Manitoba artists could dominate at WCMAs

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This article was published 20/09/2009 (6200 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Local musicians have home province advantage at this year’s Western Canadian Music Awards.

A total of 22 different artists are up for awards in 14 different categories at the seventh annual awards show, which takes place tonight at the Manitoba Centennial Auditorium in Brandon.

The show will be hosted by musicians Tim Tamashiro (the host of Tonic on CBC Radio 2) and Andrea Menard. Scheduled performers include Romi Mayes, the Sheepdogs, Paramedic, Souls in Rhythm, Record of the Week Club, Allez Ouest, Dan Mangan, Delhi 2 Dublin, Gordie Tentrees, Hey Ocean!, Library Voices, the Twisters, Trio Accord and 2009 Hall of Fame inductee Loreena McKennitt.

The WCMAs are not broadcast on radio or television.

Old-time folkies the Duhks, rock band the Waking Eyes, composer Sid Robinovitch and singer-songwriters Scott Nolan, J.P. Hoe and Romi Mayes lead the Manitoba contingent with two nominations each.

Manitoba artists dominated in the aboriginal, children’s, roots duo/group and songwriter of the year categories, with three artists nominated in the aboriginal and children’s categories, and four artists fighting it out in the roots album and songwriter categories.

The four-day WCMAs kicked off Thursday with the annual Brandon University Rock the Block street party. Other events included a music festival at seven different venues, a conference, a songwriter’s circle and industry awards brunch, where Paquin Entertainment Group founder Gilles Paquin was given the Industry Builder Award and violinist James Ehnes and neo-crooner Michael Bublé were given international achievement awards.

Honoured to be nominated

Here’s a list of the local artists up for awards.

Aboriginal Recording of the Year

Eagle and Hawk, Sirensong; Team Rezofficial, The World (And Everything In It); Billy Joe Green, First Law of the Land: If Broken Return to Maker.

Blues Recording of the Year

Big Dave McLean, Acoustic Blues: Got ‘Em From the Bottom.

Children’s Recording of the Year

Alphabet Soup, You’re It!; LuLu et le Matou, Faites de la Musique!; LuLu and the TomCat, Fossil Rock.

Christian Recording of the Year

Tuesday Bloom, Tuesday Bloom; Steve Bell, Devotion.

Classical Composition of the Year

Sid Robinovitch, Rodas Recordada; T. Patrick Carrabré, A Hammer for Your Thoughts.

Classical Recording of the Year

Alexander Tselyakov, Sonata Album; Sid Robinovitch, Sefarad.

Country Recording of the Year

Doc Walker, Beautiful Life.

Francophone Recording of the Year

Daniel Roa, Le nombirl du monde.

Independent Album of the Year

The Waking Eyes, Holding On To Whatever It Is.

Pop Recording of the Year

J.P. Hoe, The Dear John Letters; Record of the Week Club, Record of the Week Club.

Rap and Hip Hop

Grand Analog, Touch Your Toes.

Rock Recording of the Year

The Waking Eyes, Holding On To Whatever It Is.

Roots Duo/Group Recording of the Year

Chic Gamine, Chic Gamine; The Duhks, Fast Paced World; Scott Nolan, Receiver/Reflector; Oh My Darling, Oh My Darling.

Roots Solo Recording of the Year

Romi Mayes, Achin’ In Yer Bones.

Songwriter of the Year

Romi Mayes, Achin In Yer Bones; The Duhks, Fast Paced World; Scott Nolan, Receiver/Reflector; J.P. Hoe, The Dear John Letters.

Urban Recording of the Year

Ishq Bector, Dakku Daddy.

— Rob Williams