2011 Anthem & Specialties Acts

November 9

Anthem: Brett Kissel

This 2 time Canadian Country Music Association Nominee (youngest in CCMA history) has been energizing audiences since he was a youngster. But now, at the ripe old age of 20, the music industry better look out! Brett Kissel has sold out 34 consecutive shows and concerts during the fall of 2010

Over the past 5 years of Brett's music career, his fans and his peers in the country music industry have seen him progress immensely in his entertaining, singing, guitar playing, and song writing. Brett Kissel's star is definitely rising, and it won't be long until you see him at the very top of the country music pyramid!

Specialty Act: Tomas Garcilazo

Tomas, a native of Mexico City, was introduced at an early age to his family heritage and tradition of "La Charreria" which is a skill performed through the generations only by the Mexican Charro. Charros take extreme pride in their highly developed horsemanship and roping abilities. Tomas, third generation Charro, has devoted his life to sharing Mexico's National Sport La Charreria with the world. Tomas has performed throughout Europe, Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. He has appeared on Broadway in New York City and toured the U.S. with the Will Rogers Follies, an acclaimed 6 time Tony Award winning show. He was a featured performer for two years at Disney's Wild West Show in Paris, France plus the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show touring Holland and Germany. Tomas has performed numerous times for Mexico's Presidents along with guest performances at the U.S. White House and Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

November 10

Anthem: Julian Austin

What best-selling country music artist do you know who can successfully pull off the quintessential line “even the dog knows she ain’t comin’ back” on the same album on which he records covers of tunes by Queen, Elvis Presley and Rod Stewart?

“I like to write (songs) we can all relate to”, says Julian as he describes the writing of the 5 originals on “One For One” which embrace the basics of great country music. “She Knows About Cryin'” is the “song for the ladies”, “If Houston Doesn’t Want You” offers unconditional friendship and support, “Goodbye Exit Sign” is “one of those driving and thinking songs, for when you’re trying to get over someone”. Julian admits “I Am Who I Am” is completely autobiographical. “It was written when I was in a real dark place, and really messed up. It’s a real song”. The CD’s final track, “Brake Lights” is an arms-in-the-air, sing-along heartbreak song with the impact of a classic power ballad—in which the aforementioned dog predicts a sad and lonely future. Baxter, Julian’s beagle, is sure to shed a sympathetic tear.

Specialty Act:  Blake Shelton (feature concert)

The breakout star of NBC's The Voice, Blake is one of country music's brightest lights. Ever since the power and drama of his 2001 debut single, "Austin," first brought him to national attention, Blake has proven himself to be one of the genre's most versatile and accomplished vocalists as well as one of its most compelling entertainers. The first single from his latest CD, "Honey Bee," took the #1 position on the country singles charts, which he has reached with six of his last seven singles. "Honey Bee" only hinted at the riches inside Red River Blue. 

November 11

Anthem: Chad Brownlee

With a Best New Artist Showcase Award from the Canadian Country Music Conference and a 2010 CCMA Rising Star nomination under his belt, Chad Brownlee is quickly earning accolades across Canada’s country music scene. 

Brownlee’s self-titled debut album was released earlier this year.  Currently, his single “Day After You” has reached number 12 on the Chevy Cross Canada Countdown and has reached Top 20 on Canadian Country radio. The album’s first hit single “The Best That I Can (Superhero)”, a song Brownlee co-wrote, reached the top 20 and “Hood Of My Car” peaked at number 11 and was chosen as the iTunes pick of the week during the Canadian Country Music Awards week.

Chad will also be perfoming at The Buckle, Friday, Nov. 11, at 8:30 p.m.

