Amid a weekend of digitally broadcast showcases, MusicNL announced their 2020 winners during their 28th annual awards show hosted by Petrina Bromley and The Once’s Phil Churchill.
“Newfoundland and Labrador’s music sector is made up of a village of talented people that contribute to its success,” noted the organization, celebrating the best of their best during a year when the industry was hit hardest. “The $51.5million industry will only continue to thrive when all professionals in the sector come to the table.”
Rube & Rake and The Heavy Horses both went into the awards with six nominations apiece, but it was Rum Ragged who came out on top with three wins, followed by Greg Smith, Justin Fancy, Sherman Downey, and Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts with two wins each.
The full list of nominees and winners can be found here. (Winners are in bold.)
Music Awards
FACTOR ALBUM OF THE YEAR
David Pomeroy – Great Tenor Arias
Jason Benoit – Revolution Pt. 1
Matthew Byrne – In Concert w/ Lady Cove Women’s Choir
Rube & Rake – Leaving With Nothing
Rum Ragged – The Thing About Fish
The Heavy Horses – With Darkness in My Eyes
ALTERNATIVE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Adam Baxter
Adrian House
Kirk Wells
O’REILLY”S IRISH NEWFOUNDLAND PUB CELTIC/TRADITIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Atlantic Union
Dave Penny
From Stage to Stage
Matthew Byrne
Rosemary Lawton
Rum Ragged
MUN SCHOOL OF MUSIC CLASSICAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Atlantic String Quartet
David Chafe
David Pomeroy
COUNTRY ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Blair Lane
Jason Benoit
Justin Fancy
Lorna Lovell
Ol Billy Bob Boy
The Heavy Horses
ELECTRONIC ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Alex Byrne
Chalk
Quinn
THE CITADEL HOUSE FOLK/ROOTS ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Christian Howse
Jackie Sullivan
Rev. Dave & The Sin Eaters
Rube & Rake
Sherman Downey
The Likes of Jeff Pittman
YAMAHA GROUP OF THE YEAR
Beauwater
Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts
Rube & Rake
Rum Ragged
Silver Wolf Band
The Hellfire Club
FIRST LIGHT INDIGENOUS ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Benoit
Lorna Lovell
Silver Wolf Band
CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION INSPIRATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Asetha Power
Kathy Stock
AFM/CFM LOCAL 820 INSTRUMENTAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Sarkastodon
Wade Tarling
BLACK SHEEP ON GEORGE JAZZ/BLUES ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Beauwater
Dave Mundy
Michael Bursey
Natasha Blackwood
HEAVY NLFD LOUD ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Qyn
The Hellfire Club
Wastecase
WinterheartH
Yes, Officer
ST. JOHN’S INTERNATION WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Fairgale – What Doesn’t Kill Us (Dir: Centre City Media and Film)
Jason Benoit – Two Wrongs (Dir: Ryan Daramsing)
Madeline – Vain (Dir: Madeline Salter)
Rube & Rake – 10-33 (Dir: Tom Cochrane)
The Heavy Horses – Weight in My Lungs (Dir: Patrick Canning)
The Swinging Belles – Cool Cat (Dir: Erin Power, Laura Winter, Duane Andrews)
BELL ALIANT POP ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Clare Follett
Pete
Rachel Cousins
Rea
The Duds
Xander Duffy
HIPHOPSHOPNL RAP/HIP-HOP ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Albert Dalton
King Sway
MDIIO RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
Justin Fancy
Natasha Blackwood
Ol Billy Bob Boy
Peter Fewer
Saint Scarlett
The Duds
CNA MUSIC AND APPLIED ARTS ROCK ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Fourthright
Jeremy Rice
Mike Fisher
Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts
Saint Scarlett
The Lodge
LIVE AT HEART-VISION PRODUCTION SIDE MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Dan George
Dave Connors
Justin Mahoney
Kathy Stock
Rozalind MacPhail
SOLO ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Clare Follett
Matthew Byrne
Rachel Cousins
Rea
Sherman Downey
The Heavy Horses
RON HYNES SOCAN SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Mallory Johnson, Tenille Arts, Krystan Bellows
(Mallory Johnson – Drunk Mind, Sober Heart)
Chris Kirby, Jordan Coaker, Kirsten Rodden-Clarke, Peter MacDonald
(Quote the Raven – Hope)
Aaron Hickey, Blair Lane, Jenson Vaughan, Lauren Eddy, & Rachel Cousins
(Rachel Cousins – Man of Stone)
Josh Sandu
(Rube & Rake – Crying)
Sherman Downey
(Sherman Downey – Front Porch)
Justin Mahoney
(The Heavy Horses – Weight in My Lungs)
THE TELEGRAM FANS CHOICE ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Beauwater
Fairgale
Ian Foster & Nancy Hynes
Jason Benoit
Mallory Johnson
Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts
Quote the Raven
Rachel Cousins
Rea
Rube & Rake
Rum Ragged
With Violet
Industry Awards
CANADIAN AV EVENT OF THE YEAR
Atlantic Guitar Society Virtual Guitar Retreat
Saltwater Noise – Sure Beats a Good Time Release
Spirit Song Festival
The Jibfest Weekender
Trails Tales and Tunes Festival
PATTISON OUTDOOR GRAPHIC ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Aaron Bishop
Caroline Clarke
STEWART MCKELVEY INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Carter Snow
Dustin Parsons
Jenelle Duval
Mary Beth Waldram
Michelle LaCour
Mike McDonald
RAY AGENCY MEDIA PERSON OF THE YEAR
Dillion Collins
Greg Smith
Jake Thompson
Zach Snow
LONG & MCQUADE MUSIC EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
Adam Baxter
Joanna Barker
Marystown School of Music
Melanie O’Brien
Rozalind MacPhail
NOSEWORTHY CHAPMAN OUTSTANDING COMPANY OF THE YEAR
618 Entertainment
Cartermusic
Foleymore Entertainment
Steady Entertainment
VOCM
VOWR
GEORGE STREET ASSOCIATION VENUE OF THE YEAR
First Light Centre for Performance and Creativity
Rotary Arts Centre
The Gate
The Ship Pub
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Gary Wilton
Glenn Pardy
Greg Smith
Joshua Roberts
MusicNL also announced recipients for their Honorary Awards, including Wheelers Lounge and The Stround Lounge both receiving Honorary Legacy Awards and the Honorary Denis Parker Industry Builder Awards going to Echo Music and Recording Studio and Clode Sound Productions. An Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award also went to The Nain Moravian Church Choir and the Nain Brass Band.
While the 2020 awards were delayed, thanks to the circumstances which need not be named, MusicNL say they’re hopeful that the 2021 MusicNL Awards Show and Conference will go ahead as planned in October 2021.