Everett Barilla The Gorilla

This Great Ape is happy to be informing and entertaining you.
Outside of radio I enjoy long walks on the beach, candle lit dinners, photography, sports and monkeying around. I also have a fascination with tattoos, currently at 10.
I have a very trivial brain and my intelligence can be best described as that one Jeopardy category that all the smart people never get is where I make my money aka useless knowledge. I am not as dumb as I may look, even with a face for radio.

River Country Up For A CMAB Award ?!?!?!?!
Yesterday morning the 14th Annual Country Music Alberta Award final nominees were announced in a YouTube video which featured many artists and members announcing the nominees. It kicks off with Spirit River’s Aaron Goodvin announcing the nominees
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Steven Lee Olsen and JoJo Mason Shine in GP Show
Steven Lee Olsen brought his Country Night in Canada tour to Grande Prairie Monday night in a smaller setting of the casino and he brought alongside him the lovable JoJo Mason. The show being on a Monday
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Catching Up with JoJo Mason
I got the chance to catch up with JoJo Mason to discuss his music, touring and mental health yesterday. JoJo, who is currently on the road with Steven Lee Olsen on the Country Music Night in Canada
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Kelsi Mayne
This weekends headliner on Rising Stars was non other than Kelsi Mayne and her new song “All or Nothing.” Kelsi is a multiple time CMAO award nominee, a Top of the Country finalist as well she was
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Barilla The Gorilla’s Top 10 Movies of the Year
As like every year I compile a list my personal top 10 films of the year. Now after much debate over the years, I have decided to exclude documentaries so sadly no Super/Man: The Christopher Reeves Story,
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Barilla The Gorilla’s Top 10 Canadian Country Songs of 2024
Well it’s that time of the year, when we look back at the year that was before ushering in the new year. Well 2024 was quite a year for Canadian country music with some many amazing songs
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Sonic 3 Review: Vintage Carrey and Reeves Charisma Steal Show
Sonic 3 is the 3rd film in the Sonic film franchise 4th total entry with the Knuckles limited series on Paramount+, and it did not disappoint. The film sees Jim Carrey doing double duty playing two Robotnik’s
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Manon Mano & The Honey Cowboy Interview
Manon Mano and The Honey Cowboy swung by the River Country studio to have a little conversation about the upcoming A Modern Day Christmas Miracle show happening Friday at 7:30 and Saturday at 2pm both at Athabasca
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Delta Sweet
This weekends headliner on River Country Rising Stars was none other than Delta Sweet and his new song “Outta Money, Outta Mind.” Delta Sweet is is none other than Patrick Kordyback, the front man of Stereos, a
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Wicked Part 1 Review
Wicked is a movie that was not high on my to watch list, as I wasn’t a fan of the Wizard of Oz, yeah I said it, and not a big Ariana Grande fan. Given rave reviews
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Moana 2 Review
Back on Monday I took in the much anticipated Moana 2, coming just over 8 years since the first movie was released. This movie sees Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) return as Moana and Maui
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Taylor Rae
This weekends headliner on Rising Stars was Edmonton singer-songwriter Taylor Rae. Taylor currently resides in Nashville but tends to still spend quite a bit of time up north, whether performing or visiting family. Taylor is a rising
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Lainey Wilson NFL Thanksgiving Halftime Show
Yesterday as is tradition the Dallas Cowboys have had a major star play a halftime show, sponsored by the Salvation Army, during the Thanksgiving Day game. The star announced for this year was Lainey Wilson who is
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Doug Folkins
This weekend on Rising Stars the show was headlined by Doug Folinks. Doug is a singer-songwriter from out in Campbell River, BC and is more into the songwriting than the actual performing. While Doug does enjoy performing
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CCMA Awards Date Revealed
We have known where the CCMA Awards will be held in 2025 since the spring when they uncharacteristically revealed it well in advance to 2024 awards that were held in Edmonton. The 2025 awards will be held
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CMA Award Winners
Last night the CMA Awards were held and hosted by Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson and Peyton Manning. The night held some amazing performances as well as some big winners. Shocking is some of the names to leave
