Voting begins today for CBC Radio 2'S GREAT CANADIAN SONG QUEST;
singer-songwriters and shortlist of locations revealed

TORONTO , Oct. 12 /CNW/ - CBC Radio 2, Canada's national music network, today reveals a blockbuster list of 65 Canadian singer-songwriters vying for the chance to immortalize Canadians' favourite places in song in the GREAT CANADIAN SONG QUEST. It's now up to Canadians to choose the artists and pick the spots to be forever commemorated in Canada's songbook.

Voters have from today until Friday, Oct. 23 , at 12 a.m. ET , to choose from a shortlist of the most popular places from each province and territory, and the artists they'd like to see create the song for those locations, by visiting www.cbc.ca/radio2. Once voting closes, the final 13 artists have four weeks to compose and record an original song, inspired by the most popular Canadian location from their province or territory.

"We can't wait to see the final list of locations and artists chosen by Canadians," said Mark Steinmetz , director of music programming, CBC Radio. "By inspiring these artists with Canada's special locales, we will create a distinctly Canadian playlist. This initiative is a great way for Canadians to share their collective passion for music and our country."

The GREAT CANADIAN SONG QUEST's artist line up was selected from Radio 2's playlist, and includes musicians representing Canada's regions and celebrated sounds. From musical icons to emerging stars, Canadians will choose from a vast range of styles-from urban beat and home-grown folk, to rich and nuanced world music. Artist bios and a selection of their work can be found at the Song Quest website through www.cbc.ca/radio2.

The location short list is a result of the nominations submitted by Canadians over the past two weeks, through the GREAT CANADIAN SONG QUEST website, campaign-style blogs, Tweets and Facebook comments, and photo and video postings.

A full list of the 65 singer-songwriters participating in the GREAT CANADIAN SONG QUEST and short listed locations follows as an appendix.

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster, and one of its largest cultural institutions. With 28 services offered on Radio, Television, the Internet, satellite radio, digital audio, as well as through its record and music distribution service and wireless WAP and SMS messaging services, CBC/Radio-Canada is available how, where, and when Canadians want it.

    
                   CBC Radio 2's GREAT CANADIAN SONG QUEST
                               List of Artists
               (As announced in News Release of Oct. 12, 2009)

    Alberta

    Chloe Albert
    Colleen Brown
    Dragon Fli Empire
    Jay Sparrow
    Woodpigeon

    British Columbia

    Alex Cuba
    Barney Bentall
    Harry Manx
    Ndidi Onukwulu
    Oh Susanna

    Manitoba

    Chantal Kreviazuk
    Chic Gamine
    The Duhks
    Joel Kroeker
    Nathan

    New Brunswick

    David Myles
    Edith Butler
    Julie Doiron
    Olympic Symphonium
    Thom Swift

    Newfoundland

    Amelia Curran
    Damhnait Doyle
    Hey Rosetta!
    Mark Bragg
    Ron Hynes

    Northwest Territories

    Dana Sipos
    Leanne Goose
    Leela Gilday
    Pat Braden
    Shea Alain

    Nova Scotia

    Jimmy Rankin
    Joel Plaskett
    Meaghan Smith
    Old Man Luedecke
    Sloan

    Nunavut

    Charlie Panigoniak
    Ellen Hamilton
    Leena Enuk
    Lucie Idlout
    Sylvia Cloutier

    Ontario

    Hawksley Workman
    Jully Black
    Justin Rutledge
    Lynn Miles
    Shad K

    Prince Edward Island

    Al Tuck
    Catherine MacLellan
    Jenn Grant
    Lennie Gallant
    Rose Cousins

    Québec

    Angela Desveaux
    Bia
    Coeur De Pirate
    Malajube
    Martha Wainwright

    Saskatchewan

    Connie Kaldor
    The Deep Dark Woods
    Jason Plumb
    Jay Semko
    Jen Lane

    Yukon

    Anne Louise Genest
    Gordie Tentrees
    Jesse Peters
    Kim Barlow
    Kim Beggs


                   CBC Radio 2's GREAT CANADIAN SONG QUEST
                           Short List of Locations
               (As announced in News Release of Oct. 12, 2009)

    Alberta

    Banff
    Calgary
    Drumheller
    Edmonton
    Hoodoos/Badlands

    British Columbia

    Barkerville
    Okanagan Valley
    Salt Spring Island
    Tofino
    Vancouver

    Manitoba

    Flin Flon
    The Forks
    LacDu Bonnet
    Waskada
    Winnipeg

    New Brunswick

    Fredericton
    Hopewell Rocks
    Magnetic Hill
    Saint John
    Saint John River

    Newfoundland

    Dildo
    Gros Morne
    L' Anse Aux Meadows
    Signal Hill
    St. John's

    Northwest Territories

    Great Bear Lake
    Great Slave Lake
    Nahanni National Park Reserve
    Tuktoyaktuk Pingos
    Yellowknife

    Nova Scotia

    Annapolis Valley
    Cabot Trail
    Carter's Beach
    Halifax
    Wolfville

    Nunavut

    Alert
    Auyuittuq National Park
    Baffin Island
    Iqaluit
    Road To Nowhere

    Ontario

    Algonquin Park
    Grand Bend
    Picton
    Sleeping Giant (Thunder Bay)
    Toronto

    Prince Edward Island

    Anne Of Green Gables
    Cavendish Beach
    Charlottetown
    Crapaud Singing
    Sands Beach

    Québec

    Black Sheep Inn (Wakefield)
    Gaspesie (The Gaspé)
    Montreal
    Quebec City
    Wilensky's Light Lunch

    Saskatchewan

    Batoche Good Time Charlie's/
    The Plains Hotel
    Love
    Regina
    Saskatoon

    Yukon

    Dawson City
    Dempster Highway
    Lake Laberge
    Old Crow
    Whitehorse
    

For further information: Renée Mellow/Jeri Brown, Media Profile, [email protected]/[email protected], Renée mobile [phone]/Jeri mobile [phone]