Laws earns three Northwest CMAs

Tanner Laws from Thompson Falls recently received three awards for his music. Laws was honored November 5 in Spokane in the Northwest Country Music Association as male vocalist, songwriter and local solo artist of the year. The award ceremony was held at the Bing Crosby Theater. "It was the first year that I have been nominated for the Northwest Country Music Association awards," Laws said. The region includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

"I don't know how I was nominated originally. I saw emails and Facebook messages," Laws admitted. When he saw that he was nominated in September he asked friends and family to vote for him after he won the first round. "I didn't know that I was nominated for the third category of local solo artist of the year until the ceremony," he added. After becoming a finalist along with five others, Laws was invited to Spokane, where several categories were awarded.

"I have to applaud them on how well the ceremony was run," Laws commented. He said that while recipients were giving speeches, the stage was set for musicians to perform. "I played early and was the second performer," he added. Laws won first place in all three categories and was supported by his parents, Amy and Chadd Laws from Thompson Falls, sister Lindsay, and cousins and uncle Clint from Spokane.

Recently Laws played at the Sunrise Saloon in Missoula after the Cat/Grizzly football game. "It's one of my favorite spots." He has been working with a couple of students from the university but they have no name for their band yet, Laws said. "We started practicing once a week when classes started up again this fall."

Laws has been busy recording his singles with a new version of a pre-recorded song due out in January 2024. "It's probably my best recording. The fiddle player is really cool," he said. The song "Calling Me" can be heard in its original version on Spotify. Laws said he has two new albums coming out next year as well. "I have a producer in Frenchtown who will record my next albums." Ill Eagle Studios in Florence recorded Laws' music after COVID. "I reached out to the producers after doing a Google search for recording studios," Laws said.

"I will be on the Dennis Bragg show on the radio this coming week, on 94.9 KYSS FM. I might be asked to play guitar and sing," Laws said. He said his summer was full with concerts at the Rex Theater, opening for Marty Stuart, the Red Ants Pants Festival in White Sulphur Springs and the Phillips County Fair in Malta.