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Tenille Townes Returned Home To Rock GP
Last night Tenille Townes played a packed Bonnetts Energy Centre, the first home town show in quite sometime for the 5x CCMA Female Artist of the Year. A day that meant a lot to the Grande Prairie
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Brandi Vezina
This weekends headliner was Brandi Vezina and her latest song “Thinking About You.” Brandi hails from Manitoba and is a Red-River Metis singer/songwriter with roots intertwined with classic country and rock. She’s a multi award winning artist
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Rodney Slade
This weekend on Rising Stars the headliner was Rodney Slade and his new song “Barstool Breakup.” Rodney is a singer-songwriter from Newfoundland who is beginning to gain some traction with his sophomore single “The Lazy and Good
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Ranking The New PWHL Jerseys
The Professional Womens Hockey League (PWHL) jerseys have been released today and let’s say most need to be redesigned in my opinion. A couple months ago the league which later this month will start their second season,
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Tyler Joe Miller Interview
Late last week I spoke with Canadian country star Tyler Joe Miller about a few things including his current single “What Good Is A Memory”, the new EP that it is featured on called “Going Home” as
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Alli Walker
This weekend on Rising Stars the headliner was Alli Walker and her new song “Kitchen Floor.” Alli is a CCMA nominated singer-songwriter originally from P.E.I. and has moved around the country quite a bit before now residing
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Travis Dolter
This weekend on Rising Stars the headliner was Travis Dolter and his fun new song “Hell of a Saturday Night.” Travis, hailing from Hay Lake, AB, is a former athlete turned country singer, which isn’t a stretch
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Washboard Union To Appear on Tracker
The Washboard Union are set to appear on camera as well as have their tunes played on the CBS show Tracker. Tracker stars Justin Hartley, known for his roles in Smallville and This Is Us, as a
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Tilly Grace
This weekend on Rising Stars the headliner was Tilly Grace. Tilly is a singer-songwriter from Sudbury, ON who brought us the headlining song “Pretty, Girl.” People may remember Tilly from her song “Summertime Cliche” playing on the
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Katy Hurt
This weekends headliner is our very first International one in Katy Hurt and her song “Oh Girl.” Katy is an emerging talent from the UK, who grew up in part in the US, and has at times
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Cruz Vallis
This weekend on Rising Stars the headliner was Cruz Vallis and his new song “My Kind” which he did with past headliner Riley Taylor. Cruz is a talent who is from the east coast of Canada originally
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Stephanie Merkus
This weekend on Rising Stars the headliner was Stephanie Merkus with her new song “Ain’t No Cowboy.” Stephanie who comes from near Edmonton now calls Calgary home where she moved for her job, which she has left
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Trudy
This weekend on Rising Stars the headliner was Trudy and her song “You and Your Golden.” Trudy like Zach McPhee, was a headliner in the Top of the Country contest. Ultimately Zach was crowned but it was
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CCMA Award Winners
Saturday night marked the 2024 CCMA Awards as they took place in Edmonton, with the televised awards being awarded at Rogers Place and the more industry type awards being handed out at the Gala event. The biggest
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Flaysher & Megan Dawson
This weekend on Rising Stars the headliner was the team up of Flaysher and Megan Dawson with their second collaboration “Second Wind.” This was a first for the show as we’ve never had to acts on the
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Alberta’s Hailey Benedict Signs with Big Loud & Local Hay
Hailey Benedict a former headliner on River Country Rising Stars has announced signing a deal with Big Loud and Local Hay. Big Loud is a Nashville label while Local Hay a Vancouver based label, which works in
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58th CMA Nominations Revealed
The 58th CMA awards have announced their nominations for the award show that will air on November 20th on ABC deemed “Country Music’s Biggest Night.” In no surprise a number of big names were nominated with Morgan
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Tyler Lorette
