Most 13-year-olds are currently scrambling to get the most out of the last few days of a leisure-filled summer, while contemplating next week's return to classes.

Cole Armour is excited about getting back to school as a Grade 9 student at R.E. Mountain Secondary. But the Willoughby boy's attentions are focused on the release of his first single, Phenomenal, that was distributed to thousands of "hot adult contemporary" and pop radio stations around the globe this week.

The song was written for Cole by members of On Time Music Group from Toronto six weeks ago, and has already been recorded and distributed, explained his father Ron.

"Now, it's just a matter of sitting and waiting, and hoping that radio loves it and add it to their rotation," Dad said. "It's always difficult, as an independent, and you're in there with everyone else fighting for a spot in the top 40."

The song only went out Tuesday, and programmers are already getting back to Armour's team saying they like the song and his "fresh new sound," said Dad.

After a week of fun at Shuswap Lake, Cole said he's rested and ready to open for fellow Langley musician Aaron Pritchett at the East 542 Music Festival in Washington Sept. 15, then perform at the Port Moody Festival of Arts the following weekend.

PNE KICKS IT OFF

Labour Day 2012 is all about hockey player turned country music star Chad Brownlee.

He's kicking off the holiday weekend with a show on the PNE's West Jet concert stage tonight (Thursday), where the audience can expect to hear his latest single, So Baby Just Listen - which was released to radio this month.

In fact, the Langley artist has been tweeting about how he's getting amped up for the PNE show.

But that's only the beginning. Brownlee will be showcasing his talents on the Vancouver stage at 8 p.m. Thursday, then flying off the next morning to Ontario to perform at the Paris Fair.

Brownlee will be a special guest with country star Deric Ruttan at the agricultural fair stage on Friday night, before heading off to the Shawville Fair in Quebec for a Saturday night show along side Canadian country legend Terri Clark.

Then, Brownlee's wrapping up his Labour Day singing spree with a headlining appearance back in Ontario, at Port Perry's fair Sunday.

He's also pretty psyched to be heading out on the road this fall with Dallas Smith in The Boys of Fall tour.

But one of the highlights for this Willoughby resident was being nominated for male artist of the year in the 2012 Canadian Country Music Award, and asked to perform for the televised Sept. 9 awards show.

rhooper@langleyadvance.com