Despite the eight-day long state of emergency that hung over Newfoundland following a massive snowstorm, MusicNL continued on with their plans to host their MusicNL Awards this week, and even seemed to thrive in the winter weather.
Held at the St. John’s, NL City Hall, MusicNL bookended their annual Music Week by handed out awards in 30 categories, including their Lifetime Achievement Award, beginning with the industry awards over the weekend.
Nick Earle was the clear winner this year, taking home awards for Male Artists of the Year, Rising Star of the Year, and Rock Artist of the Year with his debut solo album, Breaking New Ground, obviously leaving a big impression.
Not far behind were Youngtree & The Blooms, Jenina MacGillivray, Rum Ragged, all with two awards each.
The 2019 MusicNL Award Nominees are:
(Winners in bold)
Quidi Vidi Alternative Artist of the Year
Adam Baxter
Another North
Youngtree & The Blooms
Celtic/Traditional Artist of the Year
The Celtic Fiddlers
Rosemary Lawton
Country Artist of the Year
Abigale
Carolina East
Rod Jackson & The Perfect Strangers
Electronic Artist of the Year
Dion Todd
Galaa
Rozalind MacPhail
Canadian AV Event of the Year
43rd Annual Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Festival
Iceberg Alley Performance Tent
Mr. H Presents: Make Music Happen
FACTOR Album of the Year
Jenina MacGillivray – Marion
Nick Earle – Breaking New Ground
Rum Ragged – The Hard Times
Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year
Dion Todd
Posie Row/Travel Bug Female Artist of the Year
Carolina East
Jenina MacGillivray
Rozalind MacPhail
Folk/Roots Artist of the Year
Eastern Owl
Jenina MacGillivray
Rum Ragged
Graphic Artist of the Year
Jerry Stamp
Pepa Chan
Yamaha Group of the Year
The Kubasonics
Quote the Raven
Rum Ragged
First Light Indigenous Artist/Group of the Year
Carolina East
Eastern Owl
Silver Wolf Band
Denis Parker Industry Builder of the Year
Paul Bendzsa
Stewart McKelvey Industry Professional of the Year
Elling Lien
Greg Smith
Tony Murray
Inspirational Artist of the Year
Ian Foster & Nancy Hynes
Infinitely More
Selina Boland
Coast 101.1 Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year
Andrea Koziol & Bill Brennan
Heather Bambrick
DC DESIGN HOUSE Male Artist of the Year
Adam Baxter
Christian Howse
Nick Earle
Ray Agency Media Person of the Year
Colleen Power
Dillon Collins
Greg Smith
Long and McQuade Music Educator of the Year
Adam Baxter
Korona Brophy
Rozalind MacPhail
The Nickel Music Video of the Year
Cicerone – A Night in the Sea (Dir. Mike Simms)
Rum Ragged – Ladies Man (Dir. Michael Lynch)
Weary – Bruise (Dir. Kate Lahey)
Outstanding Company of the Year
The Citadel House
Foleymore Entertainment
The Newfoundland Herald
Pop Artist of the Year
Dion Todd
It Could Be Franky
Paige Penney
Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year
Albert Dalton
JYAY
Rising Star of the Year
Galaa
Jenina MacGillivray
Nick Earle
Rock Artist of the Year
Chain of Lynx
David Picco
Nick Earle
Ron Hynes SOCAN Songwriter of the Year
Joanna Barker & Natasha Blackwood (Eastern Owl – The Drum)
Aley Waterman, Adam Hogan, & Romesh Thavanathan (Galaa – Ender)
Peter Smith (Youngtree & The Blooms – She Found Me)
Side Musician of the Year
Dan George
Natasha Blackwood
Rozalind MacPhail
Venue Of the Year
The Citadel House
Corner Brook Rotary Arts Centre
The Ship
Volunteer of the Year
Elling Lien
Natasha Blackwood
Lifetime Achievement Award
Gary Graham