Manitoba Artists and Industry Bring Home Seven Western Canadian Music Awards

Manitoba artists and industry picked up seven Western Canadian Music Awards at this year’s festivities over the weekend. The 2010 WCMAs, which were part of BreakOut West’s October 20-24 run in Kelowna, culminated in the gala awards show at the Kelowna Community Theatre on October 24. Five Manitoba artists and two industry professionals brought home hardware at the eighth annual celebration of music from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon.

Country rock trio Doc Walker continued its winning streak, picking up its second Country Recording of the Year award in a row, this year for its album, Go. The band was also recently named Group of the Year for the fourth—and third consecutive—time by the Canadian Country Music Awards.

Rap ‘n’ roll outfit Grand Analog won for Rap/Hip Hop Recording of the Year for the second year in a row with its latest, Metropolis is Burning.
 

Singer/songwriter Geneviève Toupin landed Francophone Recording of the Year for her self-titled debut.

Vocalist and frequent Grand Analog collaborator Maiko Watson took home Urban Recording of the Year for her solo effort, Sweet Vibration.

Juno-winning artist Amanda Falk won Contemporary Christian/Gospel Recording of the Year for her third album, In Between the Now & Then.

Continuing the tradition of pairing two acts together for rare performances at the gala, the WCMAs featured Doc Walker on stage with Albertan Shane Yellowbird, Grand Analog with BC's You Say Party!, and Geneviève Toupin with the Yukon's Annie Lou.

At the Industry Awards Brunch on October 23, Paquin Entertainment Group was named Agency of the Year for the seventh year in a row. Graphic designer Ron Sawchuk was honoured with the award for Best Album Design of the Year for his work on The Wailin’ Jennys’ Live at the Mauch Chunk Opera House.

There was also plenty of homegrown talent to hear and see at this year’s BreakOut West Festival, which packed Kelowna venues over three nights leading up to the gala. Eight local acts, including several of this year’s nominees, showcased for top industry and audiences alike, including Maiko Watson, Royal Canoe, Grand Analog, Quinzy, Del Barber, Eagle & Hawk, The Lytics, and Geneviève Toupin. Don Amero was featured in the popular SOCAN Songs & Stories event. Many also participated in the two-day industry conference, which featured workshops and panels with heavy hitters like  MusicGlue’s Mark Meharry, Firestarter Music’s Andrea Von Foerster, Ole’s Elizabeth Spear, and Novasonik’s Ben Garcia.  

BreakOut West presents an incredible opportunity for emerging and established artists to be a part of the western Canadian music community. Participating artists and other music professionals have the chance to meet key industry stakeholders creating the opportunity for a new wave of exciting industry developments from record deals to international tours.

The Breakout West 2011 and the Western Canadian Music Awards will be held in Whitehorse, Yukon from Octover 20-23, 2011.

2010 Western Canadian Music Awards – manitoba WINNERS

Artistic Awards

CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Amanda Falk – In Between the Now & Then 

COUNTRY RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Doc Walker – Go

ALBUM FRANCOPHONE DE L’ANNÉE FRANCOPHONE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Geneviève Toupin – Geneviève Toupin

RAP/HIP HOP RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Grand Analog – Metropolis Is Burning

URBAN RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Maiko Watson – Sweet Vibration

Industry

AGENCY OF THE YEAR
Paquin Entertainment Group

BEST ALBUM DESIGN OF THE YEAR
Ron Sawchuk - Live at the Mauch Chunk Opera House (The Wailin' Jennys)

For a complete list of 2010 WCMA winners, please visit www.breakoutwest.ca.