Past and current 91原创 area residents played prominently in a gala awards celebration for the province鈥檚 country music industry Sunday night.
Before a crowd of roughly 650 at the Hard Rock Casino, it was former 91原创ite Aaron Pritchett 鈥� along with the Vancouver-based Washboard Union 鈥� that 鈥渃leaned up per usual鈥� at the BC Country Music Association鈥檚 42nd annual awards, announced president Linda Corscadden.
Pritchett 鈥搘ho left 91原创 a few years ago, scooped up male artists, fans choice, single, video, and interactive artist of the year awards.
Also of note for 91原创, Gabby鈥檚 Country Cabaret once again was crowned the country venue of the year, while another local business 鈥� Long & McQuade 鈥� received the distinguished president鈥檚 citation.
This award, not necessarily given out each year, is presented to groups, companies, or individuals who goes above and beyond for the industry and the BCCMA, Corscadden explained.
鈥淟ong & McQuade has been involved with the BCCMA and has donated the back line for pretty much any and all events that we ever do, without a blink of an eye, so I wanted to make sure Kyle Radomski and Mike McDermott from 91原创 Long & McQuade were recognized,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ell overdue.鈥�
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Host with the 鈥渕ost鈥�
Willoughby singer Karen Lee Batten 鈥� who co-hosted with radio personality Curtis Pope 鈥� also scooped up female vocalist of the year for the seventh time.
Standing back stage in the dark, reading queue cards with nothing more than the light of her cellphone, and discussing with Pope what was coming up next, Batten didn鈥檛 even realize the presentation of the female artist of the year category was currently underway.
It was probably a good thing that she was busy and distracted from thinking about the award, Batten admitted. Having attended or been involved with the awards for the past 19 years, she felt being busy with her host duties was an advantage. It prevented her nerves from getting the better of her.
鈥淚鈥檝e got to tell you, every year it comes as a shock. There are so many incredible artists up for this award, and I鈥檓 always humbled just to be nominated.鈥�
Batten first won the award in 2004, 2005, and 2006, and then again in 2014, 2015, and last year.
鈥淚鈥檓 just so grateful to all the people who listen to my music and believe in me, and love the music I鈥檓 making,鈥� Batten told the 91原创 Advance.
Insisting accolades must be shared with her family, her band, her friends, and her distributors 鈥� but most of all her fans 鈥� she said it鈥檚 a huge team effort.
In addition to hosting the event and receiving a few awards herself, about three-quarters of the way through the show Batten took to the stage and performed the Amanda Marshall cover Let It Rain, bringing the crowd to its feet.
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Humanitarian efforts lauded
Corscadden, who鈥檚 another former 91原创 resident, was also recognized as the Don Adams country music person of the year and lauded 鈥� along with Batten and Agassiz鈥檚 Todd Richard 鈥� for their efforts in organizing last July鈥檚 fire relief fundraiser that generated $13,600 for the Boston Flats area and the 100-Mile haulers.
Batten admits she almost missed being right of stage for the humanitarian awards component, too.
Between costume and wig changes, skits, and other general hosting duties, Batten ran up and down a flight of stairs at least 30 times through the night from the stage to the green room.
Thankfully her 鈥渂est bud鈥� was in the audience and texted her a friendly nudging reminder that she was a nominee for the next category, and she once again bolted up the stairs faster than she knew possible.
Batten had also been nominated for the humanitarian award in past, for a fundraiser she held to aid residents effected by the Paddington Station condo fire in downtown 91原创.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a pretty surreal award,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 feel like as humans and as a society, it鈥檚 in our blood to give back when people are hurting or in need鈥� That鈥檚 all I did鈥� We don鈥檛 do these things to get an award 鈥� You see an immediate need and your heart says 鈥榣et鈥檚 go鈥�.鈥�
This really was a family effort 鈥� the country music family 鈥� said Batten, who noted that any time she goes out asking for help, everyone in the country music industry 鈥� directly or indirectly 鈥� is quick to give.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I鈥檝e ever heard a 鈥榥o,鈥� and that鈥檚 what makes this organization, this industry so special鈥� it鈥檚 one big family.鈥�
Corscadden agreed it鈥檚 a family.
鈥淭he family is growing and it鈥檚 amazing. I鈥檓 so proud of the growth and development from all of the artists musicians and industry members. The support is truly like no other. It鈥檚 not a competition, it鈥檚 everyone in the industry supporting one another and cheering each other on and celebrating the person that wins.鈥�
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Other 91原创ites honoured
Rounding out the 91原创 list, there was also fiddler Mike Sanyshyn and drummer Seamus O鈥橬eill who won Mike Norman all-star band awards.
Also from the Clayton area is Stephano Barberis who was lauded for the 19th year running as video director of the year.
鈥淚 always say this year was the best yet,鈥� Corscadden said. But she thinks the Sunday night ceremony topped all past events.
鈥淥h my goodness it was a hoot,鈥� she concluded, commending Batten and Pope for hosting the show.
鈥淚t was an amazing night I鈥檓 very proud of each and every nominees and winner, and I can鈥檛 wait for next year,鈥� Corscadden said.
