Following a two-year wait, the Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame will finally be inducting the class of 2020.
Started in 1997, the hall is home to almost 80 prominent Nova Scotians including Carroll Baker, Rita MacNeil, George Canyon, Anne Murray, Hank Snow and Wilf Carter.
The 2020 inductees were selected just as the pandemic hit. Hall president Roger Bleasdale says it was difficult being one of two people who knew the names of the inductees and had to keep them secret.
“Especially when I would see some of these people because we would be doing concerts [and] they might be a guest, I was at their shows or whatever, and couldn’t say anything to them,” said Bleasdale.
Three of the four inductees—Annapolis Valley singer/songwriter Ruth Manning, Cape Breton singer/songwriter Evelyn MacRae and singer Alan Butler of Coldbrook—will attend a ceremony and perform at the Bridgewater Baptist Church in September.
Well-known Halifax area singer Ruby Daley will be inducted posthumously.
A person can be nominated for the Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame in several categories including singer, songwriter, musician or builder. Nominees must have been in the music business for 10 years and be well-known through performances or airplay and have significant achievements in the field of country music.
The induction ceremony and concert has been held for the past several years in a Truro hotel. The event attracted an audience of 300 and would normally include a banquet, an after party and Bleasdale says many people would make a weekend of it.
Out of continued concern about COVID-19, organizers decide to cut down on the socializing and moved the event to Bridgewater where the facility will allow them to focus on making the ceremony and concert the best it could be.
“Beautiful, padded seats and chairs. State of the art sound system and lighting and seats 600 people. So, we’re going there this year and see how this works out,” said Bleasdale.
The 2022 event marks the 24th ceremony for the organization.
Bleasdale says they are making plans for the 25th anniversary where they may increase the number of nominees to make up for the lost years.
Ticket information for the Sept. 17 induction ceremony and concert at the Bridgewater Baptist Church is available at the Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame website.
Reported by Ed Halverson
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson
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