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Artists nominated for country awards

Professionals in the country music scene are singing the praises of the Foothills top talents.
Okotoks country music singer/songwriter Tanya Ryan performs at the Okotoks Food Bank Christmas Concert on Dec. 13. The musician is one of three to be nominated for the
Okotoks country music singer/songwriter Tanya Ryan performs at the Okotoks Food Bank Christmas Concert on Dec. 13. The musician is one of three to be nominated for the Association of Country Music in Alberta awards.

Professionals in the country music scene are singing the praises of the Foothills top talents.

Singer/songwriters Tanya Ryan, Maddison Krebs and The Travelling Mabels were among dozens of artists nominated by their peers for the Association of Country Music in Alberta (ACMA) Awards.

The awards ceremony takes place in Red Deer Jan. 22 from 7 to 9 p.m.

Ryan said this is the third year she’s been nominated for Female Artist of the Year. There are 10 nominees this year. She’s also been nominated in other categories in past years including Fan’s Choice.

“To me it’s a little bonus that my peers think that I’m worthy enough to be thought of for an award,” she said. “It’s really nice to feel accepted in a community of people that I respect.”

The Okotoks country singer said she’s already received texts and emails from friends in the industry telling her they are voting for her.

“That makes me feel good because I have my friends’ support and I have industry support,” she said. “It’s really cool that I get to sit up there with people I find are really talented.”

While Ryan is honoured to be nominated for the award, she is remaining humble.

“I just try to keep it all in perspective,” she said. “I don’t want to get too fat a head about it.”

Since starting her career performing at open mics and community events, Ryan has progressed to larger stages and audiences and has become a more confident musician.

“I feel like every year that goes by I establish myself less as a figure in the industry, but more that I’m sure of who I am,” she said. “I feel a lot stronger as an artist because I know who I am. That’s the biggest part I noticed over the past year is I no longer have a question mark about who I am or what my music is supposed to be.”

The award-winning country artist is working hard on her next single, which she said will be released in the new year.

“I’m a lot more comfortable in what I have to say,” she said. “I have a lot more confidence (as a musician). I still try to listen to the opinions of people around me, but I feel a little more comfortable when I have an opinion that it still counts and it’s still valid.”

Also nominated for Female Artist of the Year is 19-year-old Okotokian Krebs.

This is also the third year she has been nominated for the ACMA Awards. Her video for Pink Roses was nominated for Video of the Year last year, when she was also nominated for Female Artist of the Year.

“I’m just happy to be nominated and to be recognized,” she said. “That’s the coolest part, regardless of if I win or not. It’s always cool just being recognized by your peers in the country music scene.”

Krebs said she is honoured to be nominated, considering the level of talented country music singers across Alberta.

“There’s some amazing women that are nominated as well that are part of the Alberta country music scene,” she said. “I’m honoured to be a part of it.”

Earlier this fall, Krebs won the On the Spot Contest hosted by rights management company ole Majorly Indie during the Canadian Country Music Week in Ontario, and has been making frequent trips to Nashville and working with other singer/songwriters as she prepares her next album.

A Group of the Year nomination is nothing new for country/folk band, The Travelling Mabels of Longview, after winning the title in 2011.

“We are very blessed to have won it for that year,” said Mama Mabel Eva Levesque. “It’s really nice to put on the resume.”

Levesque said it’s an honour and a surprise to be recognized again.

“We thought we’ve done it, we are good to go now,” she said. “I didn’t expect this at all. I think any time you get recognized for your work it’s always a big deal. Just for them to say we recognize you as one of the top groups in Alberta, this is a good thing for us. It lifts the old spirits up.”

The Travelling Mabels are Levesque, her daughter Suzanne and husband and wife musicians Lana and Keith Floen.

They have grown together as a band the past eight years, travelling the world and sharing their songs at folk festivals, house concerts and concert series.

The Travelling Mabels released their album Postcards earlier this fall and are already filling up 2017 with tours and performances.

Levesque said the band was invited, once again, as one of about 20 Alberta performers to the International Folk Alliance in Kansas City in February, which showcases acts from around the world to be selected to perform for festivals and concert series.

“It’s a lot of fun and you hear some really good musicians out there,” she said.

For more details about the ACMA Awards go to abcountrymusic.ca

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