Manitoba Artists and Entrepreneurs Set to Shine at Western Canadian Music Awards

Posted on June 5, 2012

Manitoba’s artists and music companies are poised to shine at this year’s Western Canadian Music Awards, landing 33 nominations in 19 categories for the 10th annual celebration of music from the western provinces and territories. Talented acts from Manitoba’s Aboriginal and Francophone communities dominate their respective categories, as do local managers and live music venues. The hardware will be handed out at an industry brunch on September 29 and at a gala event on September 30 in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Manitoba’s Aboriginal music community continues to exhibit its leadership in the industry, landing three out of five nods for Aboriginal Recording of the Year. Nominees include internationally-acclaimed throat singer and recent Brandon transplant Tanya Tagaq, Vince Fontaine’s super group Indian City, and country crooner Jerry Sereda.

A testament to the strength of the renowned Franco-Manitoban scene, three local albums are up for Francophone Recording of the Year, including the sophomore effort from Daniel ROA, the debut from newcomer marijosée, and a unique compilation project from Francophone music association Le 100 Nons, dubbed Thank you, Merci!, featuring the likes of Chic Gamine’s Andrina Turenne and Ariane Jean.

Other artistic award nominees include multi-award-winning trio Doc Walker and upbeat duo Keith & Renée for the Country Recording of the Year, rock poet John K. Samson for Independent Album of the Year, 2012 JUNO Award-winning noisecore trio KEN mode for Rock Recording of the Year, world-touring quartet Oh My Darling for Roots Duo/Group Recording of the Year, singer/songwriter Scott Nolan for Roots Solo Recording of the Year, rapper Bubba B for Children’s Recording of the Year, R&B songstress Flo for Urban Recording of the Year, and guitarist Marco Castillo for World Recording of the Year. B.C.-based Fish & Bird, which includes Manitobans Taylor Ashton and Natalie Bohrn, is also nominated for a roots award. Download Flo's song "Hateless".

When the Industry Awards were handed out last October in Whitehorse, Manitoba nearly swept the industry categories, winning eight out of nine awards. Manitoba has an impressive showing again in this year’s Industry Awards categories, with an unprecedented 17 nominations for local industry professionals and music companies.

Manitoba’s live music scene takes centre stage at the 2012 awards with Live Music Venue of the Year nods for Winnipeg hotspots The Lo Pub, West End Cultural Centre, and The Park Theatre Café.

Also taking three of five spots for homegrown entrepreneurs, this year’s nominees for Manager of the Year include Stephen Carroll of Empirical Artist Services (The Weakerthans, Imaginary Cities), Gilles Paquin of Paquin Entertainment (Del Barber, Bachman & Turner, Buffy Sainte-Marie), and Jack Shapira of Contact Artist Management (Jerry Sereda, Jason Kirkness).

Other industry nominees from Manitoba include Paquin Entertainment and The Howard Pitch Entertainment Company for Agency of the Year, Cameron Loeppky and Carlin Lemon for Engineer of the Year, Winnipeg Folk Festival’s Chris Frayer and The Park Theatre Café’s Erick Casselman for Talent Buyer of the Year, Head In The Sand for Independent Record Label of the Year, Daniel ROA and Norman Dugas jointly for Producer of the Year, Terry Corrigan for Album Design of the Year for his work on Greg MacPherson’s Disintegration Blues, and Video of the Year nominees Funk Factory Films for James Struthers’ "You, Me and Optimus Prime" and Absurd Machine for Daniel ROA’s "Alphabete".

The awards gala is the pinnacle event of BreakOut West -- held September 27-30, 2012. The event features a conference and three-day music festival with 50 showcasing acts in addition to the two awards shows. 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.

2012 WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC AWARDS - MANITOBA NOMINEES

Artistic Nominees

ABORIGINAL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Tanya Tagaq - Anuraaqtuq
Vince Fontaine's Indian City - Supernation
Jerry Sereda - Turn The Country On

CHILDREN’S RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Bubba B - Wish My Teacher Was Bubba B

COUNTRY RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Doc Walker - 16&1
Keith and Renée - Best Day

FRANCOPHONE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Daniel ROA - Hyperbole
marijosée - Rebondir
Thank-you, merci! - Thank-you, merci - Un hommage à la chanson franco-manitobaine

INDEPENDENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR
John K. Samson - Provincial

ROCK RECORDING OF THE YEAR
KEN mode - Venerable

ROOTS DUO/GROUP RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Fish & Bird - Every Whisper Is A Shout Across The Void
Oh My Darling - Sweet Nostalgia

ROOTS SOLO RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Scott Nolan - Montgomery Eldorado

URBAN RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Flo - Pieces Of Me

WORLD RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Marco Castillo - Trip To Brazil

Industry Nominees

ALBUM DESIGN OF THE YEAR
Terry Corrigan - Greg Macpherson, Disintegration Blues

AGENCY OF THE YEAR
Paquin Entertainment
The Howard Pitch Entertainment Company, Inc.

ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Carlin "Hiebert" Lemon
Cameron Loeppky

INDEPENDENT RECORD LABEL OF THE YEAR
Head In The Sand

LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR
The Lo Pub
West End Cultural Centre
The Park Theatre Cafe