Article published in the Telegraph-Journal "The Inside Track" CCMA supplement: September 7, 2006

Gospel showcase a snug fit with country festival
- Contributed by Mia Urquhart
Telegraph-Journal "The Inside Track"

It's only natural only natural that a celebration of Canadian country music will include a showcase of gospel music, says one of the gospel musicians who will perform when Country Music Week comes to Saint John.

"Country music owes its entire roots to gospel music. When you think of a lot of the old-time hymns and spiritual songs that were sung years ago, and are still sung today in church, and you think of blue grass - I really think that's where country music has come from," said Kent Hodgin, who grew up in the Ottawa Valley.

Country Music Week 2006 runs from Sept. 8 to 11. This is only the second year that the week will include a gospel showcase.

Saint John Mayor Norm McFarlane was in Calgary last year for Country Music Week and saw all the shows. He told council at its Aug. 28 meeting that one of his favourites was the gospel showcase.

Hodgin performed in Calgary in the coveted Song-writer's Café, which features some of the nation's best artists and new songwriters.

When he performs in the gospel showcase on Sept. 10 at the Imperial Theatre, he will perform the title track off his latest CD, Wood and Stone. His second selection is a surprise. All he would say is that he's asked another performer, local musician Stephanie Mainville, to sing with him.

Mainville, who grew up on the Kingston Peninsula, is a mother of four who now resides on Darlings Island.

As the only hometown performer in the showcase, she said she doesn't feel any added pressure. She said she looks forward to sharing her music and her message with the CCMA audience.
Although she's performed at the Imperial Theatre before, she's never performed there as a solo artist.

Mainville, whose debut album was nominated "Gospel Recording of the Year" for the 2006 ECMAs, has a long history with gospel music. She's always been part of church choirs growing up on the Kingston Peninsula and wrote a Christmas cantata at 12-years old. She has passed on her love of music to her children. Her eldest pays the cello, her 11-year-old plays the bass, her seven-year-old plays the violin and she's pretty sure her three-year-old will find an instrument to play.

Music has truly become a family affair. That's why she called her debut CD Family. She, too, believes that country music has deep roots in gospel.

"The gospel showcase is often quite a special time when people go back to who they are and maybe what shaped them as a person. I'm really happy that I'm going to be a part of it.

"I'm looking forward to being able to join together with other artists and not only celebrate the music, but celebrate the knowledge that God has really blessed us and there's a way for us to thank him and that's with some of our music and some of our worship."