Tomas, a native of Mexico City, was introduced at an early age to his family heritage and tradition of "La Charreria" which is a skill performed through the generations only by the Mexican Charro. Charros take extreme pride in their highly developed horsemanship and roping abilities. Tomas, third generation Charro, has devoted his life to sharing Mexico's National Sport La Charreria with the world. Tomas has performed throughout Europe, Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. He has appeared on Broadway in New York City and toured the U.S. with the Will Rogers Follies, an acclaimed 6 time Tony Award winning show. He was a featured performer for two years at Disney's Wild West Show in Paris, France plus the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show touring Holland and Germany. Tomas has performed numerous times for Mexico's Presidents along with guest performances at the U.S. White House and Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

November 12 Matinee

Anthem:  Danielle Lowe

Edmonton’s 16 year-old country music singer/songwriter, Danielle Lowe, has been wowing stages in Alberta with her power-packed performances over the past 5 years. Miss Lowe is a hard working musician and her talent and dedication has translated into unparalleled competition success, both in Canada and the US. At the age of 13, after conquering the junior categories as a young girl, Danielle became the youngest singer in history to be crowned the Grand Winning Act of Northlands’ Country Vocal Spotlight and carried on to win awards for top female vocalist, performer and songwriter of the year at Tennessee’s esteemed NACMAI competition.

Quoted as a fan favorite at major attractions as the Ponoka Stampede, Calgary Stampede and the Canadian Final Rodeo.  The event is completed as a team effort.  Each team has three contestants, a header, rider and shankman.

The event starts with the Wild Pony in the chute.  A halter with a long rope is placed on the pony.  The three contestants ready themselves at the front of the chute, taking position and hanging on to the rope.  The pony is then released from the chute.

The header must pull himself up the rope and grab the pony by the halter, the shankman keeps the pony in control while the rider climbs aboard.

These kids don't hold back - it's western family entertainment at it's finest!

November 12 Evening

Anthem and Specialty Act:  Emerson Drive

A decade of great music and over a million miles of life on the road have brought Emerson Drive to the spot that many artists dream of, a Grammy-nominated country band with a bright future.  After 10 years the members of Emerson Drive are excited to have reached this career milestone and can't wait to see what the next 10, 20 or 30 years will bring. "We have been playing music our entire lives," explains lead vocalist Brad Mates.  "None of us can imagine doing anything else.  We belong together on that stage each night.  It's exciting for us to see what we have accomplished so far and to be planning for the next decade.  This tour is still just the beginning!"  

Emerson Drive will also be performing at The Buckle, Saturday, Nov. 1, at 10:30 p.m.

November 13 Matinee

Anthem: Hey Romeo

There’s a long held saying that things “come in threes”, and in the case of award-winning country band Hey Romeo, that numerical combination is rolled out in more ways than just the fact that the group is a trio of extremely talented individuals. And it’s not just “good” things coming in threes in case of Hey Romeo, it’s about “great’ things. Stacie Roper, Rob Shapiro, and Darren Gusnowsky, make for a genuine triple threat, when it comes to writing, singing, and playing, and that notion was backed up in late 2008 when Hey Romeo was named New Group of the Year by the Canadian Country Music Association. With the release of the new Hey Romeo album THAT’S WHAT I AM, music lovers across the land will be reminded again that Roper, Shapiro and Gusnowsky are one of the hottest acts on the Canadian country music landscape.

Specialty Act: Tomas Garcilazo

Tomas, a native of Mexico City, was introduced at an early age to his family heritage and tradition of "La Charreria" which is a skill performed through the generations only by the Mexican Charro. Charros take extreme pride in their highly developed horsemanship and roping abilities. Tomas, third generation Charro, has devoted his life to sharing Mexico's National Sport La Charreria with the world. Tomas has performed throughout Europe, Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. He has appeared on Broadway in New York City and toured the U.S. with the Will Rogers Follies, an acclaimed 6 time Tony Award winning show. He was a featured performer for two years at Disney's Wild West Show in Paris, France plus the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show touring Holland and Germany. Tomas has performed numerous times for Mexico's Presidents along with guest performances at the U.S. White House and Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.