When Country Music Canada airs ‘Big in a Small Town’ next month, Halifax’s Mark Cameron will be one of the featured semi-finalists.
CMT Canada bills the television show as an opportunity for local hometown music heroes to be discovered. This past spring, interested performers from across Canada were invited to submit audition videos showcasing their talent.
In June, a panel of judges selected five top finalists in six different regions of the country, with Cameron making the cut.
This news comes fresh on the heels of the April release of Cameron’s album, ‘Just The Way You Like It.’ He considers himself extremely fortunate to have been invited to Nashville, where he worked with Grammy award winner Gordie Sampson on the album.
The heartbreaking, ballad-loving country singer is hoping it will help raise his profile in the contest.
“This whole CMT thing couldn’t have happened at a better time,” Cameron said.
“I hope having this album behind me with such great material may have them thinking ‘Hey, he’s worthy of this.’”
At the insistence of his wife, Cameron started performing publicly about eight years ago. In 2007 the song ‘I Don’t Wanna Go’ from his first album ‘Get Er Done’ made it to number 11 on Nova Scotia’s top 30 countdown. That same year he represented Atlantic Canada on CMT’s Karaoke Star.
He and his band keep busy, performing at bars, sample showcases at the ECMAs, and other events.
“It would be something to get two music videos funded by CMT, and to have a small record deal and all the other really great things (they’re giving as a grand prize),” he said. “These are things I need to go to the next level.”
Cameron and four other finalists were filmed by the CMT music crew the weekend of July 14 for inclusion in the show. He believes the judges will decide on Aug. 2 which semi-finalists will make it to the final stage in Toronto.
“I’m sure it (the show) will be just packed with lots of talent. This is really putting people out there that are probably at the same phase I’m at,” he said. “The exposure is great..Some people that are on the show probably won’t have to win to have great things happen. This is a huge opportunity.”
Keep an eye on Cameron’s website for updates at www.markcameronmusic.com.
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca
QUICK FACTS
Episode 1 of Big In A Small Town airs on Aug. 23. It will feature finalists from Jasper, Penticton and Saskatoon.
Episode 2 airs Aug. 30 and features Charlottetown, Halifax and Niagara area finalists. This is the episode in which Cameron makes his appearance.
Episode 3 airs Sept. 6. It’s a live-to-air performance show down between winners from the previous two shows. The overall winner gets to present at the 2012 CCMA Awards on Sept. 9.
Check out http://biginasmalltown.cmt.ca/home/ for more information.