This weekend on Rising Stars the headliner was Tyler Lorette with his new song “Ain’t That Guy.” Tyler is a young singer-songwriter from Courtice, ON who has been performing from a very young ag as he is
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Earl Pereira On The SongRise Music Conference ’24
Earl Pereira is best known as a co-founder of the JUNO nominated group Wide Mouth Mason, though since leaving the band he formed The Steadies, and he will be a mentor for the SongRise Music Conference. The
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Olivia Mae Graham
This weekend on Rising Stars the headliner was Olivia Mae Graham and her new single “Boots.” Olivia hails from an area mentioned in a Stompin Tom song known as “Tillsonburg” … “my back still aches when I
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Tenille Townes Leaves Sony Nashville
Tenille Townes has announced via her social media accounts that after 7 years she is no longer with her “Nashville label” as it was referred to in the video meaning Sony Nashville. The Grande Prairie singer has
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Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Trailer Has Arrived
Sonic 2 teased a 3rd movie with the villain being Shadow and it has come to fruition. Sonic The Hedgehog 3 will see the return of the live action including Jim Carrey, who has toyed with retirement
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Robyn Ashley
This weekends headliner on Rising Stars was Robyn Ashley. Robyn is an emerging talent from Edmonton and has recently a put out her debut radio single “Chasing Red Lights.” Robyn was the CCMA Ultimate Fan winner back
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Alli Walker Makes The Most Opening For Shania Twain In NFLD
Over the past weekend Shania headlined 3 nights of the Churchill Park Music Festival in St. John’s, NL and on the Sunday night the opening act was PEI’s Alli Walker, Alli’s song “I Like Big Trucks” can
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Zach McPhee
This weekend’s headliner was Zach McPhee. Zach is a former hockey player turned country music singer. Zach spent his junior career bouncing around the WHL, including my favourite team the Everett Silvertips (I wonder why I love
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Tenille Townes Among Final Wave of Performers For CCMA Awards
When the CCMA Awards returns to Edmonton next month they will have a star studded performers hitting the stage for the biggest night in Canadian Country Music. The award show happening September 14th at Rogers Place hosted
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Amanda Couture
This weekend the headliner on the show was Amanda Couture. Amanda is a singer-songwriter who lives in Alberta and is a new mother. Amanda though originally from Saskatchewan has made Alberta her home with her husband and
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MacKenzie Porter To Headline Top of the Country Finale
The schedule of a host of the CCMA’s is jammed packed to begin with but MacKenzie Porter is adding to that schedule by headlining the Top of the Country Finale. Porter is already set perform as well
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Lawrence Maxwell
This weekend on River Country Rising Stars the headliner was Lawrence Maxwell. Lawrence is singer-songwriter and poet from Prince Edward Island. Having a headliner from PEI means all 10 provinces have been covered. Lawrence is a rare
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Deadpool & Wolverine Lives Up To The Hype
Deadpool & Wolverine is the long awaited collaboration of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman since the ill-fated X-Men Origins Wolverine which saw a major discredit to the Deadpool character. After Logan in 2017, Jackman had retired from
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Rising Stars Headliner Interview – Paige Rutledge
This weekend on River Country Rising Stars the show was headliner by Paige Rutledge. Paige is a singer-songwriter from Oakville, ON who rocks rhinestones on his outfits and guitar. She continues to make a name for herself
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Twisters Will Blow You Away
Twisters is a stand alone sequel to the original 1996 film but updates it especially with the tornado chasing culture that has come along way since the original. The movie brings great leads with Glen Powell as
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CCMA Nominations Are Out !
In September the CCMA Awards will come to Edmonton for the first time in a long time and now we know who will be up for the awards. This is the closest the awards will likely come
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Ingrid Andress Checking Into Rehab After Disastrous Anthem Performance
The MLB Home Run Derby is often a major talking point and last night it wasn’t about dingers and Teoscar Hernández of the Dodgers winning the prestigious title but on the anthem performance. Country singer and 4x
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