For many, it was like watching the fox in the henhouse.

There he was, Corb Lund, posterboy for everything today's country music isn't, walking away with a pair of awards at this year's Canadian Country Music Awards in Calgary.

Sure, the categories he won in weren't the boutique awards -- best roots artist and independent group -- but just that he was acknowledged alongside new country performers such as Terri Clark, George Canyon and Paul Brandt was something of a victory for Lund and his many boosters.

"It's kinda weird -- it's not really our scene but I'll take it," says the Alberta-born Lund from the road.

"We're definitely the black sheep in that world. But the way I look at it, the people I grew up with, my family and stuff, they don't have time to seek out indie records and indie music and indie publications, so I think it's good that we can actually reach people like that who may not have another way of getting something a little different than what's on radio."

The irony of it all is that partly because of those wins, Lund now finds himself on mainstream country music radio in Canada.

The Truck Got Stuck, the first single from his recently released album Hair In My Eyes Like A Highland Steer, is getting substantial play around Canada, meaning the fox, again, has found his music getting spins alongside the slick, Nashville clucking of those with whom he feels he has very little in common.

What makes the one-time member of indie punk legends The Smalls so appealing to many is his throwback approach to country music, including the depiction of a decidedly rural way of life such as the rodeo, farming, card-playing, drinking, etc.

"When you get right down to it, there isn't a whole lot of country music on the radio these days that actually has any rural content left in it," he says.

And Lund knows of what he writes. Despite calling Edmonton home for the past several years, he grew up in rural Alberta, and the province and its people figure prominently in much of the material on Highland Steer.

"There are already an awful lot of songs about Texas," he says by way of explanation. And it's harder to put Calgary in a song and make it work, but I think it's worth the effort because I'm pretty happy being an Albertan and pretty happy what we're all about."

That's evident from the name of his backup band, The Hurtin' Albertans, to even his cellphone message, which states simply: "Corb Lund, Alberta, Canada -- please leave a message."

At times on the new album, Lund admits he's walking a line between beating people over the head with his love of the province and his rural roots and simply wanting to write about what he knows and loves.

And he points to the success he's had outside of Alberta -- shows during his tour out east have been incredibly well attended -- to show that he's walking that line effectively.

"I figured it would work back home, but I wasn't sure about (out east) because it's pretty specific to the area. But it seems to be transcending it.

"I guess what I'd compare it to is when Springsteen writes about New Jersey slums in Born to Run or whatever I still kind of got it even though I've never been there ..."

Corb plays Saturday at MacEwan Hall.