We didn't expect to be able to find out much about this country compilation CD beyond what's on the liner notes - but the Herald mentioned the disc in 1992, the year that the Nashville North stage and watering hole was introduced to the Stampede. The only artists on here we've been able to confirm as Calgarian are Brett Barrow and Denis Grady - others hail from Saskatchewan and beyond... [img width=662.5px]//7ca49eb9f67ba1319ef136f9d52cd8b8.cdn.bubble.io/f1767385748438x210575159891334800/richtext_content.jpeg[/img] [h2]HONKY-TONK Nashville North gives new artists a break; entertains C&W fans[/h2] By Todd Kimberley (Herald writer) It offers twang for your ears - and more bang for your buck. And it's quickly generating a legion of country music fans at this year's Calgary Stampede. Nashville North, a watering hole within hollerin' distance of the grandstand, is the result of some shrewd planning between Stampede organizers and representatives of a local C&W recording project. "This is a good idea," said Alana Lyell of Saskatoon, a re- peat customer who's tapped her toes to the live music nearly every night of this year's Stampede., "We keep coming back for the bands." "This is a very good kind of music to hear live," added Reinhard Schuler of Donaueschin gen, Germany, who quickly has been won over to that twin-fiddle sound. "I hear it very seldom in Germany and, if you have that possibility, you should take it." With 12 hours of live music every day, Nashville North features established artists from the country circuit such as Dick Damron, Leroy Van Dyke and McQueen. But it also showcases eight new artists from across Western Canada. Those artists are being featured in a soon-to-be-released CD put together by a Calgary recording company, also called Nashville North. The up-and-comers include J.J. Rae of Vancouver, Donna Kay of Pierceland, Sask., and Calgary's Brett Barrow, who was nominated as most promising artist at the 1991 Alberta Country Music Awards. Blaine Wilkins, executive producer of the Nashville North project, said that his collaboration with Stampede organizers - the first of its kind so far - provides the new artists with the crucial test of playing live. "To develop solid new artists, we want to build on the recording project. One very important aspect is the live performances," he said. "Of course, they have to release singles to radio. But it's the live performance that the artist needs." With an audience from around the world, the artists are making the most of their moment in the spotlight. "The audience has been wonderful, very receptive," said vocalist Jude Knapp of J.J. Rae. "This gives artists like us a chance to be seen before our material is released." The Nashville North project released its first CD last fall. With the second scheduled for release in a few months, Wilkins sees a bright horizon in Calgary's C&W scene. "We try to give these artists as many breaks as possible to get into the music business. This will eventually make Calgary much more prominent as a country music town." Brian Ratcliffe, publicity manager for the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, says he already has received a lot of positive feedback for the project. "We're a few days into this year's show and, with its popularity, this looks like a good venture. "We've noticed that people do seem to be enjoying it and having a good time." Ratcliffe also noted that the Stampede's commitment to developing new talent fits right in with this year's theme. "Because it's a Salute to the Provinces, we obviously looked to Canadian entertainers and we have a number of them." With a capacity of 740 patrons, crowds at Nashville North have been relatively tame, say city police at the grounds. "It's a good crowd in there, with some good music, and everybody seems to behaving them- selves really well," said Staff Sgt. Dave Hammer.
