Charlottetown, PE became ground zero for music in Atlantic Canada this week with the celebration of the East Coast Music Awards. Performances took over venues across the city, but none were so busy as the Confederation Ballroom at Delta Hotels by Marriott Prince Edward. With many of the awards handed out on Thursday night’s Awards Gala, there was still the absolutely crucial Industry Awards to be served up. Tonight we learned the full extent the of the award winners with an evening that featured performances by Paper Lions and POSTDATA.
“What an amazing time we’ve had celebrating the 31st annual East Coast Music Awards in beautiful Charlottetown. Congratulations to all of the very deserving award winners, and thank you to all the fabulously talented artists who performed throughout the week,” says Andy McLean, CEO of the ECMA.
“This event cannot succeed without the tireless work and contributions from our staff, board, volunteers, local committee, delegates, sponsors, partners, venues and hotels, and we thank you for everything you’ve done this week. The city of Charlottetown has been an incredibly warm and accommodating host, and we can’t wait to return.”
“It’s been a fantastic week of music here in Charlottetown. We always enjoy coming to this city and celebrating East Coast music in the birthplace of Confederation,” says Dean Stairs, Chair of the ECMA’s Board of Directors.
“Thank you to the musicians who once again have displayed the outstanding creative force that makes the East Coast of Canada such a unique place to live and work. Thank you to the folks of Charlottetown and PEI who have so enthusiastically supported the ECMAs throughout the years. On behalf of the Board of Directors I want to recognize the hard work and dedication of the ECMA staff, the volunteers, and the sponsors. An event of this magnitude does not happen without support at all levels of government, so thank you as well to the City of Charlottetown, the province of Prince Edward Island, and the Government of Canada for your support in helping ECMA members continue to work in the creative industries and live in Atlantic Canada.”
Here are the 2019 winners of the East Coast Music Awards (winners in bold):
Album of the Year:
Classified – Tomorrow Could Be The Day Things Change (Producer: Luke Boyd)
Dylan Menzie – As The Clock Rewinds (Producer: Adam Gallant)
Fortunate Ones – Hold Fast (Producer: Daniel Ledwell)
Paper Lions – At Long Creek II (Producer: Colin Buchanan)
Postdata – Let’s Be Wilderness (Producer: Tony Doogan)
Blues Recording of the Year:
Dan Doiron – Livin’ Centre Stage
Earle & Coffin – A Day In July
Elise Besler – Truth
Logan Richard – The Split 2.0
Myles Goodwyn and Friends of the Blues – Myles Goodwyn And Friends Of The Blues
Bucky Adams Memorial Award:
Jody Upshaw
Keonté Beals
Owen Lee
Reeny Smith
Tachichi
Classical Composition of the Year:
Andrew Staniland – “Earthquakes and Islands”
Charke-Cormier Duo – “Ex Tempore”
Jeremy Dutcher – “Mehcinut”
Paul Halley – “God’s Grandeur”
Classical Recording of the Year:
Charke-Cormier Duo – Ex Tempore
Duo Concertante – Perfect Light
Jennifer King – O Mistress Moon
New Brunswick Youth Orchestra – Sea to Sea
Paul Halley – In The Wide Awe And Wisdom – Choral Works by Paul Halley
Contemporary Roots Recording of the Year:
Jeremy Dutcher – Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa
Jimmy Rankin – Moving East
Lennie Gallant – Time Travel
Museum Pieces – Plain Sight
Meaghan Blanchard – The Great Escape
Country Recording of the Year:
Cameron Nickerson – Detours
Carolina East – Crossroads
Mallory Johnson – Mallory Johnson
Ryan Cook – Having a Great Time
Thomas Stajcer – Will I Learn To Love Again?
