Northern B.C. got some down-home back-east hospitality, courtesy of the Canadian Country Music Association.
The annual CCMA showcase is second in Canada only to the Juno Awards for sheer music power, and this year it was held in Halifax. Aaron Pritchett, a multi-award winner of a singer-songwriter from the Terrace-Kitimat area, played a large role in the festivities. He was one of the panelists at an opening day songwriters' showcase, playing a few songs in amongst some by new acts and established stars like himself.
Then, on Sunday, he was the master of ceremonies at one of the featured after-parties following the big televised CCMA awards show.
"Sunday was the day I was most excited to be in Halifax for," he said afterwards in a written statement. "I was to be hosting the ole Music Publishing party that is annually held after the awards show. In order for me to be completely ready for that night, again we decided to forgo the festivities of the CCMA awards show and practice up for the one hour set with an awesome group of musicians, as well as being the host of the party, introducing artists on stage to play. I have to say that it was a total blast."
Had Prichett been at the award show, he would have gotten a special thrill. The maker of his music video for his latest single Boat On The Water, Stephano Barberis, won the trophy for Video Director Of The Year.
It was the fifth time in Pritchett's career that he has been in on a CCMA trophy, along with 14 other nominations.
He won Independent Male Artist of the Year and Independent Song of the Year for New Frontier in 2004, won for Independent Male Artist of the Year again in 2005, and won the title of SOCAN Songwriter of the Year for Hold My Beer in 2007. He has also been nominated for two Juno Awards in the Country Recording of the Year category, over the years, for the songs Big Wheel and Thankful.
It makes him second only to Prince George's Gary Fjellgaard for the northern B.C. country music artist most honoured by the CCMA. (Fjellgaard was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and continues to produce new projects.)
Pritchett is currently riding the momentum of his first Greatest Hits album released this year.
