Angela Harris and her Bluegrass group The High Bar Gang won Vocal Group of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards in Ottawa Saturday night.
Harris and four of the seven High Bar Gang members were on tour with Barney Bentall's Grand Cariboo Opry and were just about to deliver the encore for their sold out Grand Cariboo Opry show in Bragg Creek, Alberta when they got the news by text.
“We were elated to say the least and Barney made the announcement to the crowd from the stage,” Harris says. “It was a great feeling! Shari was at the awards event because she was up for a few solo awards as well.”
She says Ulrich won the English Songwriter of the Year Award and accepted the Vocal Group of the Year Award on behalf of The High Bar Gang.
The High Bar Gang won for their album Lost and Undone: A Gospel Bluegrass Companion. Ulrich won for her song Everywhere I Go.
Harris grew up and lived in Williams Lake and area before moving to Vancouver to pursue her music career.
The High Bar Gang includes noted Canadian musicians and singers Barney Bentall, Eric Reed, Wendy Bird and Rob Becker (who were with her on stage last Saturday night in Bragg Creek) and Colin Nairne and Shari Ulrich.
“We have yet to be together to celebrate but we have a show on Dec. 6 in Brackendale, B.C. so we will raise a toast to one another then I’m sure,” Harris says.
In the midst of touring all of November for her fifth season with the Grand Cariboo Opry, Harris says she has been campaigning for crowd funding on Indie Gogo to raise the $15,000 she needs to record her fourth album titled A Woman Like Me.
“It took me two years to finish this album and I’m very proud to say that it’s my best work yet!” Harris says.
“The songs on this record have raised the bar for me and I believe it has the ability to break some new ground — perhaps it’s all the incredible talent that I have been fortunate to work with these past few years that is rubbing off on me and inspiring me to reach new heights!”
She says the album touches on resilience, power of love and the fragility of one’s heart.
“I wrote this record with the intent of inspiring and empowering people to strive for excellence, face hardships head on, live without fear of failing, embrace life and to love all the way through it all,” Harris says.
She has about 21 per cent of the funds needed to produce the album and only 15 days left to complete her fundraising effort.
People who would like to help Harris raise the funds can review a video of a new song that will be on the record at http://igg.me/at/Help-AngelaHarris-Record-A-Woman-Like-Me.
Or go to #SupportAngelaHarris #crowdfunding #AWomanLikeMe.
For more on the Canadian Folk Music Awards go to http://folkawards.ca/past-years/results-2014/ (the maple leaf marks the winner).
“What a wonderful and truly amazing journey this past few years has been,” Harris says. “Thanks so much to you all for your undying support and encouragement! With a new album to record and release, there’s a lot more touring and good times ahead! I am so excited for 2015!”