The BC Country Music Association’s 47th annual awards ceremony was held on Sunday, May 4 at the Great Canadian Casino Vancouver in Coquitlam. As one of the biggest nights of the year for country music fans across B.C., the event offered a packed night of live performances, artist recognition and appearances from stars in B.C.’s country music industry.
Recently revamped into one of the top spots for entertainment in B.C., the Great Canadian Casino Vancouver (formerly Hard Rock Casino Vancouver) is no stranger to hosting major events.The intimate setting of the venue’s theatre, its upscale dining areas and various gaming options make it an easy choice for a music event like this.
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However, while iGaming has all these benefits, one thing virtual gaming can’t offer that physical venues can is the ability to host in-person events. And, during events such as BC Country Music Association Awards, the venue’s host hotel, Executive Plaza Hotel Coquitlam, often offers rooms at special rates for attendees.
In the days leading up to the awards show, the Great Canadian Casino Vancouver hosted a number of artist showcase pop ups throughout the venue. In addition to hearing intimate live performances from their favourite artists, fans will also had the opportunity to engage in interactive Q&A sessions with the performers—offering a deeper connection and experience beyond the music.
This year’s awards categories stretched across every corner of B.C. country music. The list of artists in attendance included fresh faces alongside longtime performers who’ve held the line for years, including names such as Aaron Pritchett, Teigen Gayse, JoJo Mason, Tim & The Glory Boys and more. Songwriters, producers and others behind the scenes were also recognized.
The BC Country Music Association got its start in 1975, when the province’s country scene was smaller and more scattered in scale.Today, more than 30 regional stations broadcast country music across B.C. and artists record music from their home studios in the Kootenays or on Vancouver Island and still receive regular airplay. Plenty of country music careers have picked up speed right at the BC Country Music Association Awards. For example, after their 2021 performance, Cross Parallel gained momentum and started landing national airplay.
In recent years, event organizers have spent time making space for artists from smaller towns and for Indigenous musicians, bringing new language and rhythm into the B.C. country music foray. This year, musical acts from Quesnel, Trail and Haida Gwaii took the stage. The stories they tell don’t follow the usual patterns and that’s part of what’s changing the sound of B.C.’s country music today.
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