The Saskatchewan Country Music Awards will be handed out April 12, in Nipawin, and again Yorkton and area are well-represented among the nominees.
Leading the way are three local-area ladies up for Female Vocalist of the Year; Jackie Guy, Jess Moskaluke, and Samara Yung.
Archerwill's Codie Prevost is up for Male Vocalist of the Year.
Yung, Moskaluke and Prevost are all up for the Fan's Choice Entertainer of the Year.
Guy said being among the finalists is a big step for her.
"I am extremely honoured to be in the same category as these other talented women. Although I feel a bit like the 'underdog', I do feel my best work is yet to come," she said.
"Being nominated in this category is huge for me.
"The music business is extremely tough and competitive to begin with but I think it's even tougher for women and mothers - yet alone a mother of seven, to really be taken seriously. I truly feel God called me back to music and to be nominated in this category prior to the release of my second album, fills me with extreme gratitude and hope. When radio stations receive your new songs and they see you have been nominated in this category they do take you seriously - your music becomes more respected. This is a big step for my career development."
Guy said the SCMA Awards are also a time to come together with other artists, and that is important.
"The SCMA awards are unique because for that one weekend, all of us gather to celebrate the accomplishments of our very own Saskatchewan artists, musicians, industry members," she said. "Saskatchewan has some amazing talent, recording studios, producers, managers, and radio station personalities.
"We no longer have to make the trip to Nashville in order to create a great album, because everything and everyone we need is right here in Saskatchewan. So, for one weekend a year, we celebrate everyone involved."
Yung said a nomination is always a positive thing.
"Being nominated will never get old because every year is a new year and this province is so unbelievably talented you really have no idea who is going to get nominated," she said.
Yung added the SCMA has become a recognized organization in country music.
"The fact that the association has been around for 25 years is one thing because its all run by volunteers," she said. "And we all know that its not easy to keep anything volunteer based going for that long so that is amazing in itself. Not to mention the passion that easy and every person in the association has for the music and the sense of family and friendship between us all is also pretty unique.
"You have to start somewhere and there is no better place to start then right at home. Winning an SCMA truly just gives you validation that the crazy idea you had about getting Into the music business may not have been that crazy. And just knowing that there are people out there who support you and love your music is a great feeling."
Moskaluke said she always appreciates the SCMA nominations.
"They're still very new for me. I've been nominated for the past three years and I think there is something to be said for being recognized at home," she said.
"It's the fact that they acknowledge musicians working hard in their careers right in our home province. It's great for the public to realize how much talent is right here in our own backyard."
In the category of Song of the Year (Composer) 'I Wonder Why' by Samara Yung, Steve Fox and Murray Yung is among the finalists.
The song is also up for Single of the Year along with Moskaluke's 'Good Lovin''.
'I Wonder Why' gives Yung yet another nomination for Video of the Year.'
With so many nominations, which would the ladies most like to win.
"I would absolutely love to win Entertainer of the Year," said Moskaluke. "Though with the amount of amazing entertainers nominated, I'm not expecting to take that title home this year."
Yung said she'll be happy with whatever might come her way.
"I'm honoured just be nominated and if I'm able to come home with one is pretty special," she said.
Guy went a different direction.
"If I could choose an SCMA award I would most want to win I would pick Song of The Year/Album of The Year," she said. "I've always considered myself a songwriter first and a singer second ... another reason why I'm honoured to be in the Female Vocalist Of The Year, category. I write songs of all kinds and before recording my own album I thought about writing strictly for other artists. It was my own children that encouraged me to go all the way and record the songs on my own. What a great bunch of kids. I been extremely blessed to have great home support."
Moskaluke said while the nominations are great if a performer does not win it just means they need to keep at it.
"No matter what happens, win or lose I will continue to work as hard as I can to pursue a career in music. Winning an award would just be a little extra push in the right direction," she said.
For Moskaluke that means a new CD hitting shelves right away.
"Fans can expect an entire CD full of songs they could hear on the radio today," she said. "I'm so proud of how this album came to fruition, and in a country world where trucks and tailgates and bare feet are common buzzwords, I'm also very proud of the lyrical content the songs offer. I hope they enjoy it.
"The first single off the new album was 'Good Lovin'', and we recently released the second track, 'Cheap Wine and Cigarettes' which is at radio now."
Two area guitar slingers; Murray Yung and Steve Gibson, are among the nominees battling it out for All Star Band (Guitar).
Andrew Cavanagh with the Steve Gibson Band is up for All Star Band (Drums).
Ronda Yung rounds out a family trifector of nominations as she is up for Manager of the Year, along with Theodore's Roland Gibson.
Murray Yung and Codie Prevost are back on the ballot for Country Music Person of the Year.
In the Fan's Choice Radio Station - Secondary Market GX94 in Yorkton is one of two nominees.
Danny Ismond with GX94 is up for two awards; On Air Personality - Secondary Market, and Music Director - Secondary Market.
