  but he has wrote the lion’s share of the album’s songs, and it’s clear the only sound Zorn was chasing – that he’s ever chased – was his own and such unique sound that sets him apart.  His sound takes cues from a wide range of artists, genres and styles, from childhood heroes like John Mayer, Rob Thomas, Jason Isbell, and Jackson Browne, to 90s-era country, Hip Hop and Grunge. 

“I love a lot of different music, but you have to pick a lane and I always knew the lane I was going to take was mainstream country. Still, I’m always trying to figure out how to add elements from all those styles and get those things in there. I think you find your
authenticity through that (process).” 

Ultimately, Mitch is just being himself – sticking to his lifelong ethic of constantly learning, developing his craft, and honing his chops to express the wide range of experiences and influences he’s had in a way that’s light on its feet, hard to pin down, yet absolutely authentic and unfailingly honest. 

We have yet to meet Mitch but hope that maybe it can happen this weekend at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards in Edmonton.