The Wire Megazine Concert Blog: Award-Winning Country Artist, Amanda Keeles, Shares Second Leg of Ontario Tour, and New Single From Her Debut Album, “Playin’ It Cool”

Award-Winning Country Artist, Amanda Keeles, Shares Second Leg of Ontario Tour, and New Single From Her Debut Album, “Playin’ It Cool”

The unstoppable artist will be performing at the CCMA’s, premiering her music video for “Saving Grace” at the Toronto Independent Film Festival and Forest City Film Festival - all as she gears up to release a new Country-Rock single from her recently awarded debut album

Release Date: Friday, September 27 2024

Award-winning Canadian Country music artist, Amanda Keeles, is a remarkable songwriter, soaring vocalist, and captivating performer. Her music is crafted on the foundations of Country and Classic Rock with a touch of Pop, carefully formulated to convey the emotions and experiences expressed in her music. Decades in the making, Amanda launched her debut album, "Can't Stop Me Now!" in early 2024, embarked on her very first tour across Ontario, and brought home an award for her music video for single, "Saving Grace". She has been featured on platforms such as SiriusXM's "Top of The Country" and CTV News, reaching the #5 spot on the Canadian Country Indie Top 100 chart. Her music has received airplay on more than 50 radio stations in Canada, as well as internationally, while her social media presence grew to 17,000 followers within her first year of being an artist. On her debut album, Keeles collaborated with prominent figures in Canadian Country music, including producer Johnny Gasparic, a Grammy and Canadian Country Music Award (CCMA) nominee, along with CCMA and JUNO Award-winning musicians Justin Kudding, Chris Byrne, Joey McIntyre, Keith Floen, Therry Lawson, and Bill Blayney. Together they brought her album to life at MCC Recording Studio, a five-time CCMA Studio of the Year award winner. A truly unstoppable artist, Amanda will be continuing her momentum with performances at the CCMA's, embarking on the second leg of her Ontario tour, and unveiling a brand new single from her debut album. "Playin' It Cool" is a playful Country-Rock tune about breaking the heart of a heartbreaker, and is set for release on Friday, September 27 2024.

Amanda's tour dates, new single, and full album are available for download below.

About "Playin’ It Cool ":

Exploring the playful dynamic between ego and reality, Amanda Keeles’ latest single, “Playin' It Cool,” dives into the flipside of a classic story where the guy with the big ego doesn't get the girl. The song captures the humorous yet relatable struggle of trying to get someone's attention while maintaining a cool exterior. With a 90's-infused Country-Rock beat and infectious, easy to sing along to rhythm, "Playin' It Cool" flips the cool-boy-gets-the-girl narrative on its head to create a playful, energetic and memorable track. Beginning with a catchy chorus that Keeles had in mind long before the verses were written, the song features a driving bassline and rock-inspired guitar riffs, reminiscent of the deep sounds of Van Halen, ZZ Top, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Keeles' signature country vocals soar over a powerful instrumental backdrop, showcasing her versatility in blending genres. Eschewing the traditional country sound for a rock-infused edge, “Playin' It Cool” brings out the playful essence of the song’s theme, offering a fresh and fun take on unrequited love. With her latest track, Keeles demonstrates her ability to craft songs that are as musically dynamic as they are lyrically engaging, setting the stage for her continued success as an artist.

"Playin’ It Cool” is about the heartbreaker who gets all the girls getting his heart broken by someone who played it cool when he came around." - Amanda Keeles

Country Singer-Songwriter Amanda Keeles is a Canadian artist from London, Ontario. She is a two-time winner of The Canadian Open Singing/Songwriting Contest. Growing up in a family of musicians, Country music filled the rooms of her childhood home igniting the passion and creativity that flows through in her songs. Her heartfelt lyrics and stage performance have captured audiences throughout her musical journey. She has performed on countless stages across Canada from piano lounges,

festivals and country bars to singing national anthems at major sporting events.

Her performances are versatile with acoustic versions of self written and covers to high energy rockin' country.

Her debut single "Blame it on the Moonlight" released January 30, 2023 and was picked up by over 50 country stations Canada wide including US stations, Australia and UK. It's debut peaked at #6 on the Canadian Country Indie Top 100 Chart and the video for her song is at Stingray as well as playing on ICTV in Branson, Missouri. Later, her single "My Heart Feels The Same Way Too", a powerhouse emotional ballad telling the story of a struggling relationship, was picked up by SiriusXM Radio Top of the Country, US & Canadian Radio, Australia’s Country Thunder as well as added to top Country Spotify playlists.

Amanda's debut album, "Can't Stop Me Now" was released in March 2024 and received an overwhelmingly positive reception across the Canadian media landscape. With features on radio, television, blogs, and more, the remarkable debut release from Amanda Keeles has been complemented with an Ontario tour, which featured a performance at Toronto's TD Music Hall in June 2024. This Fall, Amanda will perform at multiple events surrounding the Canadian Country Music Awards, release a brand new single, and embark on the second leg of her Ontario tour.

Amanda Keeles Tour Dates:

September 27, 2024 - Biltmore Theatre - Oshawa, ON

September 28, 2024 - The Buckle - Kingston, ON

October 5, 2024 - Chrysler Theatre - Windsor, ON

October 24, 2024 - River Run Centre - Guelph, ON

November 2, 2024 - The Bunker - Stratford, ON

Film Festival Music Video Premiere:

Toronto Independent Film Fest (Toronto, ON) September 12th 6pm

Paradise Cinema, 1006c Bloor St W., Toronto, ON

and

Forest City Film Festival (London, ON) October 19th Opening Night Wolf Performance Hall, London ON

Connect with Amanda Keeles: