By Tiffany Williams
Editor
Shane Yellowbird, from Hobbema, continues to climb the country ladder and was recently nominated for a Juno. The Juno’s are Canada’s Music awards and Yellowbird who went to school in Ponoka was nominated for country recording of the year for his debut album ‘Life is Calling My Name.’
Yellowbird who was very honoured to receive the nomination was exhausted when he first found out he was up for the award. His band had traveled from Yukon to Edmonton to Fredericton in 72 hours, turned on his phone after getting off the plane and received a text message from his manager and called him right away.
“He let me know the news and it didn’t hit me for a while until Paul [Brandt] came into my dressing room and congratulated me and it was incredible.”
Yellowbird will be starting his third tour with Brandt in April and has recently toured with him in the Maritimes and Ontario. Yellowbird is nominated against Brandt, Johnny Reid, Aaron Lines and Gord Bamford.
“It’s really weird because 10 years ago I had Paul Brandt’s album and I was a huge fan of him and now I am about to do my third tour with him in April,” he said. “He and I are nominated against each other which means I pretty much don’t have a chance.”
Yellowbird says that he has learned a lot from touring with Brandt. He says that he is very professional and a great down to earth guy who takes care of business every time he hits the stage. Brandt also takes his family along with him to give the tour a more homey atmosphere.
“I’m learning from him every day. I am learning because I’m new at the business and I’m having a hard time adjusting, traveling all the time, being away from home and that stuff. He helps me take those things into perspective,” he said.
The 2008 Junos will be held in Calgary on April 6 during Brandt and Yellowbird’s tour but the two will make it back for the show and dinner.
“It will just be an event to take it in because honestly I don’t think I have a chance with this one but just to be there will be great.”
Yellowbird is just about to put out ‘Life Is Calling My Name’ as his new single and video and is currently working on his new album.
He thinks that it will be hard to top 2007 because it was the biggest year of his life and will be moving to Nashville in May after signing a three-year contract. After his great year he says he is getting great songs out of Nashville including songs written by George Strait and Brad Paisley.
“It’ s just incredible. There’s a tune that just got handed to me that came from Mr. Allan Jackson’s hands to my hands and that’s a song I am going to be putting on the album, it’s a killer song.”
This year is going to be another busy year for Yellowbird who has more than 200 dates booked and will be fulfilling one of his dreams and an honour to be playing at the Ponoka Stampede this year with George Canyon.
“Ever since I started music in 2002 it has been a dream of mine to play at the Ponoka Stampede. In 2002, I was in the talent show and to be a paid performer on stage where so many greats have played before me is just incredible. It will be a lot of fun.”