The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) today announced that eight-time JUNO Award winner and two-time SOCAN Song of the Year Award winner Paul Brandt will host and perform at the 2016 JUNO Songwriters’ Circle. Tickets go on sale on January 15 at 10am MST and are available for $25.00, $37.50, and $49.50 (plus fees). Tickets can be purchased at artscommons.ca, the Arts Commons Box Office or by phone at 403-294-9494.
Considered “the jewel of JUNO Week,” JUNO Songwriters’ Circle is a benefit concert for MusiCounts; Canada’s music education charity associated with CARAS, and features some of Canada’s most talented singer-songwriters sharing their songs and the stories behind them in an intimate concert. Taking place on Sunday, April 3 from 12pm – 2pm MST at the Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons in Calgary, JUNO Songwriters’ Circle is co-presented by the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers (SOCAN) and Yamaha Canada Music.
The select 2016 JUNO Award nominees joining Paul Brandt on stage will be announced in the coming weeks.
“I’m proud to host this event on behalf of MusiCounts and CARAS,” said Paul Brandt. “It all began with a song for me, and that song would have never been written if I hadn’t had access to my school music program. This will be a unique, intimate event journeying into the stories behind the songs.”
“The all-time musical high that Canada is experiencing globally right now is in large part because of the work of this country’s brilliant songwriters and composers,” said SOCAN CEO Eric Baptiste. “SOCAN is delighted to be a co-sponsor once again of the JUNO Songwriters’ Circle; a showcase of creative magic that puts the work and art of music creation in a well-earned spotlight.”
“Yamaha Canada Music is proud to be a co-sponsor of JUNO Songwriters’ Circle,” said Omar Ales, National Sales & Marketing Manager. “Yamaha’s legacy in the creation of musical instruments started 129 years ago in Hamamatsu, Japan and Yamaha has had an office in Canada since 1969. We take pride in serving Canadians with our products as we are dedicated to future growth of music in Canada through passion and performance.”
Paul Brandt is the most awarded male Canadian country artist in history. His 1996 debut RIAA certified Gold album “Calm Before the Storm” went on to sell one million albums internationally, propelled by the #1 single and wedding standard “I Do”. Stateside, his #5 and #1 charting songs “My Heart Has A History”, and “I Do” were the first to chart by a male Canadian Country artist since Hank Snow in 1974. The song “For You” (Brandt/Rosen) was selected to promote the major motion picture “We Were Soldiers”, and was performed by Johnny Cash and Dave Matthews. His 11 career albums have spawned hit singles, multiple Album of the Year awards, gold, platinum, and multi-platinum performances. As a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2008 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award, and numerous other national and regional humanitarian nods, Paul is committed to practically meeting the needs of the poorest of the world’s poor through his Build It Forward Foundation.
Fresh on the heels of the record-breaking “Road Trip Tour”, Paul’s most recent single “I’m An Open Road” hit #7 in Canada and features two-time reigning CCMA Female Artist of the Year Jess Moskaluke. Paul’s current recording project is a limited edition vinyl EP (“Frontier”) and Digital Bundle called “Borderlines”.
Paul lives with his wife Liz and their two children on a ranch in the foothills of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains.