The Western Swing Authority

THE WESTERN SWING AUTHORITY/I’ve Got a Feeling
Writer: Shane Guse/Larry Wayne Clark; Producer: Jason Berry & The Western Swing Authority; Publisher: Brainchild, SOCAN; WSA (track)
—These folks are sort of the Canadian version of The Time Jumpers. Their new single is a bluesy, hold-her-tight, slow dance, buoyed by swaying fiddles, dreamy steel notes and deftly plucked guitar licks. Lead singer Stacey Lee Guse sounds like she just stepped out of a 1940s cabaret. Lush and fabulous. The album is called All Dolled Up. Seek it out.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM MAPLESTAR MUSIC & MEDIA, NASHVILLE

MapleStar Music & Media Clients Grab Nominations for
Country Music Association of Ontario Awards...

Super-group The Western Swing Authority nominated for Group of the Year; WSA’s Shane Gusé nominated with Jason Blaine for Songwriter of the Year for the group’s single “All Dolled Up.”

Today, April 9th, the Country Music Association of Ontario (Canada) announced its top ten final nominees for their upcoming inaugural awards show. Nashville’s MapleStar Music & Media is proud to announce that The Western Swing Authority, based in Kitchener, Ontario, is nominated as Group of the Year. The group, widely recognized as “Canada’s answer to The Time Jumpers, is also nominated for an Independent Music Award. “We didn’t expect to be nominated for anything, to be honest,” said group founder/fiddle player/vocalist Shane Gusé. Gusé is also nominated, with Jason Blaine, for Songwriter of the Year for the single, “All Dolled Up,” the title track and first release from the band’s sophomore album. That single has received airplay on over 300 radio stations around the world. Shane added, “it’s all a bit of a shock.”

The first annual Country Music Association of Ontario Awards will take place on May 27th at Markham Theatre in Markham, Ontario, Canada.

The Western Swing Authority Lands Independent Music Awards Nomination 

Canadian western swing Supergroup, The Western Swing Authority has been nominated for “Best Americana Song” in the 2013 Independent Music Association Awards.
 
Yesterday (March 19th) Music Resource Group announced the nominees of The 12th Independent Music Awards (The IMAs), which contained nominations in over 80 album, song, music video and design categories.
 
Winners will be judged by a panel of artist and industry judges including Tom Waits, Shelby Lynne, Del McCoury, Brandi Carlile and Nettwerk Music Group’s Terry McBride.
 
In addition to the industry-determined winners, music fans from around the world can register their votes in The IMA Vox Pop Jukebox.  Voting in the Vox Pop Jukebox closes Friday July 19th 2013. Visit www.independentmusicawards.com/imanominee/12th to cast a vote!
 
“Pretty cool to thing that people like Shelby Lynne, Del McCoury and Tom Waits will be listening to our tune,” said the band’s founder/fiddle player/vocalist Shane Gusé.  WSA’s Stacey Lee agrees, “Some cool stuff starting to materialize for us.  We’re honored and excited!”
 
The nominated song is “I’ve Got A Feelin’,” an original song written by Shane Gusé and Larry Wayne Clark.  The song is included on The Western Swing Authority’s sophomore album, All Dolled Up, produced by The Western Swing Authority and Jason Barry.  The album was released late in 2012; the album’s first single, “All Dolled Up” (a new original song, written by the band’s Shane Gusé and Jason Blaine) is an international success—being played on over 300 radio stations around the world, including radio in countries like New Zealand, Paraguay, Texas and at home in Canada.
 

Thanks to Country Jukebox in Germany for their great review of The Western Swing Authority's new album, All Dolled Up. The link takes you to the review in German, but we've provided a rough translation below.

"Western Swing is alive! No one brought more to the point than the unforgotten Waylon Jennings when he sang, "It do not matter who's in Austin, Bob Wills is still the king." Nearly 40 years after the death of the Western Swing legend, keep bands like Asleep at the Wheel, The Time Jumpers and WESTERN SWING THE AUTHORITY high the banner of Western Swing. In the latter, there are seven fabulous good musicians from Canada, who have recorded for their second album All Dolled Up a wonderfully rich collection of new songs and classics. Authentic, engaging, and neatly as possible in the dancing legs!

This is a strong CD for fans of country western music and enough familiarity with certain songs (reference Mancini) for fans of music, period.

Musicians: Stacey Lee Guse (vocal), Shane Guse (fiddle/vocal), Dan Howlett (fiddle/vocal), Paul Chapman (guitar/vocal), Ed Ringwald (steel guitar), Matthew Lima (bass) and Craig Bignell (drums)
The Western Swing Authority WSA002 (2012) 44667-02838
12 Tracks
Running Length: 45 minutes
www.thewesternswingauthority.com

When The Western Swing Authority (Canada) began "Barnyard Boogie," I thought, "Sons of the Pioneers" and Gene Autry western movies. The Swing Authority clear and concise sound references bands of the past with a Jimmie Rodgers tune ("Any Old Time") to the band's original music to Henry Mancini's "Pink Panther Theme." All of this in 45 minutes.

This is a strong CD for fans of country western music and enough familiarity with certain songs (reference Mancini) for fans of music, period. Fiddle player Shane Guse has an original composition in "All Dolled Up," that is lively enough to get feet tapping. Another toe-tapper is "Choo Choo Boogie" with fiddle solo.

Vocal soloist Stacey Lee Guse shows what she can to with an original song by Shane Guse, "I've Got A Feelin,'" which has a blues mood. Guse's voice is full here and she purposely sings this song with a catch in her throat. This piece has a moving steel guitar ending. Stacey also sings solo on "Madien's Prayer," the lively "Roly Poly" by Fred Rose about a child who eats all the time and the last track, "One Of Us Is Lying." Here the singer states, "I know me and I know you and one of us is lying."

The Western Swing Authority has clear instrumentation, but more important, the lyrics come through concise. With a combination of two fiddles, four vocalists, a drummer, bass, guitar and steel guitar, they can do a variety of music. The blend of instruments is precise with instruments having solo moments in selections. Everyone has a chance to show what they can do. My favorite? The slower rendition of "The Pink Panther Theme" was just right, indeed.

Copyright 2013 Marie Asner

News From Canada Denise Pederson

ALL DOLLED UP

is the title song of the greatly anticipated second project of The Western Swing Authority from Canada. This hot off the press CD is catchy, done
in style and delivers what Western Swing music is all about. The upbeat songs will bring joy, put a smile on your face, and keep your feet tapping.
All Dolled Up has a wonderful selection of traditional songs that honor and pay tribute to their Texas roots and beginnings, plus some newly written songs.
One of my personal favorites, written by WSA fiddleman- founder Shane Guse and Larry Wayne Clark, is one called, I Got A Feeling. Stacy Lee Guse, I love your voice and you have perfected it like nobody can. What a beautiful song. Bravo!!
Go to www.thewesternswingauthority.com and have a listen!!
Listeners are in for a real treat. If you are not already a fan, then with the showcasing of all this great talent, you certainly will be after your first listen.
THANK YOU Western Swing Authority for such a great addition to Western Swing music. Musical contributions such as All Dolled Up, help ensure that Western Swing will be enjoyed in Canada, the USA and worldwide for years to come.

The Western Swing Authority Swings into
Hamilton’s Lyric Theater in March

It’s not often that audiences get to see some of Canada’s top musicians all on one stage. It’s even rarer that they get to see them all in one band! Hamilton and area audiences will get that chance on Saturday March 10th, as Canadian western swing super-group The Western Swing Authority swing into Hamilton’s Lyric Theater!

Much like Nashville’s Timejumpers, The Western Swing Authority is a group of Canada’s top studio and road players who take breaks from their regular jobs with other bands to play a form of music close to their hearts, western swing—a form of music that came out of Texas, Okalahoma and California in the 1930’s and still remains popular today.

Just who is The Western Swing Authority? Meet the band: Stacey Lee (Lace, Jason McCoy) on lead vocals; Shane Guse (2011 CCMA Fiddle Player of the Year, George Canyon); Ed “Pee Wee Charles” Ringwald (2011 CCMA Steel Player of the Year, George Canyon, Gordon Lightfoot); Paul Chapman (Michelle Wright, Aaron Pritchett); Dan Howlett (Michelle Wright, The Good Brothers); Matthew Lima (Kellylee Evans, Nine Mile)…and the newest member of the band, drummer Craig Bignell (John Cowan, Vassar Clements).

The Western Swing Authority has a regular, twice monthly gig at The Commercial Tavern in Maryhill, Ontario—and made a special appearance at Hamilton’s Artword Art Bar during Canadian Country Music Week last September.

“We’re really looking forward to our show at The Lyric Theater,” says WSA founder Shane Guse. “Hamilton was good to us in September and we can’t wait to get back!”

Don’t miss The Western Swing Authority at Hamilton’s Lyric Theater on Saturday March 10th. Order tickets at http://tickets.lyrichamilton.com/ordertickets.asp?p=62&backurl=default.asp


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Find out more about the Western Swing Authority at www.thewesternswingauthority.com

For information/interviews contact Cameron at Cameron Tilbury Publicity

Invest In A Super-Group for the Price of an Album!
The Western Swing Authority Looks To Fans at Pledgemusic.com


Canadian western swing super-group The Western Swing Authority enjoyed international success when their self-titled debut album went to radio around the world in 2010.

