Hillbilly Burlesque just picked up a 2012 Indie Music Channel Award for Best Blues Recording for its latest recording, Crazy Life. The awards were handed out at the legendary House of blues in Los Angeles on April 29. The alt.country blues outfit also landed four other nominations, including nods for Best Female Blues Artist for front woman Angel Calnek, Best Song for the title track, Best Blues Band, and Recording of the Year.
Two Manitoba singer/songwriters have taken top prizes in this year's International Songwriting Competition.
Ruth Moody's "Storm Comin'", off The Wailin' Jennys JUNO Award-nominated album Bright Morning Stars, took the top spot in the Gospel/Christian Music category. Her song "Cold Outside", off her JUNO-nominated solo release, The Garden, landed a semi-final spot in the Folk/Singer-songwriter category. Bright Morning Stars was also just names Acoustic Ensemble Album of the Year by the Indie Acoustic Project.
Scott Nolan took third prize in the Americana category for his song, "You Rock, We Roll" off his 2011 release on Transistor 66 Record Co., Montgomery Eldorado.
Two acclaimed Manitoba trios will be coming back from Ottawa with a little extra something after this weekend's 2012 JUNO Awards. KEN mode and The Wailin' Jennys picked up honours during the invite-only JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards on March 31.
Noisecore outfit KEN mode won their first JUNO in the new Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year category for Venerable. The album, the band's fourth, topped critics’ best-of lists and got high praise from American tastemaker music site Stereogum. The trio logged a lot of hours on the road, including a European tour, landed coveted showcase spots at SXSW earlier this month, got a nod from The Indies, and have a post-win peformance at Cafe Dekcuf for JUNOFest. Winnipeg audiences can catch the band live on May 17 at The Lo Pub.
Roots act The Wailin' Jennys picked up their second JUNO for Bright Morning Stars, their fourth album. They had a hometown win at the 2005 JUNO Awards for their debut, 40 Days, and landed a nod for their 2006 release, Firecracker. The critically-acclaimed Stars has spent 57 weeks on Billboard's Bluegrass Albums chart, including time in the #1 spot, and won the band a Western Canadian Music Award last fall. The trio brought their signature three-part harmonies to the JUNO Gala, performing their cover of Dolly Parton's "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" during the in memoriam tribute to music industry professionals and artists who have passed away.
There will be lots of Manitoba talent on stage as Canada's music industry converges on the nation's capital for this year's JUNO festivities. The annual celebration, taking place in Ottawa, encompasses several events, including a music festival, hockey game, autograph signings, songwriters circle, and the awards themselves.
JUNOFest runs March 30-April 1 in various Ottawa venues, showcasing top Canadian talent and several of this year's award nominees. Aboriginal rock band Bruthers of Different Muthers (BODM) and noisecore outfit KEN Mode, both nominated for JUNOs this year, will hit Café Dekcuf on March 30 and 31, respectively. Balanced Records' Kasm and Seed Organization will be at The Mercury Lounge on March 31 with fellow label act Flying Down Thunder and Rise Ashen, who are nominated this year.
Maybe we don't know what's in everyone's luggage, but at least one local band is coming back from Toronto's Canadian Music Week with some hardware. Portage la Prairie country trio Doc Walker was named Favourite Country Artist/Group of the Year at the Independent Music Awards ("The Indies") on the strength of its latest acclaimed recording, the JUNO Award-nominated 16 & 1. The band -- which includes Chris Thorsteinson, Murray Pulver, and Dave Wasyliw -- picked up the award when they were handed out at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel on March 24.
Several Manitoba singer/songwriters are finalists and semi-finalists in this year's prestigious International Songwriting Competition (ISC).
Ruth Moody's "Storm Comin'", which can be heard on The Wailin' Jennys JUNO Award-nominated album Bright Morning Stars, is a finalist in the Gospel/Christian Music category. Her song "Cold Outside", off her JUNO-nominated solo release, The Garden, landed a semi-final spot in the Folk/Singer-Songwriter category.
Jaylene Johnson's "When It All Goes South," co-written with Halifax-based sister act The Keats, is a finalist in the country category. Johnson was an ISC finalist last year, and also had a couple of co-writes in the semi-finals.
Also a finalist last year, Scott Nolan is up for the Americana category, this time for his song, "You Rock, We Roll" off his 2011 release on Transistor 66 Record Co., Montgomery Eldorado.
