December 17, 2003

You get to choose the name of Sean Hogan's new CD!

Hey folks, Sean here. Since I'm a little at a loss as to what to name the new album, we're giving you 4 choices, please vote as to your favourite. You choose the title you like best.

The name of the 4th Canadian album with 4 titles to choose from, will it be Sean Hogan...

a) Centered
b) A Cowboy's Heart
c) Catalina Sunrise
d) Take It By The Moment

Click here to vote for the title of Sean Hogan's new CD:

To view the results, click on the votling link above.

December 14, 2003

Hey everybody, Season's Greetings, Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! ...Happy Winter Solstice! 'Tis the season.......Oh hey there's a song I wrote enclosed here in this letter, that if you like it, but want a different size file, I would be happy to get you. I am releasing this song this year as is, but next year there will be a version which goes to radio with well over a dozen Country and Roots singers singing on it, which will have nearly all and any publishing funds going to Canada Food Banks perpetuity.

Hope this finds you doing very well. I am writing this on a cold but calm winter day. No fresh snow today but it's coming back...I have to start by saying sorry I've been out of touch. Many of you have been in touch and I 've not been very timely most of this year in getting back to you as often or as soon as I should have been, it's getting harder. Here's a recap.

It's been a great year, and a crazy kind of year too. I traveled and toured a beautiful and amazing place, Australia; man it is so nice there in January..... When I had gotten back home, I had some further success with my 1st U.S. album going to #24 on the U.S. Americana album chart. Then yes more touring of Canada, when I got back (can't knock Canada).

In May I started recording my fourth Canadian album, and went through some further flux with distribution that ended with the previous company that wasn't working out as I had hoped, so with the next album we'll hopefully have found some better relationship for all the albums to once again have solid distribution.

In June/July besides a few shows, Diane and I found a house we liked and though we miss much about Victoria I think we were more than ready for a change so we moved. It was a domestic move that I believe was for the better, we're more central now here in sunny Saskatoon.

Then in September the C.C.M.A'S had their annual Awards show, on broadcast then on CBC and CMT in the U.S. and in case you hadn't heard that night I won the "ROOTS ARTIST OF THE YEAR" AWARD. Ya, that was a nice surprise to say the least; it kicked the 3rd quarter into over drive for me just before I headed south to Nashville to the Americana Music Association's Convention there. I spent the better part of October painting our house, still not done. The better part of November, I spent out in Ontario working on the recording of my next album. Here in December well I've been gigging a little and what have I been doing oh ya, "winterizing" our car...something we never had to do on the mild west coast? My 18 month old Tess, and 4 year old Olivia are loving the Season of Lights!

I hope to have the new album out in April I'm truly quite excited about it's release but it has to come out when all the proverbial ducks are lined up...marketing that is, Hopefully the first single will be out to radio by late February.

Thanks for letters of support over the year and the years. They have been greatly appreciated.

I hope you and yours have a great Holiday Season and please keep in touch.

All the Best in 2004,
Sean and family

P.S. For what it's worth I was told to let you know, we are currently offering the "Ruled By Mercury" disc to anyone who buys the "Late Last Nite" album.

September 10, 2003

"Thank God, He's Our Country Boy"
Victoria Times Colonist

By Mike Devlin

Sean Hogan's surprise win at the Canadian Country Music Awards came as a shock to nearly everyone in the Calgary Saddledome audience - himself included.

"It blew me away, man," said the Victoria-based Hogan, who was named roots artist of the year during Monday's nationally televised event. "It was a genuine dark horse moment."

Indeed it was. Not only was Hogan the lone independent nominee in the roots artist or group of the year category, the country-rock singer-songwriter was battling heavyweight acts for the title. His fellow nominees, which were chosen by some 1,400 industry voters, included Jimmy Rankin, Great Big Sea, Kathleen Edwards, and the Corb Lund Band.

"I would have fully expected a major label artist like Jimmy Rankin or Kathleen Edwards to take it," Hogan said on the phone Tuesday from Calgary. "I probably will never win it again, but it was nice to win once."

It wasn't the first CCMA win for Hogan - he was named independent male artist of the year in 1997 - but it was his first time he's been on stage during the televised gala, which was broadcast nationally on the CBC in Canada and Country Music Television in the US.

All things considered, when his name was called from the stage Hogan froze. "I did get out of my seat eventually," he joked. "But I was slow."

The win is a major step forward for the Sarnia native, but it's also a monumental leap ahead for B.C.-based artists in general. Hogan was the only British Columbia resident to win one of 11 major awards, most of which were won by either Shania Twain or Terri Clark.

