Manitoba Artists Land 10 Canadian Folk Music Awards Nominations

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Del Barber and The Bros. Landreth at Americana Music Fest (Photo: Sean McManus)

Six acclaimed Manitoba-based artists have landed 10 Canadian Folk Music Award nods, shining a spotlight on the strength and musical diversity of our province's music community. The nominees -- which include Tanya Tagaq, Del Barber, The Bros. Landreth, Fred Penner, Vince Fontaine and Indian City, and Sweet Alibi -- were announced on September 24. 

This year's Polaris Music Prize winner, Inuit throat singer and composer Tanya Tagaq, has earned two nominations for her heralded, groundbreaking album on Six Shooter Records, Animism. Tagaq, who calls Brandon home, is up for The Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries Award, which celebrates innovation in creating new folk sounds, and Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year. 

Roots singer/songwriter Del Barber leads the Manitoba nominees with three nods for his latest, Prairieography, released on True North Records. Barber, who is fresh off coveted showcase spots at Nashville's Americana Music Fest, is up for English Songwriter of the Year, Contemporary Singer of the Year, and Solo Artist of the Year. Barber also has three nods for the 2014 Western Canadian Music Awards, which will be handed out October 5 in Winnipeg. 

Country blues outfit The Bros. Landreth picked up two nominations for its debut, Let It Lie, including New/Emerging Artist of the Year and Contemporary Album of the Year. The band has been building considerable buzz, with WCMA nods, a label deal with Texas-based Slate Creek Records, and acclaim for its recent Americana Music Fest showcases in Rolling Stone and The Washington Times.

Beloved children's entertainer and singer/songwriter Fred Penner is up for Children's album of the Year for his latest, Where In The World. The legendary Penner, who has influenced countless with his music, will also be inducted in the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame next month at the Western Canadian Music Awards.

Pop/rock act Indian City and front man Vince Fontaine have been nominated for Aboriginal Songwriter of Year for Colors, the band's second release. Indian City won Songwriter of the Year for the title track off the album at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards as well as two Indian Summer Music Awards earlier this month. 

Roots trio Sweet Alibi rounds out the Manitoba nominees with a nod for Vocal Group of the Year award for its sophomore release, We've Got To. This is the second nomination in this category for the band, which is also up for WCMAs next month. 

The hardware will be handed out on November 29 at the 10th annual bilingual gala  at Ottawa's Bronson Centre. 

Founded in 2005, 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. For more information about the CFMAs, please visit folkawards.ca.

CANADIAN FOLK MUSIC AWARDS - MANITOBA NOMINEES

NEW/EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
The Bros. Landreth for Let it Lie 

THE OLIVER SCHROER PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES AWARD
Tanya Tagaq for Animism 

ENGLISH SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Del Barber for Prairieography (Del Barber) 

ABORIGINAL SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Tanya Tagaq for Animism (Tanya Tagaq)
Vince Fontaine for Colors (Indian City) 

CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The Bros. Landreth for Let it Lie 

CONTEMPORARY SINGER OF THE YEAR
Del Barber for Prairieography 

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Sweet Alibi for We've Got To

SOLO ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Del Barber for Prairieography 

CHILDREN'S ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Fred Penner for Where In The World

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