By KIRSTEN LEATHERDALE, of the Weyburn Review
Three bands from Weyburn and area have been nominated in a total of 19 categories for the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards to be held in Regina on March 21.
The three local bands are the Johner Brothers, Wayne Honig and the Soo City Blue and the Yahoos.
"In the past, the history of (the SCMA awards) has been more of a showing from the north part of the province. But the nominees this year are a pretty good indication of what musicians in this area are like - we have some of the best players in the province right here," said SCMA vice-president and Weyburn resident Neil Atkinson.
Midale legends the Johner Brothers top the list with a total of nine nominations, including Fan's Choice Entertainer of the Year, Group of the Year, and Song, Single, and Video of the Year for I Don't Wanna Know. The song is a remake from their first album, recorded with friend Suzanne Gitzi on their latest album, The Perfect Life.
Band members Bart McKay (keyboards), Kevin Churko (drums) and Ken Johner (steel guitar, mandolin) were singled out in the All Star Band category.
The group - which also includes member Shaun Beavis (bass guitar and vocals) - is no stranger to winning awards. They captured the Canadian Country Music Association's coveted Duo of the Year award in 1991, and between 1992 and 1998, have brought home an amazing 36 SCMA awards, including Entertainer, Group, Single, Song, Video, Manager, and Record Producer of the Year awards, along with individual honours for band members.
Ken Johner, who lives in Weyburn, says awards aren't the motivating factor behind the music, but are nice to get.
"We don't really think of awards - we just keep putting out albums and releasing songs on the radio - but awards are always a nice bonus," he said.
Weyburn band the Yahoos had something to cheer about when they heard about their five nominations, including Back Up Band of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year (Ken Hill), and All Star Band, steel guitar (Grant Honig). Darren Hill plays drums for the group.
This isn't the first SCMA nomination for the Yahoos, who've been together for seven years, but it's the first time Ken Hill has been nominated for his role as lead vocalist.
"It feels pretty good - it's something I've always wanted to try to win," he said.
Although the Yahoos have been playing mostly local venues lately, they have toured throughout the province and released an album and a number of singles - their latest single, Living in My Jeans, was released in 1997.
Johnny Knox, the Yahoos' manager, was nominated as Manager of the Year and Booking Agent of the Year.
"He's been doing a lot for us, in terms of publicity, releasing our singles across Canada and in Europe, tracking our singles and talking to radio stations - he's been great," said an appreciative Hill.
Wayne Honig and the Soo City Blue could be on a winning streak after their latest concert at the SaskPower Scott Tournament of Hearts, with four SCMA nominations for Non-Touring Act of the year, Most Promising Entertainers, All Star Band, bass (Ron Westman) and All Star Band, keyboards (Wayne Honig).
The Weyburn group, formed in 1994 out of the old Calico band, came up with their name by combining a local reference (the Soo line) with their music style - blue country rock.
The bulk of their work has been playing cabarets and clubs, but Honig said they have lots of original material and are currently working on a demo.
Their nomination as Most Promising Entertainers is beneficial in more than one way - it provides them with the opportunity to play at the SCMA Awards cabaret on March 20.
"We'll be performing in front of a more scrutinizing audience, which is a good thing," said Honig, who recognized the fact that a win for Most Promising Entertainers would raise the group's status within the country music community.
"When people look at something like that, they do view things in a little different light - it would be an upwards step for sure," Honig said.
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