Dance Recording of the Year:
Balco – “Real You” (feat. Malia Rogers)
Dion Todd – “Rocketship State of Mind”
Lonely Kid & Dylan Menzie – “You Could Be My Queen”
PINEO & LOEB – “Bump In The Road”
Electronic Recording of the Year:
Alex Byrne – Come Back
Denique – Shape 1
grej – Chasing the Path
Rozalind MacPhail – LOVE AND LET BE
Sparkee – Technically Impossible EP
Folk Recording of the Year:
Ben Caplan – Old Stock
Gunning & Cormier – Two
Heather Rankin – Imagine
Ian Sherwood – Bring The Light
The Ennis Sisters – Keeping Time
The Once – Time Enough
Francophone Recording of the Year:
Chloé Breault – Love
Joannie Benoît – Feux de bengale
Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire – Viens avec moi
Raphaël Butler – Raphaël Butler
Simon Daniel – Nightcrawler
Gaelic Artist of the Year:
Ben Miller & Anita MacDonald
Dara Smith-MacDonald & Adam Young
Kyle MacDonald
NicNeil
Group Recording of the Year:
ChessClub – These Flowers Are For You
Fortunate Ones – Hold Fast
Hillsburn – The Wilder Beyond
Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire – Viens avec moi
Paper Lions – At Long Creek II
The Town Heroes – Everything (Will Be Fine When We Get To Where We Think We’re Going)
Vishtèn – Horizons
Indigenous Artist of the Year:
Alan Syliboy and The Thundermakers
Brandon Arnold
Jeremy Dutcher
Old Self & Kam Speech
SHiFT FROM THA 902
Inspirational Recording of the Year:
Infinitely More – The Beauty Of The One
Matt Linton – Call His Name Jesus
Paul Brace – Liars & Actors
Rootsdeepdown – Live At Selah
We The Rescued – Heartstrings
Instrumental Recording of the Year:
Beaton-Plasse – Beaton-Plasse
Ben Miller & Anita MacDonald – South Haven
Gillian Head – Tidal
Joyful Noise – Cocoloco
Richard Wood – Unbroken
Jazz Recording of the Year:
Bill Elliott – Canadian Certified Guitar Player
Grahame Rhodes – Giant Steps
Ouroboros – Kitchuses
Tin Pan Darlings – Inside a Melody
Tom Easley – The Starting Point vs The Steep Decline
Loud Recording of the Year:
Death Valley Driver – Wolf Crown
Hitman – The Offering: Side 1
Kilmore – Call of the Void
Orchid’s Curse – Graveyard of the Gulf
The Combine – Void and Vessel
Pop Recording of the Year:
Adyn Townes – After The Fall
Neon Dreams – Shape Of My Mind
Paper Lions – At Long Creek II
Rachel Beck – Rachel Beck
Simon Daniel – Nightcrawler
R&B/Soul Recording of the Year:
Amanda Jackson Band – Fire in the Blue
Cyndi Cain – Stand Up
Elijah Wohlmuth (Will) – 3am
Jody Upshaw – Straight Shooter
Reeny Smith – WWIII: Strength. Courage. Love.
Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year:
Brandon Arnold – A Leo’s Dream
Classified – Tomorrow Could Be The Day Things Change
Kayo – Winter in St Lucia
Mitchell Bailey – Season One
Quake Matthews – Drinking Games
Rising Star Recording of the Year:
FM Berlin – At Least You’re Having Fun
Jenni & The Hummingbird – Your Masterpiece
Jeremy Dutcher – Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa
LeRiche – X-Dreamers
Rachel Beck – Rachel Beck
Rock Recording of the Year:
FM Berlin – At Least You’re Having Fun
Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire – Viens avec moi
Postdata – Let’s Be Wilderness
Tampa – Belated Love
The Stanfields – Limboland
Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year:
Barra MacNeils – On the Bright Side
Beaton-Plasse – Beaton-Plasse
Rosemary Lawton – Painted Glass
Rum Ragged – The Hard Times
Vishtèn – Horizons
Solo Recording of the Year:
Ben Caplan – Old Stock
Classified – Tomorrow Could Be The Day Things Change
Gabrielle Papillon – Keep the Fire
Heather Rankin – Imagine
