Saint John wasted no time getting into the East Coast Music Awards. The culmination of several months of buzz came to a forefront on Wednesday with bands taking the stage on the Boardwalk, Market Square being dominated by RADIO ECMA, and Sanctuary Theatre playing host to Forward Music Groups 10th anniversary show. The main event got underway tonight though with the ECMA Award Show and Gala.
During a national broadcast from Saint John’s Harbour Station that featured none other than comedian and adopted New Brunswicker James Mullinger, awards went to Ria Mae, Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire, Classified, and Old Man Luedecke and more. Check out the list below:
Album of the Year
Old Man Luedecke – Domestic Eccentric (Producer: Tim O’Brien)
Bucky Adams Memorial Award
Ced Marty & Dave
Country Recording of the Year
Enregistrement francophone de l’année
Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire – Touche-moi pas là!
Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year
Lennie Gallant
Fans’ Choice Video of the Year
Hillsburn – “Run Down” (Director: Mat Barkley, Badfunmedia)
Group Recording of the Year
Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire – Touche-moi pas là!
Indigenous Artist of the Year
War Horses
Rising Star Recording of the Year
Like A Motorcycle – High Hopes
Rock Recording of the Year
The Motorleague – Holding Patterns
Solo Recording of the Year
Ria Mae – Ria Mae
Song of the Year
Classified – “No Pressure” (Producer: Classified)
“Congratulations to all of tonight’s Awards Show winners and nominees! Thank you to all of the incredible performers and especially to James Mullinger, who hosted what was surely one of the best Awards Shows yet,” says Andy McLean, ECMA Executive Director. “Once again, the Awards Show proved to be an excellent way to kick off the ECMAs. We’ve got so many great shows and events coming up this week in Saint John. We can’t wait to see all of you there!”
The night was also filled with performances amidst the award show from David Myles, Classified, REPARTEE, Jason Benoit, Ria Mae, Còig, Caroline Savoie, The Motorleague, Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire, Reeny Smith, Lisa LeBlanc, Paper Lions, Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys, Like A Motorcycle, and Tomato/Tomato.
The remaining 2017 East Coast Music Awards, including the Industry Awards, will be handed out over the course of the weekend as the festival continues in Saint John, NB.