Manitoba Acts Bring Home Five Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards

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Manitoba artists picked up five awards at the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards (APCMA) in Winnipeg, including three at the nationally-televised gala at the MTS Centre on November 2.

With 19 nominations in seven years, Don Amero finally won his first APCMA. After jokingly dubbing himself the “Susan Lucci of the APCMAs” for his multi-year shut-out, the acclaimed singer/songwriter won Aboriginal Male Entertainer of the Year. Amero already has a Canadian Folk Music Award and a Canadian Aboriginal Music Award under his belt.

Supernation, the debut album from Vince Fontaine's new project Indian City, earned Best Pop CD this year. Indian City has landed numerous nominations for Supernation, winning two Indian Summer Music Awards in Milkwaukee and a Western Canadian Music Award in Regina. 

Rock act BODM (Bruthers of Different Muthers) was named Best New Artist, and was also hounoured with the special Most Outstanding Manitoba Award. Earlier this year, the band picked up a 2012 JUNO Award nomination for Aboriginal Recording of the Year for its debut, Speakers of Tomorrow

Another past JUNO nominee, country chanteuse Tracy Bone won Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year for her sophomore recording, Woman of Red.

Indian City and BODM (Bruthers of Different Muthers) were among this year’s gala performers, playing live for an audience of more than 4,000 as well as viewers of the APTN broadcast.

Manitoba artists netted 27 APCMA nominations this year, including strong showings in the country and songwriter categories.

The APCMAs are part of the Manito Ahbee Festival, which runs October 31 to November 4 in Winnipeg. Now in its seventh year, Manito Ahbee features a variety of events including an Indigenous Marketplace and Trade Show, International Competition Pow Wow, and an education conference. Running concurrently, the annual Aboriginal Music Week boasts a dozen concerts in various Winnipeg venues. 

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