Manitoba Folks Acts Get Recognized

For the second year in a row, three Manitoba acts have been nominated for five trophies at the Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMA). The fourth annual awards will be handed on November 23, 2008 at the Arts & Culture Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

The year's nominees include singer/songwriter Lindsay Jane, who picked up nods for English Songwriter of the Year and Solo Artist of the Year for her latest album, Lovers Find Reasons. Vocal group Chic Gamine is up for New/Emerging Artist of the Year and Vocal Group of the Year for its self-titled debut release. Compadres, which includes Manitoba singer/songwriter  James Keelaghan, has a nod for World Group of the Year for Buddy Where You Been?.

In the past three years, some of Manitoba’s top folk and roots acts have been nominated for the CFMAs. Last year, The Duhks and their album Migrations picked up a trophy for Best Album - Contemporary.

The CFMAs were created to celebrate the breadth and depth of Canadian folk music. Unlike the Junos, WCMAs and Canadian Country Music Awards, however, the CFMAs are not organized by a non-profit board-run association but rather a committee made up mostly of musicians.

Meanwhile, roots act Jacob and Lily landed the general round finalist spot the Folk Alliance-presented 2008 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest. The duo was also selected to perform on the October 12 broadcast of West Virginia's popular Mountain Stage show.

2008 CANADIAN FOLK MUSIC AWARDS – MANITOBA NOMINEES

ENGLISH SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Lindsay Jane - Lovers Find Reasons

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Chic Gamine - Chic Gamine 

SOLO ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lindsay Jane - Lovers Find Reasons

NEW / EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Chic Gamine - Chic Gamine

WORLD GROUP OF THE YEAR
Compadre - Buddy Where You Been?