Jeremy Dutcher – Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa
Song of the Year:
Ben Caplan – “Lullaby” (Producer: Graham Scott)
Gabrielle Papillon – “When The Heart Attacks”
(Producers: Corey LeRue, Daniel Ledwell)
Postdata – “Black Cloud” (Producer: Tony Doogan)
Quake Matthews – “Confessions” feat. Neon Dreams (Producer: Street Runner)
The East Pointers – “Two Weeks” (Producer: Gordie Sampson)
Songwriter of the Year:
Ben Caplan
Classified
Fortunate Ones
Gabrielle Papillon
Port Cities
The Town Heroes
Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year:
Barra MacNeils
Ben Caplan
David Myles
Fortunate Ones
Heather Rankin
Hillsburn
Lennie Gallant
Mo Kenney
Neon Dreams
Paper Lions
Port Cities
The East Pointers
Fans’ Choice Video of the Year:
Ben Caplan – “Minimum Intervals”
(Director: FPS – Filet Production Services, Catherine Brown)
BRDGS – “All My Friends” (Director: Loggo Lionel)
Christina Martin – “Always Reminding” (Director: Ryan Thompson)
Classified – “Powerless” (Director: Andrew Hines)
Hillsburn – “Strange Clouds” (Director: Paul Aarntzen)
Jimmy Rankin – “Been Away” (Director: Jeth Weinrich)
KINLEY – “Golden Days” (Director: Jenna MacMillan)
LeRiche – “River Runs” (Director: Charlotte Rabate)
Makayla Lynn – “Joyride” (Director: Scott Simpson)
Neon Dreams – “Shape Of My Mind” (Director: Zack Facts)
2019 INDUSTRY AWARDS
Company of the Year:
Malkin Music Management
Spincount
Sonic Concerts
Sound of Pop
The Syrup Factory
Event of the Year:
Cavendish Beach Music Festival
Celtic Colours International Festival
Halifax Jazz Festival
Halifax Pop Explosion
Island Jazz
Graphic/Media Artist of the Year:
Abracazebra Productions
Brendan Henry
James Bennett
Krista Power
Richard Lann
Live Sound Engineer of the Year:
Devin Farrell
Stephen “Snickers” Smith
Wayne O’Connor
Zach Lacey
Management/Manager of the Year:
Carol Doucet (Le Grenier Musique)
Jones & Co.
Nigel Jenkins (Laughing Heart Music)
Sonic Entertainment Group
Media Outlet of the Year:
Canadian Beats
Halifax Is Burning
Tantramar Community Radio CFTA 107.9 FM
The Barbershop Sessions
The East
Media Person of the Year:
Alex Cook
Bill Roach
Doug Gallant
Greg Smith
Richard Lann
Producer of the Year:
Chris Kirby
Corey LeRue
Daniel Ledwell
Jon Matthews
Luke Boyd (aka Classified)
Studio Engineer of the Year:
Dale Murray
Darren van Niekirk
Michael “Sheppy” Shepherd
Scott Ferguson
Scott Hammond
Studio of the Year:
Codapop Studios
FMP Matrix: Studio FMP
Halflife Records
New Scotland Yard
The Sound Mill
Venue of the Year:
The Capital Complex
The Carleton
“The Mack” (at Confederation Centre of the Arts)
The Ship Pub Trailside Music Café & Inn
Video of the Year:
ChessClub – “Amelia Earhart” (Director: Matt Power)
Christina Martin – “Always Reminding” (Director: Ryan Thompson)
Classified – “Powerless” (Director: Andrew Hines)
Hillsburn – “Strange Clouds” (Director: Paul Aarntzen)
KINLEY – “Golden Days” (Director: Jenna MacMillan)
Neon Dreams – “Shape Of My Mind” (Director: Zack Facts)
HONORARY AWARDS
Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductions:
Stan Rogers
“Peter’s Dream” by Lennie Gallant
Directors’ Special Achievement Award:
Lennie Gallant
Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award:
Hubert Francis
Industry Builder Award:
Yolande Bourgeois
Musician’s Achievement Award:
Peter Chaisson
Stompin’ Tom Awards:
Donnie Campbell (CB)
Jeff Liberty (NB)
Anita Best (NL)
Jerry Granelli (NS)
Rob Oakie (PE)
The 2020 East Coast Music Awards: Festival and Conference presented by TD takes place in St. John’s, NL from April 29-May 03, 2020.