On Sunday, January 18th  First Baptist Church in Amherst presented Inductee Ray Legere (2019) in concert with his band 'Acoustic Horizon' featuring Frank Doody, Alan Jeffries and Kaden Mattenson.  The stunningly beautiful church, now 245 years old was the perfect setting both acoustically and visually for Ray's performance. The multi-award winning NSCMHF Inductee was a crowd pleaser with his fiddle, mandolin and harmony vocals. Ray Legere and Acoustic Tradition captivated the audience from the first notes played. The band played originals as well as some of the greats Folsom Prison Blues, Rose Coloured Glasses, Your Cheating Heart to name a few.  Ray's renditions of St. Anne's Reel, The Crooked Stovepipe and Cincinnati Rag sounded especially great on his newly gifted fiddle from Nashville recording legend, Jimmy Buchanan.  That fiddle has accompanied artists including Dolly Parton, Lorretta Lynn, George Jones and Waylon Jennings and more! 

Read more: Inductee Feature: Ray Legere (2019) entertains in Amherst

From left: Joan Mullen (wife), Vic Mullen, Wilson Moore (NSCMHF Inductee 2019), Karen DeCoste - Past President of the Downeast Society and the Atlantic Canada Representative for the Canadian Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Jeff McRae - President Downeast Bluegrass & Oldtime Music Society

On November 30th, NSCMHF caught up with Inductee Vic Mullen (2001), as he received yet another award honouring his long and successful music career.

Vic Mullen has been awarded the 2025 Canadian Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame award for his outstanding national contribution to the Canadian Bluegrass Community.

A multi-instrumentalist, Vic first picked up the guitar in 1944. By 1958, he was proficient in guitar, mandolin, fiddle and banjo. In his early years of banjo playing, Vic is most proud of having conquered the difficult Bill Munro piece; "Bluegrass Breakdown" (1947).

Read more: Inductee News: Vic Mullen Awarded Canadian Bluegrass Association Award

Inductee Hal Bruce (2015) has just finished a very successful cruise in The Caribbean, with headliners Paul Anka, Jay And The Americans, The Tokens “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”, and The Jacksons (formerly Jackson Five).
Hal will be performing at The Great Village Old Church Arts Center in Great Village (just west of Truro), Dec. 13th.  His Annual New Year’s Extravaganza is at the Atlantica Hotel in Halifax. For tickets call Lynne at 902-320-4368.  Call soon. Already 3/4 sold out!
Always extending his musical reach, Hal is also recording an instrumental album with a group of New Brunswick Hall of Famers and NB Award winners including Ivan Hicks (2004) and Bob Robichaud. It will be out early in the new year.
In January, Hal sets off on tour to The Far East. Continuing through the winter, Hal will be performing on Music Cruises in the Caribbean and Holland.  To find out more about our inductee Hal Bruce and his busy music schedule, check out his website:   www.halbruce.com

NSCMHF recently caught up with two of our Inductees from Cape Breton.  Robert Bouchard and Aaron Lewis have made time in their busy lives to team up and perform as a duo in Arichat!   As you can read below, both are multi-talented and award-winning musicians. Known as Cape Breton’s Country Gentleman, Robert’s interpretation and presentation of a song leaves the audience wanting more. Multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter Aaron brings to the stage a creativity and musicality second to none! Let’s hope Robert and Aaron can find time to do a few shows throughout the province.

Read more: Inductee Feature: Robert Bouchard (2014) Aaron C Lewis (2018)

Recently retired from teaching full time our NSCMHF Inductee Kimberley Holmes rarely stops! She is a very active ‘new’ senior who, with keyboard and  fiddle, just goes from one event to the next! 

Throughout the year, Kimberley continues to host a monthly fiddle jam in Carroll’s Corner as a fundraiser for the Maritime Fiddle Festival. This event is the first Sunday of the month and all are welcomed at the community hall at 9 Milford Road, Carroll’s Corner.

Read more: Inductee Feature: Kimberley Holmes rarely ever stops!

NSCMHF Inductee Anne Murray (2012) is recording and going strong at 80! All of Nova Scotia has always been so proud to call Anne Murray our own! Sit back and enjoy this 30 minute interview in the CBC's program Q with interviewer Tom Power.

Anne Murray never thought she would release a new album — and yet, here we are! The Canadian icon is back with her 33rd studio album, 'Here You Are,' which features 11 unreleased songs she recorded back in the '70s, '80s and '90s. Anne sits down with Tom Power in Vancouver to tell us how a fan got her to revisit those old songs, why she purposely stayed out the U.S. for her whole career, and how her royalties spiked after her appearance on 'Family Guy.'

Read more: Inductee Feature: Anne Murray - A Little Good "Recording" News!

September 12-14 We had a wonderful time this past weekend at the "Ex", and are really looking forward to going again next weekend, September 19-21. Our booth at the Sunly Stage was well attended - we drew for two free memberships and spoke with old and new friends about country music. Be sure to drop by and say hello if you are attending this weekend.

Read more: NSCMHF Goes to the Hants County Exhibition:

  

Congratulations to Inductee Matt Balsor (2018) on the 20th Anniversary Fox Mountain Country Music Festival! Members of the NSCMHF Board, along with a huge crowd enjoyed a great weekend of country music. Nashville star Janie Fricke entertained an enthusiastic audience. Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees who performed on the weekend included Joyce Seamone, Ruth Manning, Bob MacDonald, The Spinney Brothers, Cecil MacDougall and Matt Balsor with the Hilltop Show Band. We are all looking forward to next year's festival on July 31- August 1, 2026! 

Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame caught up with Inductee (2004) Ivan Hicks recently at the 76th Annual Maritime Fiddle Festival.  

Ivan stated. “Today we’re a bit more laid back in our activities but by no means has the music stopped! Vivian and I take part in regular fiddle doos and fiddle jams in the area. The two of us have performed in concerts this year, the most recent being in Summerside PEI as part of a special show by fiddler extraordinaire, Richard Wood.

Read more: Inductee Feature: Ivan Hicks

Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees (2010) The Spinney Brothers consisting of Inductees  Alan Spinney (vocals, guitar), Rick Spinney (vocals, banjo),  Gary Dalrymple (mandolin) and Terry Mumford (bass) were busy entertaining at the 52nd Annual Nova Scotia Bluegrass & Oldtime Music Festival  at Beechbrook Campground, Ardoise,NS in July. It was a treat to see and hear this talented group performing again!

  

Born and raised on a small farm in Hassetts, Nova Scotia, the youngest of eight children, at an early age Brent developed a love and appreciation of music from his mother.  With his first guitar in hand and his older brother Robert teaching him a few chords, by the age of seven Brent knew he wanted to make music his life and the first steps were taken on a path that would reveal an incredible talent and lead to a long and successful career.

Read more: Inductee Feature: Brent Williams