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The competition heats upon this week's star-studded Cover Me Canada

Oct 11, 2011

CBC's new live weekly musical competition series, COVER ME CANADA, turned up the heat this week with a star-studded show that featured performances by multiple Juno award winning singer/songwriter Gino Vannelli, with Ali Milner Band and guest appearances by Spirit of the West, Honeymoon Suite and Country music star George Canyon that came to cheer on the bands.

"I wish Ali and her band nothing but the best on the show. I hope singing I Just Wanna Stop brings them as much success and pleasure to perform as it did for me, and still does," remarked Gino Vannelli of the song that garnered him a Grammy nomination and climbed the charts to number 1 in Canada when it was released in 1978. Catch Gino surprising Ali on stage during dress rehearsal by visiting here.

Melanie Morgan band, who covered Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf, was safe from being eliminated by the judges in tonight's episode. Canadian audiences determine which artist is safe after the results of the online voting and social media engagement for each band is tallied. At the conclusion of tonight's show the COVER ME CANADA judges Jordan Knight (New Kids On The Block), chart-topping R&B sensation Deborah Cox and star-maker manager and record exec Ron Fair (Christina Aguilera, Black Eyed Peas, Pussycat Dolls), announced that Georgia Murray, who covered Spirit Of The West's Home For A Rest, was eliminated.

"It's exciting to see the bands really turn up the heat in this competition. Last week we saw them really upping their stage presence and connecting with the audiences. At this point the remaining groups can't coast on past performances, they are going to have to bring it to each and every performance, and own those songs," commented Jordan Knight speaking on behalf of the judges.

Canadians have the chance to bring back one band who thought their COVER ME CANADA journey was over.  In a one-time vote on October 23, 2011 fans will be asked to put their support behind their favourite eliminated band. The eliminated band that garners the most online votes will return in episode seven and continue to compete for the $100,000 cash prize and a recording contract for an original single to be released by Universal Music Canada. For additional details about how to support your favourite competitor visit: www.cbc.ca/covermecanada.

About the top social media chart-topping band: 
Melanie Morgan - Moncton, NB:  Being a small-town Acadian girl with no formal musical training hasn't slowed Melanie Morgan down at all - she's a two-time East Coast Music Award nominee, has notched a Top 40 single (Not Tonight) on the Canadian Country radio chart and has shared stages with the likes of Keith Urban, Jason Blaine, The Wilkinsons and Shane Yellowbird. This is the second time the Melanie Morgan band has garnered immunity!  Follow Melanie Morgan on Twitter @CMC_Melanie. To download a high res image of Melanie Morgan from tonight's episode click here.

About the eliminated band:
Georgia Murray - Victoria, BC:  With a bit of Amy Winehouse and a dash of Adele, Georgia Murray includes BC's Rifflandia festival on her gig resume, plus opening slots for K'OS, Shad, Jurassic 5 and Warren G as well as a guest spot on a Canadian Tenors show. Follow Georgia Murray on Twitter @CMC_Georgia. To download a high res image of Georgia Murray from tonight's episode click here.

COVER ME CANADA is broadcast on Sundays at 9 p.m. (9:30 p.m. NT) on the CBC.  Host Nicole Appleton (All Saints) and judges Jordan Knight (New Kids On The Block), chart-topping R&B sensation Deborah Cox and star-maker manager and record exec Ron Fair (Christina Aguilera, Black Eyed Peas, Pussycat Dolls), along with mentor-producers including Hawksley Workman, Kuya, and Gavin Brown, preside as the finalists perform live in a bid to win the hearts of the nation and the opportunity of a lifetime: a $100,000 cash prize and a recording contract for an original single to be released by Universal Music Canada.

Get music from COVER ME CANADA on iTunes at www.itunes.ca/covermecanada.

COVER ME CANADA is produced by Temple Street Productions based on a format co-created by 11 Entertainment and CBC.
For more information, visit:
On the web: www.cbc.ca/covermecanada
On Twitter: @cbccoverme
For supporting photography, please visit: http://mediacentre.cbc.ca.

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, plus seven languages for international audiences. In 2011, CBC/Radio-Canada is celebrating 75 years of serving Canadians and being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of Canada.

About Temple Street
Temple Street Productions Inc. is a leading producer of television, film and digital media content based in Toronto, Canada. A selection of Temple Street's past and present projects include: Being Erica (CBC, SOAPnet), Wingin'It (Family Channel), Recipe to Riches (Food Network, Global), Billable Hours (Global, Showcase), Canada's Next Top Model (CTV), How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? (CBC), Queer as Folk (Showtime, Showcase) and Darcy's Wild Life (NBC, Discovery Kids, Family Channel). For more company information www.templestreetproductions.com, twitter @TempleStreet or connect with us on Facebook.

For additional information, contact:
Joanne Setterington
Cover Me Canada publicist
416 884-4119
joanne@indoorrecess.com

Nell Crichton, Veritas Communications
P) 416.482.0864
C) 416.305.5942
crichton@veritascanada.com