Now they’re looking to their fans to help fund their second album through music funding website, pledgemusic.com.

According to WSA founder Shane Guse,”By using pledgemusic.com our fans are essentially funding the production of our album by pre-buying it. Producing an album is expensive, but by breaking the funding down into small pieces that everyone can afford we can offer some pretty cool things.”

The bigger the pledge, the greater the reward! For example, a $25 pledge gets a signed CD. $40 gets a hand-written lyric sheet. For a $150 donation, a donor gets their name in the album credits. A donor could even pledge enough money to get a private, living-room concert! There’s only one hitch: all the money raised goes to recording, producing and promotion of the album—and it’s all or nothing, so the band must reach their goal to get the money, otherwise it goes back to the pledgers. And there’s less than 90 days to make it happen.

The Western Swing Authority recently underwent a small line-up change, replacing Charlie St. Denis on drums with Craig Bignell, who previously played with artists like John Cowan, Vassar Clements and Sam Bush. The band has a regular, twice monthly gig at The Commercial Tavern in Maryhill, Ontario, Canada—and is making a special appearance at The Lyric Theater in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on Saturday March 10th.

Make a pledge to The Western Swing Authority and fund their new album at www.pledgemusic.com/projects/westernswingauthority


# # #

Find out more about the Western Swing Authority at www.thewesternswingauthority.com

For information/interviews contact Cameron at Cameron Tilbury Publicity.

Be A Part Of Our Second Studio Release!

We're going in to record our second album and we need your help! Help us by spreading the word about our Pledge campaign

The time has come for us to get back in the studio, and we want to make this album a whole new level of WSA. The platform that will allow us to get out to our listen audience more and interact with all of you.

Of course, by doing things independently we need your help! Here’s how it all works! We’ve created exclusives that you can pledge for. The money raised here will fund the production and promotion of this record. Both very important and pricey! After we meet our goal, 10% of the funds raised will go to the amazing folks at Musicounts, helping to keep music alive in schools across the country. In exchange for your pledge you’ll gain access to cool rewards and we’ll take you along for the ride from beginning to end and beyond.

This is an all or nothing pledge platform so we have to make, or exceed, our goal to get funded. Lets make this happen together!!

Thanks for all of your support. Now sit back and enjoy the ride

The time has come for us to get back in the studio, and we want to make this album a whole new level of WSA. The platform that will allow us to get out to our listen audience more and interact with all of you.

Of course, by doing things independently we need your help! Here’s how it all works! We’ve created exclusives that you can pledge for. The money raised here will fund the production and promotion of this record. Both very important and pricey! After we meet our goal, 10% of the funds raised will go to the amazing folks at Musicounts, helping to keep music alive in schools across the country. In exchange for your pledge you’ll gain access to cool rewards and we’ll take you along for the ride from beginning to end and beyond.

This is an all or nothing pledge platform so we have to make, or exceed, our goal to get funded. Lets make this happen together!!

Thanks for all of your support. Now sit back and enjoy the ride

WSA member Shane Guse has donated his face to the Movember challenge to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer. Go to http://mobro.co/shaneguse to donate to this great cause, and find out if he can actually grow a "stache"

During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in Canada and around the world. With their “Mo’s”, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men's health, specifically prostate cancer.



On Movember 1st, guys register at Movember.com with a clean-shaven face. For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.

Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words, they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.

At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for Movember. 

In a nutshell.... Congratulations to WSA members Shane Guse and Ed Ringwald for bringing home the CCMA All Star Band Awards for Fiddle Player of the Year and Steel Guitar Player of the Year

If you would like to read the entire CCMA press release visit ccma.org.

The Western Swing Authority "THE WESTERN SWING AUTHORITY" Self released***** (5 stars)

Perhaps the finest album I have heard for some time

There must be something in the air, for here is yet another fantastic Canadian band which is impressing the worldwide stage with this debut record of utter brilliance. As evident from their band name, they play western swing but performed as though it should have been released back in the days when every Texas honky-tonk was playing nothing else. The seven-piece band play fiddle, pedal steel guitar and bass along with providing some divinely done vocals.

Cherokee Maiden is the best of these eleven songs. A tune which Bob Wills would be very proud to have been involved with as it has all the hallmarks of his finer performances. Pee Wee Charles’ pedal steel is very impressive and this is one track in particular which should find radio success. Although it has a slower sound, Sweet Memories sees Stacey Lee providing the vocals and demonstrates the band’s versatility by recording a song such as this. The extended pedal steel solo is just the ticket and is a track which I would find myself enjoying far too much if I caught this song live.

Much like Austin’s Cornell Hurd Band, The Western Swing Authority is helping to keep this style of music alive by playing it in the way which made it so successful in the first place. A second album? Yes please. RH