Clayton Bellamy Excited to Come Home For Extreme Mudfest

On the verge of coming home for Extreme Mudfest 2015, Clayton Bellamy says it’s always nerve wrecking playing the home crowd. “I gotta tell ya, it never goes away,” says Bellamy with the cool demeanor he’s known for, “playing your home town is hard, but exciting at the same time.”

Bellamy grew up in Bonnyville, his father owned a trucking company, which can account for a lot of the inspiration Bellamy pulls into his music. The Road Hammers are fun, they’re moody and bluesy and Southern Rock with a Country backbone. They’re not bro country, but they have great chemistry and are known to be light-hearted and have fun with the crowd and their fans.

The Road Hammers, made up of Clayton Bellamy, Jason McCoy and Chris Bryne haven’t played Bonnyville since 2005. “I’m excited to see friends and family,” Bellamy says, who’s still very close with his sister and parents who live in town. Bellamy says they still treat him the same as they always have, “I’m just the same goofy guy that grew up with them and nothing’s really changed.”

Bellamy says the one piece of advice he’d give a small town kid looking to make it in the big time, “be ready for a lot of hard work.” Bellamy manages the local group, FKB, who will also be performing at Extreme Mudfest. “The talent portion is 25%,” proclaims Bellamy, “and it’s 75% just plain hard work and determination, that’s what it’s always chalked up to for me.”

Bellamy used that mentality to pursue his dreams and grow his career, “you have to create opportunities through hard work.” Bellamy says coming from a small town doesn’t limit your potential, “it didn’t hurt me coming from a small town.” Rather the opposite, Bellamy says he learned some valuable lessons, “I learned about hard work from my family growing up on a farm. You worked. If there was stuff to do, you went out and did it.”

It was with that mentality Bellamy approached music, “if there’s a fence to build – let’s go and build it. If there are fans to make – let’s go and make ’em.” The Road Hammers have always done that, says Bellamy, “that’s always served me well when playing music.”

The Road Hammers will finish their summer leg in Bonnyville, all while finishing up their new album Fueled By Rednecks. The album will be available in the spring of 2016. Until then you can get your fill of Clayton Bellamy on a new reality TV show coming to CMT Ice Racer Showdown.

“It’s kinda like Survivor meets Canada’s Worst Driver on ice,” Bellamy explains the concept. Five everyday drivers go  through obstacle courses while driving ice racing cars. Each week a driver is eliminated until the final three racers go head-to-head on a closed circuit ice racing track. Although not involved in the conception of this show, Bellamy and his fearless-fun-lovin’-lust-for-life character is a perfect match to host the show. A bonus is years of Lakeland driving, which gives Bellamy a unique insight into what the contestants will be faced with. 

“I spent two months out on a frozen lake filming,” Bellamy says with a youthful tone in his voice, “it was a huge crew and an amazing experience.” The twelve episode inaugural season will kick-off October 19th, 2015 on CMT.

Bellamy is no stranger to reality TV, he and bandmate Jason McCoy were contestants on Mantracker – and famously beat the legendary hunter. “Television has always been something that I’ve done,” Bellamy states. The group had two seasons of a show on CMT primetime, which also aired on GAC in America. The band has just released their latest show The Road Hammers Go Everywhere. Which, true to the band’s nature, is a playful sketch comedy-style webseries. The show is available through CMT’s site or on youtube.com.

 

“It’s all part of being in the entertainment business,” explains Bellamy who’s had bit-parts in movies, stared in reality shows and is a radio host on CISN Country in Edmonton. Bellamy is open to go wherever the business takes him, “it’s been a wild ride and never a dull moment.”

“Just when you think, this is the way it’s going to be in your career,  you get a phone call and something completely different comes up.” Bellamy explains the whirlwind his career has been so far.

Extreme Mudfest 2015 features all your favourite demolition derby staples; CMRO Sanctioned Racing, Truck Demolition Derby, Tuff Truck Challenge, Modified Lawn Mower Racing and even a Water Melon Eating Contest on Saturday. The festival runs August 21st-23rd, 2015 at The Bonnyville Pro Rodeo & Chuckwagon grounds. The Road Hammers will headline Saturday, August 22nd. Also performing Saturday are The Killer Kings and Aaron Prichett. Local group, FKB and The Trews will hit the stage Friday.

Tickets for the festival are available online, extrememudfest.com. Although the better option is to purchase your tickets at Bonnyville’s NAPA. If you purchase your tickets at NAPA you’ll be entered to win The ULTIMATE NASCAR EXPERIENCE, with The Road to the Kobalt 400. Includes round trip airfare, hotel, spending cash and a VIP experience with The Road Hammers at the Kobalt 400 in Las Vegas in March 2016.

 

Bellamy says he’s open for anything, when talking about Extreme Mudfest 2015, the entertainer says with a huge chuckle, “if someone will let me drive their ride – I’m all in! Count me in!”