Manitoba is also well-represented in the list of semi-finalists, which includes Abstract Artform, Avery Eramchuck, Desiree Dorion, Arun Chaturvedi, The Details, Ken Pinchin, Keri Latimer, Carjackmatt, Owen Dacombe Street, Chris Freeman, and Tom Racine.
Nominations for the Independent Music Awards, better known as The Indies, are out and there are some familiar Manitoba names on the list. KEN Mode, Doc Walker, and Imaginary Cities got nods from the 12th annual awards, which will be handed out at Toronto's Fairmont Royal York Hotel on March 24. KEN Mode, which got a 2012 JUNO Award nod for its critically-acclaimed album Venerable, is up for Metal Artist/Group or Duo of the Year. Fellow JUNO-nominee Doc Walker is nominated for Country Artist/Group or Duo of the Year. Indie soup/pop act Imaginary Cities, which is prepping for its latest European tour next month, is competing for Emerging Artist of the Year.
Manitoba artists will have plenty of chances to pick up hardware when the 2012 JUNO Awards are handed out in Ottawa next month. The nominees for the 41st annual awards were announced by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) in Toronto early on February 7, streamed live on CTV’s website.
This year’s Manitoba nominees include JUNO alums, first time nominees, and some familiar expats, and span the genres from roots to metal to Aboriginal music.
Roots trio The Wailin' Jennys picked up their third JUNO nomination for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year for Bright Morning Stars (True North/Universal); they won the category in 2005 for their debut, 40 Days. They won a Western Canadian Music Award for Roots Duo/Group Recording of the Year and their producers, David Travers-Smith and Mark Howard, picked up the Canadian Folk Music Award for Producer of the Year for their work on Bright Morning Stars. The Toronto-based Travers-Smith also landed a Juno nod for Recording Engineer of the Year for his work on Bright Morning Stars song, “All the Stars”.
Portage la Prairie’s country rock favourites Doc Walker got a nod for Country Album of the Year for 16 & 1, their latest release on Open Road/Universal. The hard-touring trio picked up four Canadian Country Music Award nominations in September. This is Doc Walker’s sixth JUNO nomination; they won in 2009 for their album, Beautiful Life.
Noisecore outfit KEN Mode landed a nod in the new Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year category for Venerable (Profound Lore/Sonic Unyon/F>A>B). The band, which is currently on tour in Europe, was at the top of critics’ best-of lists and got attention from the likes of American tastemaker music site, Stereogum.
Rock act Bruthers of Different Muthers, or BODM, picked up a nod for Aboriginal Album of the Year for Speakers of Tomorrow. The nomination follows a win at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards in November for Best Rock CD. Also up for an award in the Aboriginal category is One Nation, by Ottawa’s Rise Ashen and Flying Down Thunder, which was released Winnipeg label Balanced Records.
Portage la Prairie's Gomie, aka Doc Walker's Dave Wasyliw, got a nod from the Canadian Radio Music Awards this week. His song "Everything Will Be Alright" off his solo debut, You Are Here, is up for honours in the country category for the 15th edition of awards show, which celebrate first-time top charting Canadian artists.
Nominees are comprised of artists who have hit the Canadian charts for the first time and who have achieved top airplay in different formats based on radio "spins", as recorded by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems (BDS) in 2011. Votes cast by program directors, music directors, and on-air personalities determine the winners.
Vince Fontaine added to his already impressive list of accolades on December 4, taking home a Canadian Folk Music Award. The Eagle & Hawk front man was named Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year for his solo debut, Songs for Turtle Island, at the gala event at Toronto’s Isabel Bader Theatre. The CFMAs recognize Canada’s outstanding writers, producers and performers of folk music, and the artists who are expanding the genre in innovative and exciting ways.
Fontaine’s instrumental recording won honours at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards and Native American Music Awards earlier this year. Songs for Turtle Island has garnered six nominations so far, including nods from the Western Canadian Music Awards and Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. Fellow nominee Steve Bell was on hand at the gala to accept on Fontaine’s behalf.
Manitoba artists won 13 awards at the 2011 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards in Winnipeg, including four at the nationally-televised gala at the MTS Centre on November 4. Local acts also picked up eight awards at an industry event on November 3.