"I'm the guy out on the coast doing his own thing," Hogan said with pride.

Despite his win, he feels the country music industry doesn't know just how to take him. And not all of those in attendance were happy to see him win, he recalled.

"I'm too country for roots and too roots for country. Let's just say, there were some individuals who weren't very forward in saying congratulations."

Hogan, who performed before more than 40,000 fans in July at the Merritt Mountain Music Festival, won't have much time to bask in the glow of his win. After 13 years in Victoria, he's moving to Saskatoon at the end of the month.

"But I'll be back," he said. "I'll be back."

September 9, 2003

Press Release

Sean Hogan wins "Roots Artist of the Year" at 2003 CCMA's

Dark Horse Sean Hogan showed how indies can, and have made an impact. Hogan won his second career C.C.M.A. award last night. In 1997 Hogan won the first Independent of the Year Award. On Monday night September 9th, 2003 Sean won ROOTS ARTIST OF THE YEAR against most music biz types best guesses. Universal, Warner Brothers, and Capitol EMI all had presence in the Roots Artist category. However Sean Hogan's music (self released on his own independent label) proved to be the favourite amongst the contenders.

July 29, 2003

Late Summer Press Release

Sean Hogan nominated for final ballot "Roots Artist of the Year" 2003 with the CCMA - Watch for the Results September 8th!

Canadian roots rocker Sean Hogan has been nominated for "Roots Artist/Group of the Year" at the 2003 Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA's). The awards take place in Calgary as part of Country Music Week September 5-8, 2003. The awards show will be broadcast on CMT September 8th. Sean is in good company in this category as the other nominees include Kathleen Edwards, Great Big Sea, The Corb Lund Band and Jimmy Rankin. For more details, visit www.ccma.org

March 26, 2003

For immediate release

Sean Hogan Celebrates Chart Success with Tour & New CD

Canadian roots rocker Sean Hogan is taking his Americana chart success to the road and into the studio in the coming months. Hogan's debut US release, Ruled By Mercury spent one month in the top 30 on the US Americana Airplay Chart and a total of four months in the top 40 on the chart along with greats like Buddy Miller, Delbert McClinton, Radney Foster, Steve Earle, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. His spring and summer tour is in the works with dates confirmed in Alberta and BC. I am also happy to report Bev Mahood has decided to record three of our co-writes and one of my own lone Hogan original tunes for her new release, added Hogan. On his own recording front Hogan is busy getting ready to go into the studio to record his fourth Canadian album.

Without a doubt a great deal of this newer material will appear on both his new Canadian release and the next U.S. Americana release, says Hogan. His last Canadian album Late Last Nite , won him his second consecutive West Coast Music Award for Best Country Album. Six cuts were taken from that album and included on Ruled By Mercury . In Canada, I'd Rather Have You, Sean's first single from Late Last Nite, also found on US debut release, went top ten and top twenty. Subsequent singles from Late Last Nite have been considered less mainstream country here in the Great White North , and as a result have not enjoyed the same success as the first single. In the meanwhile, many of the same cuts on the US Americana album helped to propel him to #24 on the Americana chart. That he was able to attain that position as a independent Canadian artist is truly a testament to this Canadiana artist's talent and commercial appeal.

Hogan happily reached the top 40 rung on the Americana chart in December and hit the top 30 in January, establishing him as the highest debuting artist on the chart at that time and having enjoyed being listed on the Top 5 added list on the chart more than once. The Americana Airplay chart represents the reported play of terrestrial radio stations, nationally syndicated radio shows, satellite radio and internet stations who have agreed to submit weekly spin counts and the chart is now published in R & R.

Sean Hogan's Spring Sprint Tour

Contact venues for show times!

April 4th - Saskatoon, SK - Long Branch Saloon
April 24th - Calgary, AB - Karma Café
April 25th - Edmonton, AB - House Concert
April 26th - Edmonton, AB - Wild West Saloon
April 30th - Langley, BC - Gabby's Road House
May 1st - Victoria, BC - The Cambie
May 3rd - Prince George, BC - Art Space Theatre
May 4th - Vanderhoof, BC - Grand Reo Theatre

More dates to come...

Sean Hogan's Summer Festival Tour

Bookings are coming in and pleased to say have confirmed...

July 5th - Dauphin, MB - Main stage Dauphin's CountryFest
July 6th - Dauphin, MB - Beer Gardens - Dauphin's CountryFest

One of North America's largest country music festivals that continuously offers Americana music to fans.

Watch for more festival dates...