The Washboard Union

The Washboard Union
Background information
OriginVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
GenresCountry, bluegrass
Years active2010–present
Labels
MembersDavid Scott Roberts
Aaron Grain
Chris Duncombe
Websitewww.thewashboardunion.com

The Washboard Union is a Canadian country music group from Vancouver, British Columbia led by principal members David Roberts, Aaron Grain (aka Brett Ellis) and Chris Duncombe.[1][2]

Biography

Aaron Grain and Chris Duncombe met in Kelowna, British Columbia at age 15 when Duncombe's father began dating Grain's mother.[1] Duncombe and Grain eventually moved to Vancouver, where they met David Roberts, who was living in a Point Grey mansion.[1] The three began writing and singing together.[1] They originally performed under the name Run GMC.[3] Their debut album, The Washboard Union, was released in 2012 and produced by Garth Richardson and Bob Ezrin.[4]

In January 2015, The Washboard Union recorded an extended play, In My Bones, at RCA Studio A in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Trey Bruce.[5] It was released by Slaight Music/Warner Music Canada on July 10, 2015.[6] The first single, "Some Day", went top 40, and the second and third singles, "Maybe It's the Moonshine" & "Shot of Glory", reached the top 10 and top 5 respectively on the Billboard Canada Country chart.[7] In October 2015, The Washboard Union won the British Columbia Country Music Association Award for Roots Canadiana of the Year.[8]

The Washboard Union's next album, What We're Made Of, was produced by Matt Rovey (Zac Brown Band, Dean Brody) in Nashville and Jeff "Diesel" Dalziel in Toronto and Vancouver over the winter of 2017/18. The album's first single, “Shine”, was the band's third Top Ten Country Radio hit which they performed live on the Canadian Country Music Awards and walked away with a CCMA Award for 2017 Roots Artist of the Year.

In 2018, the group performed in Liverpool, Nova Scotia at the Queens Place Emera Centre.[9] On November 22, 2019, The Washboard Union released "Country Thunder"[10] as the leadoff single to their third studio album, Everbound, which was released on April 24, 2020. The album's second single was "Dock Rock," followed by "If She Only Knew"[11] and "Never Run Outta Road."

In 2023, the band released their single "I Run on Country" as part of a new partnership with Universal Music Canada.[12]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details
The Washboard Union
What We're Made Of
  • Release date: April 20, 2018 [13]
  • Label: Warner Music Canada
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Everbound
  • Release date: April 24, 2020[14]
  • Label: Warner Music Canada
  • Formats: CD, digital download

Extended plays

Title Details
In My Bones
  • Release date: July 10, 2015
  • Label: Slaight Music/Warner Music Canada
  • Formats: CD, digital download

Singles

Year Title Peak
positions 		Certifications Album
CAN
Country
[7]
2015 "Some Day" 38 In My Bones
"Maybe It's the Moonshine" 10
2016 "Shot of Glory" 5
"Head Over Heels" 19
2017 "Shine" 9 What We're Made Of
2018 "Feel Like That" 11
2019 "She Gets Me" 16 Everbound
"Country Thunder" 2
2020 "Dock Rock" 9
"If She Only Knew" 33
2021 "Never Run Outta Road" 17
2023 "I Run on Country" 14 TBA
"Gather Round" 34
2024 "Band on Her T-Shirt" 17

Christmas singles

Year Single Peak positions Album
CAN Country
[7]
2021 "Feliz Navidad" 46 —

Music videos

Year Video Director
2015 "Some Day" Emma Higgins
"Maybe It's the Moonshine" Stefan Berrill
2016 "Shot of Glory"
"Head Over Heels"
2017 "Shine" Travis Nesbitt
2018 "What We're Made Of" Stephano Barberis
"Feel Like That" Joel Stewart
2019 "She Gets Me"
"Country Thunder" Stephano Barberis
2021 "If She Only Knew"
"Never Run Outta Road"

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee/Work Result Ref
2014 BCCMA Roots Canadiana of the Year The Washboard Union Nominated [16]
2015 Album of the Year In My Bones Nominated [17][18]
Group Duo of the Year The Washboard Union Nominated
Roots Canadiana of the Year Won
Songwriter of the Year Nominated
Single of the Year "Some Day" Nominated
Video of the Year Nominated
2016 CCMA Awards Roots Artist of the Year The Washboard Union Won [19]
Rising Star Won
Group or Duo of the Year Nominated [20]
CMT Video of the Year "Maybe It’s the Moonshine" Nominated
BCCMA Group Duo of the Year The Washboard Union Won [21][22]
Roots Canadiana of the Year Won
Entertainer of the Year Nominated
Fans Choice Award Nominated
Songwriter of the Year "Maybe It’s the Moonshine" Won
Single of the Year Nominated
Video of the Year Nominated
2017 Canadian Radio Music Awards Best New Group or Solo Artist: Country Nominated [23]
BCCMA SOCAN Songwriter of the Year "Head Over Heels" Won [24]
Single of the Year Won
Fan Choice The Washboard Union Won
Website of the Year Won
Gaylord Wood Traditional Country Award/Roots Country Award Won
Western Canadian Music Awards Country Artist of the Year The Washboard Union Won [25]
CCMA Group Duo of the Year Nominated [26]
Roots Artist or Group of the Year Won
2018 CCMA Album of the Year What We're Made Of Nominated [27]
Group or Duo of the Year The Washboard Union Won
Roots Artist or Group of the Year Won
2019 Juno Awards Breakthrough Group of the Year - The Washboard Union Won [28]
CCMA Group or Duo of the Year The Washboard Union Won [29]
Roots Album of the Year What We're Made Of Won
2020 2020 Canadian Country Music Awards Group or Duo of the Year The Washboard Union Won [30]
Roots Album Of The Year Everbound Won
Video Of The Year "Country Thunder" Nominated
2021 2021 Canadian Country Music Awards Group or Duo of the Year The Washboard Union Nominated [31]
2024 Canadian Country Music Association Group or Duo of the Year The Washboard Union Nominated [32]

