Sault Native Earns 5th CCMA Nomination
By Brian Kelly, The Sault Star

Shane Chisholm's five Canadian Country Music Assoc...

Shane Chisholm's five Canadian Country Music Association nominations mean the most.

The Sault Ste. Marie native is up for best roots artist and in the Special Instrument category. The nods, announced Wednesday, follow three previous nominations for best bass player in 2003, 2004 and 2007.

The Korah collegiate graduate's latest nomination is "definitely" sweeter than his previous three. It totally elevates your career," said Chisholm in a telephone interview from his home in Claresholm, Alta.

"(It) basically saved me a couple of years of hard work of publicity, for sure, just for the nomination alone." But after three nods, and no wins, is he especially hoping to win this time?

Nope."I'm not even concerned about winning," said Chisholm.

He plans to be in Vancouver, B.C. for the awards show on Sept. 13. Chisholm will also be featured in a showcase Sept. 10. He hosts a jam following all-star band awards on Sept. 11."I'm getting lots of opportunities," said Chisholm, 38. That's amazing."

His first album, Hitchhiking Buddha, was just released. The disc, which took two years to complete, features eight Chisholm originals and a shared credit with Willie Mack (The Oak Ridge Boys, Sara Evans) on What's Love.

Other artists assisting with the disc include Duane Steel and Pear's Lynae Dufresne.

After a decade backing other talent such as Jake Mathews, Chisholm is learning how much more demanding it is to be a frontman.
"Being an artist there's a million different jobs," he said.
"You're pretty much working as long as you're awake."
Chisholm returns home for a Sept. 25 show at Verdi Hall.
Local residents may get a chance to see a unique upright bass he calls Tank. It's crafted from the gas tank of a Chevy Astro van.
He's eager to glue a metal plate to its side, take a grinder to it and literally watch the sparks fly.

"I'm still all about show business and putting on an entertaining show. That's my thing. If you don't quite like the style of music then you'll definitely be seeing stuff."