Nova Scotia Music Week isn’t until November but, as part of their fair and democratic process, they’ve announced their 2017 nominees, giving members two weeks to decide who they will vote for. Thankfully, but challengingly, the nominees they’ve selected are also all the nominees we would vote for. Good luck making your own picks.
Naturally, we’re seeing a lot of our favourites showing up in the list of nominees, which is a good sign. Or possibly a bad sign. It could either mean one of two things. The first being that we have great taste in music, and so do Music Nova Scotia. There’s a generous amount of talent here, and a whole lot of sweet, sweet validation to go around. Or, the second being that we live in an echo chamber. Which is fine. We brewed this Kool-Aid ourselves.
Jenn Grant is a clear winner this year—or is at least well situated to beat the odds—with seven award nominations. Rose Cousins and Port Cities follow with six nominations each. All received nominations in major categories such as Entertainer of the Year and Recording of the Year. Ria Mae was conspicuously absent from the list of nominees, presumably taking some time off as she searches for a larger mantel after going home with five awards last year.
Here are the nominees:
Delta Halifax & Delta Barrington Entertainer of the Year
Cassie and Maggie
Jenn Grant
Neon Dreams
Port Cities
Reeny Smith
Rose Cousins
Solo Recording of the Year
Christine Campbell – “Roller Coaster”
Ian Janes – “Yes Man”
Jenn Grant – “Paradise”
Owen Meany’s Batting Stance – “Owen Meany’s Batting Stance”
Rose Cousins – “Natural Conclusion”
Stewart Legere – “Quiet the Station”
Group Recording of the Year
Cassie and Maggie – “The Willow Collection”
Century Egg – “River God”
Like A Motorcycle – “High Hopes”
Neon Dreams – “To You”
Port Cities – “Port Cities”
Walrus – “Family Hangover”
Music Video of the Year
Dave Sampson & Port Cities – “Trouble” (Director: Mat Barkley)
Jenn Grant – “Galaxies” (Director: Adam Goldhammer)
Jessie Brown – “DEBT (We Ain’t Got No Money)” (Director: Gavin Maclean)
MAJE – “Smile” (Director: Keke Beats)
Pretty Archie – “We Don’t Live Forever” (Director: Matt Ingraham)
Rose Cousins – “Chains” (Director: Nathan Boone)
New Artist Recording of the Year (presented by O’Healthy Market)
Aquakultre – “Water Temple”
CAMERON – “CAMERON”
Hello Delaware – “My Mistake”
MAJE – “*Insert Flame Emojis Here*”
Owen Meany’s Batting Stance – “Owen Meany’s Batting Stance”
Stewart Legere – “Quiet the Station”
Recording of the Year (presented by My Home Apparel)
Ian Janes – “Yes Man”
Jenn Grant – “Paradise”
Like A Motorcycle – “High Hopes”
Port Cities – “Port Cities”
Rose Cousins – “Natural Conclusion”
Walrus – “Family Hangover”
SOCAN Songwriter of the Year (presented by SOCAN)
Ian Janes – “Can’t Remember Never Loving You” (Songwriters: Ian Janes & Byron Hill)
Jenn Grant – “Lion With Me” (Songwriter: Jenn Grant)
Makayla Lynn – “Sweet Simon” (Songwriter: Makayla Lynn)
Quake Matthews – “Confessions (feat. Neon Dreams)” (Songwriters: Matthew Arab, Gordie Sampson & J Wellington)
Rose Cousins – “Chains” (Songwriters: Rose Cousins, Jeffrey Bowman, & Andrew Combs)
Stewart Legere – “Dig into the Dirt (feat. Rose Cousins)” (Songwriter: Stewart Legere)
Acadian/Francophone Artist of the Year
Lennie Gallant
Mary Beth Carty
Maxim Cormier
Nicole LeBlanc
Ronald Bourgeois
Selby Evans
African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year (presented by the Town of Truro Diversity Advisory Committee)
