Celebrations of Nova Scotia Music Week Culminate With 2021 Music Nova Scotia Awards Show

During their regular sojourn to Truro, Nova Scotia’s music community held their weeklong celebration of the province’s annual cream of the crop. With artists and industry alike eager for such a major event after the lull of last year, it made for a special—culminating today with their 2021 Music Nova Scotia Awards.

Of his seven nominations for his album, KING, Keonté Beals came away with three, in the categories of African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year, Inspirational Recording of the Year,  and. R&B/Soul Recording of the Year. Aquakultre, with their five nominations, also came away with three awards in the categories of Hip Hop Recording of the Year, Alternative Recording of the Year, and Group Recording of the Year.

The full list of 2021 Music Nova Scotia Award nominees, with winners in bold.

MUSIC AWARD NOMINEES


Acadian/Francophone Artist of the Year

Maxim Cormier
Michelle Deveau
Sylvie Marie
Isabella Samson
Sluice


African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year

Keonté Beals
Kye Clayton
Owen O’Sound Lee
YFILLA
YoungMillieRock


Alternative Recording of the Year

Aquakultre – Legacy
Kestrels – Dream or Don’t Dream
Owen Meany’s Batting Stance – Feather Weights
POSTDATA – Twin Flames
Sluice – Le Succès par le Travail


Americana/Bluegrass Recording of the Year

Leona Burkey – Sitting Tight
Maxim and Gervais Cormier – Live at the Fortress of Louisbourg
The Gilberts – Tell Me
Mike McKenna Jr. – At the Edge of the World
Terra Spencer – Chasing Rabbits


Blues Recording of the Year

Angela Lanetti – Full Circle
Campbell & Johnston – Campbell & Johnstons Black Market Band
Jesse Patrick – Old Soul New Vibe
Roxy & the Underground Soul Sound – Stand Up
Wayne Nicholson and John Campbelljohn – Elmore’s Blues


Children’s Artist of the Year

Cheryl and Vlad
Matt the Music Man
Razzmatazz for Kids
Sue McBride


Classical Recording of the Year

Charke-Cormier Duo – Derek Charke: Bathymetric Terrains
Halifax Camerata Singers – Music of the Spheres
Jennifer King – Twilight Hour: Collected Stories for Piano
Maureen Batt – Aunt Helen
Maxim Cormier – The Subjective Nothing


Country Recording of the Year

Brooklyn Blackmore – Get a Little Crazy
Dave Sampson – All Types of Ways
Gabriel Minnikin – Sweet Nothings
Norma MacDonald – Old Future
Pretty Archie – Running for Cover


Digital Artist of the Year

Adam Baldwin
Dave Sampson
Hillsburn
Jenn Grant
The Town Heroes


DJ of the Year

Cloverdale
DJ IV
DJ Tranzishen
O Cinnedi
Pineo & Loeb


Electronic Artist of the Year

Cloverdale
O Cinnedi
Pineo & Loeb
Scientists of Sound
Smaller Hearts


Entertainer of the Year

Aquakultre
Beòlach
Dave Sampson
Jenn Grant
Keonté Beals
Measha Brueggergosman
Neon Dreams
Rich Aucoin
T. Thomason
The Town Heroes


Folk Recording of the Year

Brad Reid – New Scotland
Corey Isenor – Absinthe & Smoke
Kristen Martell – Coming Home
Michael S. Ryan – From the Bottoms of Our Murky Hearts
Terra Spencer – Chasing Rabbits


Group Recording of the Year

Aquakultre – Legacy
Beòlach – All Hands
Hillsburn – Slipping Away
Neon Dreams – The Happiness of Tomorrow
The Town Heroes – Again


Hip Hop Recording of the Year

Aquakultre x DJ Uncle Fester – Bleeding Gums Murphy
Kye Clayton – Sandbox
LXVNDR – Warmth
Mitchell Bailey – 23
SHiFT FROM THA 902 – Young Gemini


Indigenous Artist of the Year

DeeDee Auston
K.U.$.H
Michael Diabo
Morgan Toney
SHiFT FROM THA 902


Inspirational Recording of the Year

Angela Lanetti – Full Circle
Jordan Musycsyn – Around the Fire
Keonté Beals – KING
Kristen Martell – Coming Home
Morgan Toney – First Flight


Jazz Recording of the Year

Angela Lanetti – Full Circle
Anteater – Anteater
Jerry Granelli – The Jerry Granelli Trio Plays Vince Guaraldi and Mose Allison
Measha Brueggergosman – Measha Jazz
Morgan Zwicker Jazz Project – Phase Shift


Loud Recording of the Year

Cluttered – Accidents
Electric Spoonful – Caravan Fire
Feathers & Anvils – Sunshine
Hemineglect – Is Obsolete
Rootabagga – Abby Normal


