B.C.'s backers of country music gather this weekend (Nov. 19-20) for an awards show and conference at Red Robinson Show Theatre in Coquitlam.

The event, staged by B.C. Country Music Association, will include the likes of Aaron Pritchett, One More Girl, Chad Brownlee, Angela Harris, Sean Hogan and Emily Taylor Adams. The 35th annual awards show is the largest event of the weekend and will be hosted Sunday by Steve Darling (Global BC) and Karen Daniels (JR-FM). Tickets for the 7 p.m. shindig can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca.

Musicians might want to get involved in the Demo Critique Session & Songwriters Showcase on Saturday (Nov. 19), a chance to bring a CD of a song or play it live (either way, come with five copies of the lyric sheet). A panel of experts "will provide constructive insight from various industry perspectives to help enhance the appeal of the song." Registration is at 12: 30 p.m. and tickets are $10 at the door.

For a closer look at all events on the BCCMA calendar, visit bccountry. com.

GUITARIST MOORE GIGS AT RHUMBA BAR

Guitarist Jason Buie is busy behind the scenes with concert bookings, including a solo-acoustic show by Texas-raised six-stringer Ian Moore Friday, Nov. 25 at the Rhumba Room bar at Pacific Inn hotel. Later, the venue in South Surrey also plays host to the fifth annual Yuletide Blues, a Dec. 11 gig (to benefit South Surrey/White Rock Food Bank) featuring the music of Harpdog Brown, Buie, Wes Mackey, David "Boxcar" Gates, The Harpoonest & The Axe Murderer, Pete Sweetzer, Steve Kozak, Velvet Bulldozer, The Headlines and others (click on www. whiterockblues.com for updates).

As for Moore, Buie is seriously stoked to bring him to venues in Surrey, Victoria and Nanaimo.

"I've been a huge fan for almost 20 years," he raved. "I reached out to him on Facebook about doing some shows up here, and he agreed. He's been on Letterman, opened for the Rolling Stones, Dylan and ZZ Top. He's a killer guitar player and an amazing singer/songwriter."

Buie himself opens Moore's show at the Rhumba Room. Tickets ($15 in advance and $20 at the door) are available online at tickets.surrey.ca.

DIAMOND SHINES SUNDAY IN SURREY

North Delta-raised Charlotte Diamond is celebrating 25 years of making music for kids with a round of concerts in the region.

The Richmond-based entertainer will perform and sign autographs Sunday, Nov. 20 at the Kidsbooks store in South Surrey. The event starts at 2 p.m. at 15033 32nd Ave.

Diamond recently released the album 24 Carrot Diamond, which includes two dozen of her best known songs.

"I am now a grandma and revisiting the early years with my two grandsons," Diamond told me. "My songs, like 'The Laundry,' 'Four Hugs a Day' and 'You Never Praise Me Enough,' which I wrote when my two sons were in pre school, seem as relevant as ever. I have 13 recordings, and I can still find something to write about."

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