Newfoundland and Labrador held their MusicNL 2017 Awards this weekend. The 25th Anniversary Show at the St. John’s Convention Centre was hosted by none other than legendary ambassador for the Rock and staple for east-coast kitchen parties Alan Doyle. The night also featured performances from Amelia Curran, Cordeen, Denis Parker, Fortunate Ones, Janet Cull, JYAY, Shanneyganock, Steve Maloney, The Kubasonics, The Novaks and The Once.
The biggest winner of the year was Janet Cull who, out of her five nominations, won the FACTOR Album of the Year award for her album Real Tough Love, along with the Molson Coors Pop/Rock Artist of the Year award and The Travel Bug & Posie Row Female Artist of the Year award.
Steve Malone was also nominated for five awards. He won the 2017 Ron Hynes SOCAN Songwriter of the Year and Alternative Artist of the Year for his album The Memory Game, and his album Room With A View won him the Country Artist of the Year award.
Also taking home three awards were The Kubasonics, with VOCM Group of the Year, Folk/Roots Artist of the Year and the democratically-awarded Overcast Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year.
2017 was the first year that MusicNL included an award for Rap/Hip Hop Artist of the Year. Rapper JYAY has the particular distinction of being the first winner.
Here’s the full list of MusicNL 2017 Award winners:
FACTOR Album of the Year
Janet Cull – Real Tough Love
Alternative Artist of the Year
Steve Maloney
O’Reilly’s Irish Newfoundland Pub Celtic/Traditional Artist of the Year
Rum Ragged
Country Artist of the Year
Steve Maloney
The Overcast Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year
The Kubasonics
Posie Row & The Travel Bug Female Artist of the Year
Janet Cull
Folk/Roots Artist of the Year
The Kubasonics
VOCM Group of the Year
The Kubasonics
Instrumental Artist of the Year
Fretboard Journey
DC Design House Male Artist of the Year
Mick Davis
Molson Coors Pop/Rock Artist of the Year
Janet Cull
Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year
JYAY
Rising Star of the Year
Clare Follett/Town House
Ron Hynes SOCAN Songwriter of the Year
Steve Maloney
Ticketpro Electronic Artist of the Year
Happy Beats
The Nickel Music Video of the Year
Kellie Loder – “Boxes” Dir: Tom Cochrane
Classic Hits Coast 101.1 FM Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year
Earle & Coffin
The Sign Shop Graphic Artist of the Year
Krista Power
Industry Professional of the Year
Andrew Boyd
Media Person of the Year
Paul Brace
Long & McQuade Music Educator of the Year
Melanie O’Brien
Outstanding Company of the Year
Rock Eden
Yahama Side Musician of the Year
Darren “Boobie” Browne
Volunteer of the Year
Don-E Coady