Music PEI is seeing a surge in productivity this year, with twice as many submissions being made for their annual awards. The music organization will be coming together in late January, 2019, for their Credit Union Music PEI Week, including the Awards Party on January 27th, to celebrate their best and brightest.
Music PEI describe 2018 as having been a “prolific” year for the island’s musicians. With all those submissions available, perhaps it’s only be expected that they’re spreading the love around. With a full dance card, they’re celebrating artists in 31 award categories, up from last year’s 26.
This year has some clear forerunners, with Rachel Beck leading the way with 8 nominations for her debut self-titled album.Beck had an especially busy year, from topping the CBC charts, to having her song “Reckless Heart” featured on CBC’s Anne with an E. She received nominations in Album of the Year, Entertainer, New Artist, Pop, Songwriter, Solo, Song and Video of the Year.
Vishtèn, Jenni & The Hummingbird, and Meaghan Blanchard fall close behind with 6 nominations each. Meaghan Blanchard and her album The Great Escape have been nominated in the categories of Album, Roots Contemporary, Songwriter, Solo, Song and Video of the Year, while Vishtèn and their album Horizons are up for Album of the Year, Entertainer, Francophone Artist, Group Recording, Roots Traditional Recording and Touring Artist. Jenni & The Hummingbird and her album Your Masterpiece is up for Album, New Artist, Pop. Solo, Song and Video of the Year.
Lennie Gallant and Dylan Menzie both received 4 nominations each.
Achievement in Classical or Jazz Music Award
Always on Stage
Atlantic String Machine
Grahame Rhodes
Island Jazz
PEI Symphony Orchestra
Credit Union Album of the Year
Andrew Waite – Tremors
Dylan Menzie – As The Clock Rewinds
Jenni & The Hummingbird – Your Masterpiece
Lennie Gallant – Time Travel
Meaghan Blanchard – The Great Escape
Rachel Beck – Rachel Beck
Vishtèn – Horizons
Country Recording of the Year
Emerald Junction – Kickin’ It
Kelley Mooney – Caroling
Lawrence Maxwell – Not Your Outlaw
Neil Matthews Family Tribute Band – Beautiful Island, a Tribute to Neil Matthews
Cover Band/Artist of the Year
Cöpy Cät
Danny Drouin
Ryan & Emily
Bandzoogle Digital Achievement of the Year
Andrew Waite
KINLEY
The East Pointers
Electronic Single Recording of the Year
Eric Broadbent – It Is What It Is
Lonely Kid – You Could Be My Queen
Russell Louder – Showdown
Entertainer of the Year
The East Pointers
Lennie Gallant
Rachel Beck
Richard Wood
Vishtèn
Event of the Year
Play the Park
Cloggeroo Folk Festival
Island Jazz
PEI Mutual Festival of Small Halls
Francophone Artist of the Year
Adrienne Gallant
Arsenault Trio
Fayo
Vishtèn
Group Recording of the Year
Death Valley Driver – Wolf Crown
Get Well Pharmacy – Story of a House Fire
Little Cities – Friends Floors
Rick Sparkes + The Enablers – The Trouble with the Light
Vishtèn – Horizons
Live Music Programmer of the Year
Jamie Crawford
Cynthia MacLeod
Danielle Rochon and Kathleen Flanagan
Dan Rowswell
Pat Deighan
Arsenault, Best, Cameron, Ellis Musician of the Year
Danny Drouin
Evan McCosham
Gordon Belsher
Josh Langille
Todd MacLean
Holland College/Lloyd Doyle New Artist of the Year
Jenni & The Hummingbird – Your Masterpiece
Little Cities – Friends Floors
Rachel Beck – Rachel Beck
Russell Louder – Showdown
Vince The Messenger – Self Sabotage
Downtown Charlottetown Inc Pop Recording of the Year
Jenni & The Hummingbird – Your Masterpiece
Little Cities – Friends Floors
Rachel Beck – Rachel Beck
Producer of the Year
Danny Drouin
David Rashed
Gordon Belsher
Jon Matthews
Lonely Kid
Recording Studio of the Year
Studio at the Guild
Guernsey Cove Parlour Productions
The Sound Mill Recording Studio
Rock/Loud Recording of the Year
Andrew Waite – Tremors
Aron Scott Earthquake – RAGER
Death Valley Driver – Wolf Crown
Dennis Ellsworth – Things Change
Rick Sparkes and the Enablers – The Trouble with the Light
Will Allen – Painted Your Picture
Roots Contemporary Recording of the Year
Dylan Menzie – As The Clock Rewinds
Get Well Pharmacy – Story of a House Fire
Lennie Gallant – Time Travel
Meaghan Blanchard – The Great Escape
Todd MacLean – Long John June
Roots Traditional Recording of the Year
Cailyn MacAulay – Fortune Favors the Bow
Richard Wood – Unbroken
Vishtèn – Horizons
SOCAN Songwriter of the Year
Dennis Ellsworth – She’s Never Wrong
Dylan Menzie/Mark Skinner- You Could Be My Queen
Lennie Gallant- Sequoia
Meaghan Blanchard- When You’re Gone
Rachel Beck – When You Left
Solo Recording of the Year
Andrew Waite – Tremors
Dylan Menzie – As The Clock Rewinds
Jenni & The Hummingbird – Your Masterpiece
Meaghan Blanchard – The Great Escape
Rachel Beck- Rachel Beck
Song of the Year
Dennis Ellsworth – She’s Never Wrong
Get Well Pharmacy – Story of a House Fire
Jenni & The Hummingbird – Am I odd
Meaghan Blanchard – When You’re Gone
Rachel Beck – Reckless Heart
Fly PEI Touring Artist of the Year
Richard Wood
The East Pointers
Vishtèn
Urban Recording of the Year
BT Flow – The Worst
Cavy & SkitSipSlow – Bon Voyage
Eric Broadbent – Eric Broadbent
Vince The Messenger – Self Sabotage
SOCAN Venue of the Year
Baba’s Lounge
The Mack
Trailside Music Cafe’ & Inn
Video of the Year
The East Pointers – Two Weeks (Director – Jenna MacMillan)
Jenni & The Hummingbird- Am I Odd (Director – Millefiore Clarkes)
KINLEY – Golden Days (Director – Jenna MacMillan)
Meaghan Blanchard- The Great Escape (Director – Millefiore Clarkes)
Rachel Beck – Hearts on Fire (Director – Jenna MacMillan)
Visual Artist of the Year
Ali McNeill
Brendan Henry
PixbyLorne
Many of the categories are awarded based on vote from Music PEI members. Voting closes Friday, November 30th, 2018. If you are Music PEI member, you can vote here.
Music PEI Week takes place from January 23rd and run until the 27th with the Awards Party and the Closing Concert. More details and ticket information can be found at www.musicpei.com.