Airdrie artist signs with award-winning agency

An award-winning booking, and talent buying agency, Sakamoto Agency, has announced that they have signed Airdrie musician Kyle McKearney to the national roster.

"A break-out artist of 2022, Kyle earned two Western Canadian Music Award nominations, was named a SiriusXM Top of the Country semi-finalist, placed second in Alberta Music’s Project Wild, and received a Canadian Country Music Association award nomination for Alternative Country Album of the Year for his debut solo album Down-Home,"  a press release stated from Sakamoto. 
 

McKearney has also garnered three nominations for the 12th Annual Country Music Alberta Awards, including Roots Artist of the Year, Fans’ Choice, and Visual Creative of the Year.

"Fans have already been treated to a preview, with the singles “Mercy,” “River Rain” and “Grandfather” displaying Kyle’s maturation as a songwriter, while still showing off his powerful voice; and his evolving collaboration with Juno Award-winning producer/guitarist/songwriter Russell Broom."

He has also shared the stage with The Black Crowes, Kip Moore, Our Lady Peace and Dean Brody, all while racking up over a million global streams. The awards will be held on April 1-2 at the Grey Eagle Event Centre in Calgary. 

President and Operating Partner Paul Biro said that he and the agency have collectively been fans of the Airdrie musician for some time and that the chance to work with such an artist was not an opportunity they could pass up.

"The way that Kyle has been able to engage not just the country music scene but the Americana, roots, and folk markets and industry, is something we do not see every day. In some ways, I am reminded of artists like Corb Lund or Johnny Reid who certainly cut their own path in country music, and could not necessarily be held to the confines of one genre."

According to Sakamoto, A Traveler’s Lament is an album that celebrates the importance of family and friendship, two things that have been crucial to helping Kyle get to this point, and beyond.

"With Kyle’s sound encompassing not only country but blues, R&B and rock ‘n’ roll as well, he exemplifies everything the Americana genre represents: music for anyone who appreciates pure heart and soul."

McKearney is set to release A Traveler’s Lament, on March 31.

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