Ced Marty & Dave
Jody Upshaw
MAJE
Reeny Smith
Shevy Price
Thrillah
Alternative Recording of the Year (presented by Culinary Creations)
Century Egg – “River God”
Kestrels – “S/T”
Matthew Pickup – “Kiss All Your Enemies”
Not You – “Misty”
Owen Meany’s Batting Stance – “Owen Meany’s Batting Stance”
Walrus – “Family Hangover”
Americana Recording of the Year
Jordan Musycsyn – “Old State of Mind”
Lynnea Rose – “Rocking Chair”
Pretty Archie – “Sing Alongs and Love Songs”
Rose Cousins – “Natural Conclusion”
Willie Stratton – “Della Rosa”
Blues Recording of the Year (presented by Belly Up BBQ & Grill)
Caribou Run – “Something Organic Will Happen”
Curtis Matheson – “Lust, Love & Broken Hearts”
Elise Besler – “Lean In”
Ken Ward – “We Held a Wake for the Cat Last Night”
Children’s Artist of the Year
Ashley Moffat
Jamie Junger
Keith Mullins
Razzmatazz for Kids
The Little Ditties
Classical Recording of the Year
Helios Vocal Ensemble – “An Illuminated Christmas”
Maureen Batt – “Lady of the Lake”
Maxim Cormier – “Maxim Cormier Plays J.S. Bach”
Scott Macmillan – “Currents of Sable Island”
Symphony Nova Scotia – “Schubert”
Country Recording of the Year (presented by Best Western Glengarry Plus Hotel)
Amanda Riley – “Whiskey Kisses”
Andrew Frelick – “When I Was Little”
Cassie Josephine & Gabriel Minnikin – “Flower Country”
Catahoula Brown – “The Broad River Sessions”
Elsie Morden – “Elsie Morden”
Makayla Lynn – “On a Dare and a Prayer”
Digital Artist of the Year
Christina Martin
Dave Sampson
Hillsburn
Jenn Grant
Makayla Lynn
Port Cities
DJ of the Year
Dj Fadzwa
DJ IV
DJ_SHÆD
Jules Bangsworth
OKAY TK
Shreem
Electronic Artist of the Year
Apriskah
Famba
Jules Bangsworth
Kin Crew
Ritchcraft
Shreem
Folk Recording of the Year (presented by The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse)
Anne Janelle – “I Didn’t Want to Break It”
Coco Love Alcorn – “Wonderland”
Don Ross – “A Million Brazilian Civilians”
Joel Plaskett – “Solidarity”
Stewart Legere – “Quiet the Station”
The Barrowdowns – “Come What May Come”
Hip Hop Recording of the Year
Aquakultre – “Water Temple”
Ghettosocks – “Diamants en cendres”
MAJE – “*Insert Flame Emojis Here*”
Shevy Price – “REPNT”
The Search (Quake Matthews & Kayo) – “Lost and Found”
Thrillah – “Thrillville 3”
Indigenous Artist of the Year (presented by Millbrook First Nation)
Alan Syliboy & The Thundermakers
City Natives
Don Ross
Jade Bennett
L’Nu JoKeR
Shift From Tha 902
Inspirational Recording of the Year
Dave Bartlett – “Be A Dream For Me”
Nova Scotia Mass Choir – “Immanuel”
One8Tea – “Reverence”
Jazz Recording of the Year
Arrhythmia – “Arrhythmia”
Blue Spirits – “Liquid Courage”
The Blue Lane – “Blind EP”
Will Paynter & The Hardbop Collective – “Wise Guy”
Zoe Leger – “The Girl From Yesterday”
Loud Recording of the Year (presented by Noyes Records)
Dali Van Gogh – “From Ashes”
Oceanic – “Trappist”
Sleepshaker – “Things Are Different Now”
The Royal Volts – “Enough is Never Enough”
Musician of the Year
Andrew Sneddon
Anna Wedlock
Micah Smith
Owen “O’Sound” Lee
Ron Hynes
Tori Cameron
Pop Recording of the Year (presented by Open Hearth Park)
Hello Delaware – “My Mistake”
Ian Janes – “Yes Man”
Jenn Grant – “Paradise”
Neon Dreams – “To You”
Port Cities – “Port Cities”
The Mike Bochoff Band – “Distractions”
Rock Recording of the Year (presented by Aggregate Equipment)
CAMERON – “CAMERON”
Christine Campbell – “Roller Coaster”
Like A Motorcycle – “High Hopes”