Winnipeg’s Most was the big winner at the sixth annual APCMAs, sweeping all of their categories and doubling their 2010 APCMA results with a total of six awards. The rap outfit won for Best Group or Duo, Best Rap/Hip Hop CD, Best Producer/Engineer, Best Album Cover Design, and Best Music Video, and Single of the Year.
Newcomer Ali Fontaine was a double winner at her first APCMA, picking up Best New Artist and Best Country CD for her self-titled debut. She was also honoured with the award for Most Outstanding Manitoban at the Manito Ahbee kickoff event on November 2.
Manitoba artists picked up eight awards at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards’ first night, aka the Ohshkii Awards Night. Hardware was handed out on November 3 in the Grand Ballroom at For Garry Place, hosted by Lisa Meeches and Ray St. Germain. Winnipeg’s Most dominated the night, taking four awards including Best Group or Duo, Best Producer/Engineer, Best Album Cover Design, and Best Music Video for “All That I Know.” Eagle & Hawk front man Vince Fontaine continued his winning streak for his solo effort, Songs for Turtle Island, which won for Best Instrumental CD. Other winners from the first night of awards included Little Hawk for Best Folk/Acoustic CD, Bruthers of Different Muthers for Best Rock CD, and Mark Morrisseau for Best Fiddle CD.
Aboriginal artists from across the continent are descending on Winnipeg for the first week of November. The Manito Ahbee Festival, Aboriginal Music Week (AMW), and Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards (APCMA) boast an impressive lineup of concerts, workshops, and activities November 1-6. The third annual AMW kicks off on November 1 with a Métis celebration, "Take the Fort", featuring fiddle legends John Arcand and local Darren Lavallee, The Métis Club Traditional Dancers, and square dancing fan favourites Slick & Lil' J. The show also features a re-enactment of the Red River Resistance by the Puppet Folk on video. Click here to watch a preview. The AMW events continue at the Pyramid, West End Cultural Centre, and Norwood, including performanced by locals Bruthers of Different Muthers, Winnipeg's Most, Kyla Cederwall, Ali Fontaine, Young Kidd, Tracy Bone, JC Campbell, Cassidy Mann, and The Mosquitoz.
The Manitoba music industry made its mark in Whitehorse this weekend, dominating the ninth annual Western Canadian Music Awards. Local artists and industry won an impressive 16 awards, including eight of nine industry awards. The awards were handed out at a gala event at the Yukon Arts Centre on October 23, hosted by CBC Radio 3’s Grant Lawrence, and an industry awards brunch on October 22 at the Westmark Hotel.
Three Manitoba recording artists have picked up nominations for the 2011 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards (CAMA). The 13th annual awards are held in conjunction with the Canadian Aboriginal Festival, which runs November 17-20, 2011 in Toronto. The hardware will be handed out at a gala event on November 18 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Manitoba’s internationally-acclaimed roots community continues to shine this year, landing a dozen Canadian Folk Music Award nominations. The nominations were announced on October 19 in Toronto and awards will be handed out at a gala event on December 4 at Toronto’s Isabel Bader Theatre. This is Manitoba’s strongest showing at the CFMAs since their inception in 2005.
The Canadian music industry is heading north this weekend for BreakOut West's first visit to the Yukon. Whitehorse is playing host to the annual event, which features two awards shows, a conference, and music festival.
Over 50 of Western Canada's finest bands and artists will perform at various Whitehorse venues October 21-22, including over a dozen Manitoba acts. Making the trip this year are Del Barber, Diana McIntosh, Don Amero, Jaylene Johnson, KIN, Les Surveillantes, Oh My Darling, Ridley Bent, Romi Mayes, Ruth Moody, half MB half BC act Fish & Bird, The Liptonians, and Trio Bembe.
Almost all of the Manitoba acts are also nominees for the 2011 Western Canadian Music Awards, which will be handed out on October 23 at the Yukon Arts Centre at agala hosted by CBC Radio 3's Grant Lawrence. Manitoba is a force to be reckoned with at this year’s awards, landing an impressive 43 nominations.
Three Aboriginal recording acts from Manitoba landed awards at this year’s Native American Music Awards (NAMA). The NAMAs were handed out in Niagara Falls, New York on October 7, 2011.
Singer/songwriter Don Amero picked up hardware for Best Folk Recording for his latest, The Long Way Home. He also had a nod for Debut Artist of the Year. The album has already garnered several nominations this year, including four Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards and a Western Canadian Music Award.