Tours

Headlining

Supporting

References

  1. ^ a b c d "The Washboard Union Biography". CMT. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  2. ^ Abdellatif, Nouran (January 18, 2016). "Washboard Union performing for first time in Leduc". Leduc Rep. Retrieved February 19, 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  3. ^ "Kelowna: Nothing wishy-washy about The Washboard Union". Kelowna Capital News. June 19, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ Varty, Alexander (August 20, 2013). "Washboard Union explores a new road". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  5. ^ "The Washboard Union". CBC Music. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  6. ^ Hudson, Alex (May 22, 2015). "The Washboard Union Make Major Label Debut with New EP". Exclaim!. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c "Washboard Union Album & Song Chart History - Canada Country". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  8. ^ Marchand, Francois (October 27, 2015). "Dallas Smith ropes in the wins at 2015 B.C. Country Music Awards". The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  9. ^ "The best Nova Scotia concerts of 2018". Chronicle Herald, Stephen Cooke, Dec 20, 2018
  10. ^ "The Washboard Union - Country Thunder - Official Music Video". YouTube. November 22, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  11. ^ "The Washboard Union Reveal New Single 'If She Only Knew'". The Music Express. October 28, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  12. ^ Melanson, Jenna (March 24, 2023). "The Washboard Union shares "I Run On Country" (Interview)". Canadian Beats Media. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  13. ^ "What We're Made Of by The Washboard Union on Apple Music". Itunes.apple.com. April 20, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  14. ^ "Everbound | The Washboard Union". Thewashboardunion.com. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  15. ^ a b c d "Canadian single certifications – Washboard Union". Music Canada.
  16. ^ "2014 BCCMA Final Nominees Announced". Top Country Music | Country Music News, Charts, Playlists, Videos. September 15, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  17. ^ "BCCMA Nominees". Top Country Music | Country Music News, Charts, Playlists, Videos. September 23, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  18. ^ "Dallas Smith ropes in the wins at 2015 B.C. Country Music Awards". Vancouver Sun. October 27, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  19. ^ "Complete List of 2016 CCMA Award Winners - Canadian Country Music Association". Ccma.org. Archived from the original on November 18, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  20. ^ "2016 CCMA Awards Nominees - Canadian Country Music Association". Ccma.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  21. ^ "The Full List Of BCCMA Award Winners". Country 107.1. October 24, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  22. ^ "The 2016 BCCMA Final Ballot Nominees !". Country 107.1. September 21, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  23. ^ "2017 CRMA Nominees |2017 Canadian Music Week April 18–22, 2017". cmw.net. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  24. ^ "British Columbia Country Music Association - Awards Past Winners". www.bccountry.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  25. ^ "2017 Western Canadian Music Award Nominees". breakoutwest.ca. Archived from the original on May 8, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  26. ^ "2018 CCMA Awards Nominees - Canadian Country Music Association". Ccma.org. July 11, 2018. Archived from the original on August 19, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  27. ^ "2018 CCMA Award Winners - Canadian Country Music Association". Ccma.org. September 9, 2018. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  28. ^ "2019 Juno Award Nominees - Junos". Junoawards.ca. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  29. ^ "2019 CCMA Award Nominees - Canadian Country Music Association". Ccma.org. Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  30. ^ "2020 CCMA Awards: The complete country music winners list". Global News. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  31. ^ Colley, Katie (September 21, 2021). "The Reklaws Lead CCMA Awards Nominations With Six: See The Full List". ET Canada. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021.
  32. ^ "2024 CCMA AWARDS NOMINEES". Canadian Country Music Association. July 18, 2024. Archived from the original on July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  33. ^ "Star studded lineup coming to Merritt for Rockin' River 2017 - Merritt Herald - Merritt Herald". Merrittherald.com. November 25, 2016. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  34. ^ "Nashville North 2018" Country 105
  35. ^ "Old Dominion: Happy Endings 2018 World Tour". Nash Country Daily. October 16, 2017.