Photo by Natalie Lapointe. SOCAN’s Geneviève Côté de la SOCAN and/et Amélie Hall

Amélie Hall wins SOCAN song award at Québec Gala Country

Story by Eric Parazelli | Wednesday October 24th, 2018

The Québec country music community gathered at the Mont Tremblant Casino on Oct. 20, 2018, for the sixth edition of the annual Gala Country, hosted by MC Gilles. A total of 13 awards were handed out during an evening celebrating the success of Canada’s Francophone country music artists in the past year.

Amélie Hall won the SOCAN-sponsored Song of the Year Award, for her song “Au bout du monde” (“To the Ends of the Earth”), published by Éditions Art illimité and Les Cent noms. The Acadian artist – who also won Best Album of Original Material of the Year, and shared the Songwriter of the Year honour with Danny Boudreau – received a $1,000 cash prize, and a stay at the SOCAN House in Nashville.

Among the evening’s other winners were:

  • Guylaine Tanguay (Covers Album and Female Artist of the Year);
  • Héra Ménard (Breakthrough Artist of the Year);
  • Véronique Labbé (RadioShow of the Year);
  • Patrick Norman (TV Show of the Year);
  • Alex & Caro (Band of the Year);
  • Laurie LeBlanc (Male Artist and Live Show of the Year);
  • Festival Western de St-Tite (Promoter of the Year); and
  • Yoan (People’s Choice Award).

The Gala Country provided the finale for the Célébration Culture Country, the inaugural edition of a gathering of industry stakeholders for three days of training sessions, showcases, and award presentations in Mont Tremblant. Geneviève Côté, SOCAN’s Chief of Québec Affairs, and David Charest, Account Manager, Member Services, presented a workshop on copyright hosted by Sébastien Charest, a copyright management consultant, and including representatives from ARTISTI and SOPROQ.

For more details about the 2018 Gala Country, visit the Culture Country website. (French only)

Photo by Stanton Photography

“The Hockey Song” to be inducted into Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame

Story by SOCAN | Thursday October 25th, 2018

Enduring anthem “The Hockey Song,” written and originally performed by iconic Canadian singer Stompin’ Tom Connors, will be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) in a ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in partnership with the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Released in 1973, the beloved song is celebrating its 45th anniversary, as a staple tune played throughout North American NHL arenas, and at every Toronto Maple Leafs home game.

The quintessential Canadian song about the quintessential Canadian game, “The Hockey Song” is the most well-known example of Connors’ ardent nationalism. In Tom’s typical novelty-song style, his three verses correspond to the three periods of a hockey game, delivered in the style of a play-by-play announcer – endearing it to fans and players alike. Stompin’ Tom was often invited to perform it at NHL games, and his song became not only a hockey theme, but also an unofficial Canadian anthem.

“The Hockey Song” has been recorded by Corb Lund, George Canyon, The Good Brothers, and Avril Lavigne, and Connors’ original version reached No. 29 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart on March 23, 2013, a few weeks after his death.

“This year, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame is partnering with events that share a connection with the songs we’re inducting,” said Vanessa Thomas, Executive Director of CSHF. “There’s not a more fitting stage to celebrate Stompin’ Tom’s ‘The Hockey Song’ than at an NHL game.  We’re very excited to see the crowd’s passion for the song, and to honour this classic into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.”

On Oct. 27, Tom Connors Jr. – son of late Stompin’ Tom Connors – and family will be presented with a plaque recognizing the song’s induction. The CSHF will present the plaque before the Maple Leafs versus Winnipeg Jets game at Scotiabank Arena, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Chart-topping, award-winning Canadian artist Tim Hicks will also perform “The Hockey Song,” live, before the game.

Music in the air at Manitoba Showcase 2018

Story by Howard Druckman | Tuesday October 23rd, 2018

SOCAN members Royal Wood and Andrew Collins are just a few of the musicians set to perform at the multi-disciplinary Manitoba Showcase 2018, to be held at the William Glesby Centre and the Portage and District Arts Centre in Portage la Prairie, MB, from Oct. 25-28, 2018.
The 18th annual edition of the conference will present five different musical performance showcases, featuring 15 acts from across Canada; daily music and arts seminars/workshops; and a three-day visual art exhibition. Manitoba Showcase 2018 aims to bring together communities, arts organizations, artists, and the public, all in celebration of artistic ability.

This year marks the launch of the Indigenous Special Project, created by the Manitoba Arts Network and funded by Canadian Heritage. The program provides financial assistance for musicians from five Indigenous communities to attend Manitoba Showcase 2018, not only as delegates, but also to evaluate fellow musicians who they might engage to play shows in their home communities.

For the music showcases lineup, click here. For a full conference schedule, click here. For tickets, click here.