William Prince, Mariachi Ghost lead Manitoba's 36 WCMA nominations

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Manitoba artists received 36 nominations for Western Canadian Music Awards Tuesday.

Leading the way is Peguis First Nation singer-songwriter William Prince, who received three nominations, for Songwriter of the Year, Recording of the year for his 2020 album Reliever and for Roots Artist of the Year, one of four Manitoban artists to be nominated in that category.

Also with three nominations is Winnipeg group the Mariachi Ghost, who earned nods for Global Artist of the Year, and for Visual Media Composer of the Year. Front man Jorge Requena also picked up a nomination for Video Director of the Year.

Winnipeg's Del Barber also earned a nomination for Songwriter of the year as well as Roots Artist of the Year. Winnipeg art-pop band Royal Canoe also received a nomination for recording of the year for its 2019 record, Waver.

Leaf Rapids and the Small Glories are also up for Roots Artist of the Year.

Other Manitoba artists nominated include:

• Big Dave McLean (blues);
• Ariel Posen (BreakOut artist);
• Begonia (BreakOut artist);
• the Small Glories (BreakOut artist);
• Pianimals (children's);
• Manitoba Chamber Orchestra (classical artist/ensemble);
• Margaret Carey (classical artist/ensemble);
• Don Amero (country);
• Beauséjour (francophone);
• Kelly Bado (francophone);
• Casimiro Nhussi (global artist);
• Burnstick (Indigenous);
• Apollo Suns (instrumental);
• Dizzy Mystics (metal and hard music);
• deadman (producer of the year);
• John Paul Peters (producer of the year);
• Sebastian Gaskin (R&B);
• Super Duty Tough Work (rap and hip hop);
• Joey Landreth (rock);
• Mise en Scene (rock);
• Mobina Galore (rock);
• Danielle Savard (spiritual);
• Fresh IE (spiritual);
• Katrina Van Humbeck (spiritual).

The awards are scheduled to be handed out during BreakOut West in Winnipeg from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4, although organizers recognize the COVID-19 pandemic and regulations set to stem the spread of the coronavirus may mean changes to the conference. 

alan.small@freepress.mb.ca   Twitter:@AlanDSmall