Musicians and industry professionals (and fans of both) flocked to Truro last week for the annual Nova Scotia Music Week. The four day long event featured musical showcases, convention workshops, and of course the forty-eight Music Nova Scotia Awards being handed out.
This year saw some very big winners: including Halifax singer-songwriter Ria Mae who taking home five awards (Recording of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Digital Artist of the Year, SOCAN Songwriter of the Year, and Pop Recording of the Year). Classified won three (Producer of the Year, Hip Hop Recording of the Year, and SOCAN Songwriter of the Year), and Ben Caplan went home with two awards (Entertainer of the Year, and Folk Recording of the Year). Trevor Murphy also managed to take home an impressive number of awards by playing both sides of the fence: Alternative Recording of the Year (Quiet Parade), and repeating wins for both Publicist Of The Year (Pigeon Row), and Program of the Year (Halifax Is Burning).
Check out the complete list of winners:
Music Awards:
Entertainer of the Year: Ben Caplan
Solo Recording of the Year: Erin Costelo – “Down Below, The Status Quo”
Group Recording of the Year: The Town Heroes – “Please, Everyone”
Music Video of the Year: Ria Mae – “Gold” – Director: Alon Isocianu
New Artist Recording of the Year: Shannon Quinn – “If All The Young Ladies”
Recording of the Year: Ria Mae – “Ria Mae”
SOCAN Songwriter of the Year: Ria Mae – “Gold” – Ria Mae, Luke Boyd, John Fortis, Emre Ramazanoglu
Aboriginal Artist of the Year: City Natives
Acadian/Francophone Artist of the Year: Maxim Cormier
African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year: Reeny Smith
Alternative Recording of the Year: Quiet Parade – “Quiet Parade”
Americana/Bluegrass Recording of the Year: Old Man Luedecke – “Domestic Eccentric”
Blues Recording of the Year: Kim Dunn – “Inspiration”
Classical Recording of the Year: Halifax Camerata Singers – “A Time For All Things”
Country Recording of the Year: Tj King – “Feels Right”
Digital Artist of the Year: Ria Mae
DJ of the Year: DJ IV
Electronic Artist of the Year: Neon Dreams
Folk Recording of the Year: Ben Caplan – “Birds With Broken Wings”
Hip Hop Recording of the Year: Classified – “Greatful”
Inspirational Recording of the Year: Keonté Beals – “Keonté Beals”
Jazz Recording of the Year: Donald MacLennan – “Belleville”
Loud Recording of the Year: Black Moor – “Brave To The Grave”
Musician of the Year: Keith Mullins
Pop Recording of the Year: Ria Mae – “Ria Mae”
Rock Recording of the Year: Adam Baldwin – “No Telling When (Precisely Nineteen Eighty-Five)”
Traditional/Roots Recording of the Year: Shannon Quinn – “If All The Young Ladies”
Industry Awards:
Booking Agent of the Year: Jason MacIsaac
Community Presenter of the Year: The Pavilion
Company of the Year: Sonic Entertainment Group
Corporate Sponsor of the Year: Casino Nova Scotia
Educator of the Year: Craig Mercer
Event of the Year: Halifax jazz Festival
Industry Professional of the Year: Stephanie Purcell
Live Technician of the Year: Stephen “Snickers” Smith
Manager of the Year: Melanie Stone
Media Professional of the Year: Stephen Cooke
Producer of the Year: Classified (Luke Boyd)
Production Company of the Year: groundSOUND
Promoter of the Year: Sonic Entertainment Group
Publicist of the Year: Trevor Murphy
Radio Program of the Year: Halifax Is Burning (CKDU-FM)
Radio Station of the Year: CKDU-FM
Recording Studio of the Year: The Sonic Temple
Studio Engineer of the Year: Scott Ferguson
Venue of the Year: The Carleton Music Bar & Grill
Visual Artist of the Year: Abracazebra Productions (Megan Green)
Volunteer of the Year: Sarah Atkinson