Okay yes, 264 days is a little long for a countdown… but I can’t help it.
As excited as I am for #MoChaKaTO in 20 days, I am just as excited for the Boots and Hearts Canadian Country Music Festival in 2014.
We learned on the Sunday of Boots & Hearts 2013 that Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year, Blake Shelton would be headlining next year. And then this week announcement number 2 came through the wire telling us that Luke Bryan will join Blake at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park next year.
It was a huge announcement that made a lot of people happy. It made me happy too. For 2 reasons.
1) I love Luke Bryan and can’t wait to see him on stage, I think he’s going to put on a great show.
2) I predicted that Mr. Bryan would be included in the 2014 line-up in a previous post!
That’s right. After a really bad year of predicting Boots & Hearts talent in twenty-thirteen, I’m turning things around already.
My other top picks for B&H 2014?
Little Big Town – who have been on fire for the last 18 months.
Hunter Hayes – who I incorrectly guessed this year.
Kellie Pickler – who is one of the most adorable and talented people in country music.
Gord Bamford – who has been nominated for the 2013 CCMA Fans’ Choice Award.
And my longshot pick is… Lady Antebellum!
And now almost 3 months later, if I were going to add some more predictions to that list… I’d go with:
Small Town Pistols - brother/sister duo who first came to us as The Wilkinsons.
Deric Ruttan - writing & touring partner of B&H alums Jason Blaine, Chad Brownlee and Dierks Bentley.
Michelle Wright - Canadian Country Music Legend.
Kelly Clarkson - B&H needs a female headliner… Kelly would be a HUGE get.
Diamond Rio - would fit nicely in the legend category that Alabama and Joe Diffie filled in years 1 & 2.
The first 3 acts on that list are Canadian, so there’s a chance that they get a call to join the line-up. The B&H website description now reads: Boots and Hearts Canadian Country Music Festival – so having more Canadian content would not be a surprise.
The last 2 groups on that list are a little less likely. Kelly Clarkson is coming off a nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year at the CMAs last week. She’s gone country and that makes me happy. She also married into Reba’s family, which doesn’t really mean much, but still. And Diamond Rio doesn’t tour as much as they once did, but I love their music, I grew up with it and if I could hear songs like Meet in the Middle, Beautiful Mess and How Your Love Makes Me Feel, live and in person, I would be a very happy boy.
To be honest, I could be wrong about all of these predictions. Getting the Luke Bryan call right doesn’t make me an expert. However, I do know that no matter who Boots and Hearts brings on to fill out the 2014 lineup will be talented and put on a great show.
They haven’t let me down in years 1 and 2, I don’t expect them to start now.
Tickets are on sale now, so if you’re interested – click and buy.
264 is a lot of days – but that hasn’t stopped a lot of people from being excited.
Me included.
Work Hard. Play Harder. Be Awesome!
