Southern Alberta practically oozes countrified talent out of every corner of every wind swept field and rolling foothill.
So the Canadian Country Weekend is planning to showcase just of few of Canada’s best and a lot of Southern Alberta in Fort Macleod, Aug. 12-13 in Fort Macleod Fish and Game park, where the South Country Fair is held.
“I’m surprised there isn’t a country music festival like this in southern Alberta,” observed general manager Broc Higginson.
There is an outstanding line-up featuring some of Canada’s best new country talent including Top 40 stars like Jaydee Bixby, Gord Bamford and George Canyon, up and comers like One More Girl, Medicine Hat’s Terri Clark plus legends like Ian Tyson and up and comers like Tim Hus.
There are also numerous local acts including Trevor Panczak and Rough Stock, Shaela Miller, Dusty Dee and Shane Chisholm.
“I’m a huge fan of Trevor Panczak. So we’re excited to have him both open and close the show on the big stage,” he continued.
There will also be local music from all over Southern Alberta playing in the beer gardens including the Smokin Pistols, Alyssa McQuaid, Armond Duck Chief and lots more.
“I’ll be running around a lot, but I’m looking forward to just sitting back with my wife and enjoying some music — 13 months of hard work. And next year will be even better,” Higginson said.
Tickets cost $85 for the weekend.
There are also a variety of other attractions in the country village including cowboy poetry, the Fort Macleod Riders performing the Fort Macleod Musical Ride, dance performances from local First Nations, hay rides, swimming and movies in Fort Macleod itself as well as shuttle busses from Fort Macleod to the site. There is also camping available on site. Mantracker will also be on hand to meet his fans and enjoy the entertainment.
“I’ve had people tell me that ’they’ve paid $85 for one group. Here you get to see 18 groups,” he said.
“We could use more people because the more the merrier. We hope it will be a fun first year because if it succeeds, we’ll be back next year,” he continued.
“Our vision was to have the best country musicians in Canada. So we looked at who was available and who had new music coming out. Terri Clark is doing well with ‘Northern Girl,’ and Gord Bamford and George Canyon are two of the biggest country acts in Canada right now. And Ian Tyson is a legend,” he said adding they wanted to combine the best of modern country and more traditional country acts.
It was also important to include Southern Alberta acts, so organizers held auditions in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and High River for a spot on the main stages. Lethbridge winner Breanne Urban and Southern Flyer will be performing at 2 p.m., Aug. 13, preceded by High River winners Chet DeFreese and the Chill at 1:15 p.m.
Medicine Hat winners Cold Shot will be performing Friday at 6 p.m..
As a bonus, some of the other familiar faces at the talent show will be performing in the beer gardens throughout the weekend including Alyssa McQuaid, the Smokin’Pistols, Leanna Santangelo and Medicine Hat’s Aaron Sturn and the Whiskey Branding band on Aug.12, plus Armond Duck Chief, Netty Mac, High River’s Nuggy Dust and the Stuff on Aug. 13.
“We had so much incredible talent coming out to the auditions, that we contacted them all right away about playing the beer garden,” he continued adding most of them were immediately up for performing.
“Each of them brought something really unique,” he enthused.
Line-up Friday Aug. 12
5:00-5:45 Trevor Panczak & Rough Stock
6:00-6:30 Cold Shot (Medicine Hat Talent Show Winners)
6:45-7:30 Craig Moritz
7:45-8:30 Tim Hus
9:00-10:30 Terri Clark
11:00-Close Jaydee Bixby
beer garden
4:30-4:45 p.m: Alyssa mcQuaid
7:30-7:40 p.m.
: Leana Santangelo
8:30-8:50 p.m.: Aaron Sturn & The Whiskey Branding Band
10:30-10:50 p.m.: Smokin’ Pistols
Saturday, Aug. 13
12:00-12:30: Dusty Dee Litchfield
12:40-1:10: Shaela Miller
1:15-1:45: Chet DeFreese and the Chill(High River Talent Contest Winners)
2:00-2:45: Breanne Urban and Southern Flyer (Lethbridge Talent Show Winners
3:00-3:45: Shane Chisholm
4:15-5:30: One More Girl
6:00-7:15: Ian Tyson
7:45-9:15: Gord Bamford
9:45-11:15: George Canyon
11:30-Close: Trevor Panczak & Rough Stock
beer garden
11:30-11:55 a.m.: TBA
1:45-1:55 p.m.: Leana Santangelo
2:45-2:55 p.m: Armond Duck Chief
5:30-5:55 p.m.: Alyssa McQuaid
7:15-7:40 p.m.: Netty Mac
9:25-9:40: Nuggy Dust and the Stuff
11:15-11:25: Smokin Pistols
