Hometown Acts Pick Up Seven Convenant Awards

Manitoba artists are returning from the Covenant Awards with several new trophies, winning seven out of the 12 categories for which they were nominated. This is the strongest result yet for hometown talent at the awards, which celebrate best in Canadian Christian music. The gala was held on October 27 in Calgary.

Pop/rock act Starfield was one of the big winners at the 28th annual gala with four wins including Album of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for Beauty in the Broken, Song of the Year for “Son of God,” and Group of the Year.

Two-time Grammy Award nominee and recent Western Canadian Music Award-winner Fresh I.E., a.k.a. Rob Wilson, picked up a trophy for Rap/Hip-Hop Song of the Year for his track “World Vision.” Juno-winning newcomer Amanda Falk won for Female Vocalist of the Year while UK transplant Adé picked up Urban/R&B/Soul Song of the Year for “Shake the Dust,” which she co-wrote with Darren Sedor.

Ex-pat Jon Buller also picked up an award for Praise and Worship Song of the Year for “Lord of Every Thing.”

"Once again this year, Manitoba artists are leading the way in this important and wide-ranging market,” says Sam Baardman, Executive Director of the Manitoba Audio Recording Industry Association (MARIA). “We’re extremely proud of all of our homegrown artists, for their talent and dedication, and it’s gratifying to see them honoured in this way. Everyone at MARIA would like to congratulate the nominees and winners."

The Covenant Awards are put on by the Gospel Music Association Canada, which was founded in 1974 to promote the growth and ministry of the Christian music arts in Canada. GMA Canada works to raise the profile and interaction between Christian artists, songwriters, producers and others working in Christian music with media, retailers, distributors and church leadership.

For full results, please visit the GMA Canada website at www.gmacanada.com.