Settlers Creek Band may have hometown roots in Wellington County, but it is taking its unique country music across the country and virtually around the world.
In March, the band will be featured in a new online music competition show, From Far and Wide, competing against 16 other independent Canadian musical acts.
“The show started about three years ago as an online radio show,” said Jeremy Panda, the show’s creator and executive producer. “This is going to be an unpretentious Idol-type show; very grassroots, independent and authentic.”
The esteemed panel of judges includes Panda, Renee Rodenkirchen as director, Mark Spicoluk of Universal Records and the Indie label Underground Operations, Don Kitchen from Universal Music, Katy Maravala of Distort Records and music producer Sean Gugula.
It was Gugula who encouraged Settlers Creek Band to join the competition. He co-produced their debut album but despite their professional link, his support did not guarantee the band a spot.
“They had to be voted down against 80 other bands for a final slot,” Panda explains. “It was all about the music and the sound. It’s not hard to know what really stands out; it’s pretty true.”
Settlers Creek Band is proud of that recognition.
“We are the only country band in the competition,” said lead singer Lucas Rogerson. “Everyone else are alternative music artists.”
More than 800 individual artists and bands across Canada applied, but only 16 were chosen for a spot in the competition, which will feature six episodes, including four preliminary rounds for the 16 finalists, then a fifth episode where the panel of judges will meet each band and discuss their critiques.
The sixth episode, to be filmed at Chalet Studios in Claremont, Ontario will conclude with a winner of the series.
“We will be working with the winning artists to record a six song EP at Chalet Studios and then Rene and I will help them build six videos that will tell a story with the record, and give them a product out of it,” Panda said.
Rogerson and his bandmates were excited to have made the final cut but are realistic that the work is still ahead of them.
“It’s something brand new for us that we haven’t experienced before,” said Rogerson. “It’s going to be interesting to hear the opinions of independent producers and hear what the judges have to say.”
The band filmed its initial episode on Dec. 6 in a cleared-out barn in Marsville.
“It was freezing cold but they had a good time,” said Allan Boynton, the band’s manager.
This show provides another monumental career move for a band, who’s debut self-written CD Line in the Dirt saw them release two singles, Wanna Go and This Town, both of which were well received by Canadian country radio stations and the subsequent online music download fans.
“Sixty-one radio stations in Canada have picked up the singles,”
said Boynton, noting the band has gained a lot of radio support in both Ontario and British Columbia.
“For the week of Oct. 24, they had the most active Indie download in North America through the Digital Media Download Services” Boynton said.
“It’s not bad considering we don’t have any money from record labels or sponsors.”
This summer the band shared the stage with Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Johnny Reid and Dean Broady.
“We won the 820 CHAM House Band Contest, which involved a private house party and then a few commitments down in Hamilton for the launch of the Canadian Country Music Awards,” said Rogerson, who added the highlights included their pre-launch performance of the awards week-long festivities, including an opportunity to perform in Jackson Square during the FanFest event.
The band is currently recording new music.
From Far and Wide is set to air in March. For more information visit www.fromfarandwide.com.
To keep up with Settlers Creek Band visit www.settlerscreekband.com.