Musician/composer/producer, Vince Fontaine, who is perhaps best known for his award-winning rock outfit Eagle & Hawk, won for Best Instrumental Recording for his album Songs for Turtle Island. He was also nominated for Best Producer for his work on the album.
Opera singer Rhonda Head won for Best World Music Recording for her debut, Kayas. Head also earned a nomination at the Indian Summer Music Award earlier this year.
Four Aboriginal recording acts from Manitoba landed seven nominations at this year’s Native American Music Awards (NAMA). The NAMAs will be handed out in Niagara Falls, New York on October 7, 2011.
Country songstress Desiree Dorion picked up two nods for her debut recording, Soul Back Jack, including Best Country Recording and Best Female Artist. Dorion picked up a North American Indigenous Image Award for Outstanding Country Album earlier this year, as well as a nod from the Indian Summer Music Awards.
Singer/songwriter Don Amero also landed two nominations for his latest, The Long Way Home, including Best Folk Recording and Debut Artist of the Year. The album has already garnered several nominations this year, including four Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards and a Western Canadian Music Awards.
Musician/composer/producer, Vince Fontaine, who is perhaps best known for his award-winning rock outfit Eagle & Hawk, received two nominations for his recording Songs for Turtle Island, including Best Instrumental Recording and Best Producer.
Opera singer Rhonda Head is up for Best World Music Recording for her debut, Kayas. Head is also up for an Indian Summer Music Award in the Spiritual category.
The Yukon is going to get a whole lot busier this fall. BreakOut West is heading north and taking over Whitehorse in October, with two awards shows, a conference, and music festival.
Over 50 of Western Canada's finest bands and artists will perform at various Whitehorse venues October 21-22, including a dozen Manitoba acts. Making the trip this year are Del Barber, Diana McIntosh, Don Amero, Jaylene Johnson, KIN, Les Surveillantes, Oh My Darling, Ridley Bent, Romi Mayes, Ruth Moody, The Liptonians, and Trio Bembe.
Almost all of the Manitoba acts are also nominees for the 2011 Western Canadian Music Awards, which will be handed out on October 23 at the Yukon Arts Centre. The gala will be hosted by CBC Radio 3's Grant Lawrence.
Manitoba artists and local productions have netted 24 nominations for the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards this year. The winners will be announced at one of two award shows in downtown Winnipeg on November 3 and 4, 2011.
Fans cast votes on the APCMA website to determine who wins in each category, but industry stakeholders were involved in the selection of nominees in the non-genre or “industry” categories during the first round of online voting this year.
Winnipeg’s Most leads the pack with six nominations, while Don Amero is close behind with four nods. Newcomer Ali Fontaine has three chances to win this year, and Winnipeg rockers Bruthers of Different Muthers landed two nominations. Twelve other Manitoba acts and one local radio program have single nominations for their work.
The Best Music Video category is stacked with Manitoba songs this year. Billy Joe Green’s Honey Girl, Don Amero’s Right Where I Wanna Be, J.C. Campbell’s The Floor, and All That I Know by Winnipeg’s Most are all in the running, making four of the five nominations from the keystone province.
Reaction to the release of the Polaris Prize short list is slowly appearing on music blogs and news sites. So far, the list doesn't seem to be polarizing opinion, although there are some consistent laments for artists who didn't make the cut.
The list was released yesterday morning. Winnipeg's The Weakerthans (Reunion Tour) join other indie rockers Plants and Animals (Parc Avenue) and Stars (In Our Bedroom After the War), Vancouver’s Black Mountain (In the Future) and Charlottetown’s Two Hours Traffic (Little Jabs).
Contributing the diversity of sounds on the list are the somewhat more experimental Holy F*ck (LP), and Caribou (Andorra), hip-hop artist Shad (The Old Prince), and singer-songwriters Kathleen Edwards (Asking for Flowers) and Basia Bulat (Oh, My Darling) round it out.
Bumpershine released their own anticipatory short list last week that was 50% accurate but also included a couple of records that I've spent a lot of time listening to: The Acorn (Glory Hope Mountain) and The New Pornographers (Challengers). Also oft-missed are Sunset Rubdown (Random Spirit Lover), Wintersleep (Welcome to the Night Sky) and The Constantines (Shine A Light).
And of course,...