| Ambush | |
| Origin: | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Genre: | Country |
| Years Active: | –present |
| Label: | Chancellor Music, Longshot Records, 306 Records |
| Current Members: | Mark McDonell Kris Lafontaine Danny Derue |
| Past Members: | Jef Leeson Glenn Desjardines Skip Layton Jim Wright Riq Turner Tommy VanCoughnett Dan Killen |
Ambush is a Canadian country music group, formed in 1993, and based in Ottawa.
The original line-up (from 1993 to 1999) consisted of Skip Layton (drums), Jef Leeson (bass guitar and lead vocals) and Mark McDonell (guitar and vocals).[1] They met while working as the back-up band for Ottawa singer Dennis Whitty,[2] and derived the name Ambush from the name of Whitty's backing band, 'Bushwacker'.
This line-up recorded three albums of cover songs: On Stage in 1993,[3] Hard to Say No in 1994,[4] and Kickin' Up a Fuss in 1995.[5] All were produced by Leeson and released on his independent label Chancellor Music.[6]
Through 1996, they recorded their first CD of original music in Nashville, with producer-writer Cyril Rawson.[7] The CD, Ambush,[8] yielded modest regional hits with "Since She Got Back From Texas"[9] and "Girls Like That".[10]
In 1997, a 3-track CD featuring the songs "Let's Go Crazy Girl",[11] "Since She Got Back From Texas" and "Don't Let It Hit You on the Way Out"[12] (all originally from their 1996 debut CD) was released, which included new vocals and remixes by Chad Irschick at Inception Sound Studios in Toronto.[13]
Leeson left the band in November 1999 to pursue a solo career.[14] He was replaced by Glenn Desjardine who, in November 2001, was replaced by Riq Turner. Riq departed in 2014, and was replaced by Kris Lafontaine. Skip Layton departed in October 2005; he was replaced by Jim Wright. Wright left the band in October 2011; he was replaced by Tom VanCoughnett. VanCoughnett departed in 2015; Dan Killen joined the band as a touring/session member until 2016, when he was replaced by Danny Derue. In 2002, Ambush signed with Longshot Records.
In 2006 Ambush won the CMT reality series Plucked.[15] They shot videos for their songs "This Could Be The Night" and "In This Room" during the series.[16] [17]
In 2006, the band released a studio album entitled I Wanna Go Home With You.[18] This album included singles such as "This Could Be The Night", "Too Hot For Words"[19] and "Anything To Rock You".[20]
At the 2007 Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA Awards), the band was nominated as Group of the Year.[21] They received the same nomination in 2008.[22] At the latter ceremony, the "In This Room" video was nominated as Video of the Year.[23]
Ambush has released seven live albums, most recently in 2016, with Ambush Live Off the Floor.[24] They last toured in 2019, traveling to the UK to play the Tokyo World Festival[25] and the Wireless Festival.[26] As of 2021, the band remains active.
Albums
EPs
Singles
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Since She Got Back from Texas" | Ambush (1995) |
| 1996 | "Girls Like That" | |
| 2000 | "Don't Give Up" | |
| 2003 | "Till You" | I Wanna Go Home with You |
| 2005 | "Party Like a Rock Star" | |
| "This Could Be the Night" | ||
| 2006 | "I Wanna Go Home with You" | |
| "Anything to Rock You" | ||
| 2007 | "In This Room" | Ambush (2009) |
| 2008 | "Wasn't That a Party" | |
| "Drive" | ||
| 2009 | "She Doesn't Come Close" | |
| "Small Town" | ||
| 2010 | "Take My Picture" | |
| "My Little Girl" | ||
| 2013 | "Daddy Come Home" | rowspan="3" |
| 2014 | "Summertime Crazy" | |
| 2015 | "Little Big Man" |
| Year | Video | |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "This Could Be the Night" | |
| 2007 | "In This Room" | |
| 2009 | "She Doesn't Come Close" | |
| 2017 | "Top of the World"[27] |
| Year | Association | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Canadian Country Music Association | Independent Group or Duo of the Year | |
| 2007 | Group or Duo of the Year | ||
| Independent Group or Duo of the Year | |||
| 2008 | Group or Duo of the Year | ||
| CMT Video of the Year – "In This Room" | |||