Music Video of the Year

Dave Sampson – All My Friends (Directed by: RYKER TITUS)
Keonté Beals – KING (Directed by: Keke Beatz & Keonté Beals)
Kim Harris – Once You Were Wondrous (Directed by: Mirror Image Media)
Neon Dreams – Sick of Feeling Useless (Directed by: Frank Kadillac & Adrian Morris)
Rich Aucoin – Walls (Directed by: Jason Levangie)


Musician of the Year

Anna Ludlow
Maxim Cormier
Matty Grace
Siobhan Martin
Tori Cameron


New Artist Recording of the Year

Brooklyn Blackmore – Get a Little Crazy
Keeper E. – The Sparrows All Find Food
Kids Losing Sleep – LOVES
Kye Clayton – Sandbox
SHiFT FROM THA 902 – Young Gemini


Pop Recording of the Year

Gabrielle Papillon – Shout
Keeper E. – The Sparrows All Find Food
Kim Harris – Heirloom
Neon Dreams – Happiness of Tomorrow
T. Thomason – T. Thomason


R&B/Soul Recording of the Year

Alfie – HMB EP
Aquakultre & Uncle Fester – Bleeding Gums Murphy
Keonté Beals – KING
Roxy & the Underground Soul Sound – Stand Up


Recording of the Year

Hillsburn – Slipping Away
Keonté Beals – KING
Kim Harris – Heirloom
Neon Dreams – The Happiness of Tomorrow
T. Thomason – T. Thomason


Rock Recording of the Year

Beauts – Dalliance
Hillsburn – Slipping Away
Kids Losing Sleep – LOVES
Like a Motorcycle – Dead Broke
No, It’s Fine – (It’s nice to pretend) We Wrote These Songs


Solo Recording of the Year

Joel Plaskett – 44
Keonté Beals – KING
Kim Harris – Heirloom
Rich Aucoin – United States
T. Thomason – T. Thomason


Songwriter of the Year

Breagh Isabel – Girlfriends (written by: Breagh MacKinnon, Corey LeRue, Simon Wilcox)
Dave Sampson – Gets Me Through the Night (written by: Dave Sampson, Dylan Guthro, Sam Ellis)
Hillsburn – Husha (written by: Paul Aarntzen)
Joel Plaskett – Head Over Heels Into Heaven (written by: Joel Plasket, Mo Kenney)
Keonté Beals – KING (written by: Keonté Beals)
Kim Harris – Once You Were Wondrous (written by: Kim Harris)


Traditional/Roots Recording of the Year

Anna Ludlow – Wherever You Go
Beòlach – All Hands
Brad Reid – New Scotland
The Gilberts – Tell Me
Morgan Toney – First Flight


INDUSTRY AWARD NOMINEES


Community Presenter of the Year

Inverness County Centre for the Arts
La Fédération culturelle acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse (FéCANE)
Music in Communities
Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia


Company of the Year

Black Buffalo Records
Leaf Music
Sonic Entertainment
VOX Management Agency


Educator of the Year

Craig Mercer
Hayley Ryerson
Nick Pettipas
Vladimir Sitnikov


Event of the Year

Evergreen Festival
Rankin’s Winter Warmers
ReJigged Festival
The Revival Initiative


Industry Professional of the Year

Dena Williams
Eirinn Fraser
Laura Simpson
Stephanie Purcell


Manager of the Year

Adrienne Butcher
Matthew Sampson
Sonic Entertainment Group
Tamar Brown


Media Professional of the Year

Caroline Levesque
Kyah Sparks
Martin Hickey
Paul Brothers
Tara Thorne


Producer of the Year

Corey LeRue
Dylan Guthro
Erin Costelo
Keke Beatz
Waants


Publicist of the Year

Brendan MaGee
Eirinn Fraser
Sarah Atkinson
Trevor Murphy


Radio Program of the Year

The Off Kilter Show (CKDU 88.1FM)
The Outer Edge (CKDU 88.1FM)
We Out Here (101.3 Virgin Radio)
Sounds Atlantic (989 XFM)


Radio Station of the Year

989 XFM Antigonish
CIOE 97.5FM
CKDU 88.1 FM
Seaside FM


Recording Studio of the Year

Centre Line Studio
The Golden Palm
Ocean Floor Recording
The Sonic Temple


Studio Engineer of the Year

Chris Lannetti
Francisco A. Lopes II
John Mullane
Palmer Jamieson


Visual Artist of the Year

Abracazebra Productions (Megan Green)
Izra Fitch
Midnight Oil Print & Design (Alex MacAskill)
Sacha Stephan


Booking Agent of the Year

Steph Purcell


Corporate Sponsor the Year

NS Spirit Co.


Production Company of the Year

Pause Music


Live Technician of the Year

John Ellingbo


Venue of the Year

New Scotland Brewing Co.


Volunteer of the Year

Debie Yuill

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