Matt Minglewood – “Fly Like Desperados”
Matt Steele – “Songs For Catherine Anne”
T. Thomason – “Sweet Baby”
Traditional/Roots Recording of the Year (presented by Warner Music Canada)
Cassie and Maggie – “The Willow Collection”
Còig – “Rove”
Kyle MacDonald – “Kyle MacDonald”
Mary Beth Carty – “Les Biens-Nommés”
Ragged Robin – “Deep in the Tangled Wood”
Scott Macmillan & Colin Grant Duo – “GOOD2GO”
The 2017 Music Nova Scotia Industry Awards nominees are:
Booking Agent of the Year
Jason MacIssac
Stephanie Purcell
Val Denn
Wayne O’Connor
Community Presenter of the Year (Presented by MacQuarries Pharmasave)
Cecilia Concerts
Glasgow Square Theatre
The Marigold Cultural Centre
Strathspey Place
The Pavilion
The Town of Port Hawkesbury
Company of the Year
GroundSwell Music
Jayo Productions and Promotions
Leaf Music
Rocking Horse Road Productions
Sonic Entertainment Group
Village Sound
Corporate Sponsor of the Year
Holiday Inn Truro
Molson Coors Canada
NuStar Energy
Sobeys
TD
Wilsons
Educator of the Year
Craig Mercer
Elise Besler
Jody Lyne
Krista Keough
Maxim Cormier
Shannon Quinn
Event of the Year
Celtic Colours International Festival
GroundSwell Music Festival
Halifax Jazz Festival
Halifax Pop Explosion
In The Dead Of Winter Festival
Obey Convention
Industry Professional of the Year
Dana Beeler
Erin McGuire
Kayla Borden
Mike Campbell
Sarah Atkinson
Stephanie Purcell
Live Technician of the Year
Alex Ford
Blaine Fraser
Georgie Dudka
Jonathan Cornwall
Kailyn MacDonald
Trevor DeSouza
Manager of the Year
Alyssa Gallant
Jon Landry
Kayla Borden
Marc Perry
Mark Cwajna
Melanie Stone
Media Professional of the Year
Heidi Petracek
Hillary Windsor
James Bennett
Mitch Cuzner
Stephen Cooke
Tara Thorne
Producer of the Year
Alex Meade
Daniel Ledwell
Erin Costelo
Jon Landry
Jordan Metro
Keke Beatz
Production Company of the Year
Bernie’s Audio
FMAV
groundSOUND
Holland Audio Productions
Rockbound Productions
Sound Source Pro Audio
Promoter of the Year
C.J. Hill – Timber Lounge
GroundSwell Music
Jayo Productions and Promotions
Jeff Pineau – The Seahorse
Mike Campbell – The Carleton
Sonic Concerts
Publicist of the Year
Dana Beeler
Grace Russell
Kimberly Sinclair
Hassan King
Sarah Atkinson
Trevor Murphy
Radio Program of the Year
East Coast Countdown
East Coast Rising (The Hawk)
Halifax Is Burning (CKDU-FM)
Maritime Centre Stage (FX-101.9)
Route 104 (Q104 FM)
Smooth Grooves (CKDU-FM)
Radio Station of the Year (Presented by Theriault Financial)
101.5 FM The Hawk
Big Dog 100.9 FM
CBC Radio 1 (Halifax)
CIOE 97.5
CKDU-FM
Q104 FM
Recording Studio of the Year
Centreline Studios
Codapop Studios
Lakewind Sound Studios
The Old Confidence Lodge
The Sonic Temple
Village Sound
Studio Engineer of the Year
Alex Meade
Darren Van Niekerk
Jason Jenkyns
Jordan Metro
Michael “Sheppy” Shepherd
Scott Ferguson
Venue of the Year
Alteregos Cafe
Codapop Studios
The Carleton Music Bar & Grill
The Marigold Cultural Centre
The Pavilion
The Seahorse
Visual Artist of the Year
Abracazebra Productions
Alyssa Gallant
Darren Pyper
James Bennett
Jeff Miller
kt Lamond
Volunteer of the Year (presented by Local Love Truro)
C.J Hill
Jack Murtha
Kayla Borden
Lauren Nickerson
Matthew Waterman
Voting is open to all current members of Music Nova Scotia through the Music Nova Scotia website. Voting is now open and will close on Friday, September 29 at 5:00 PM. The category of Entertainer of the Year Award is open to be voted on by the general public beginning Friday, October 6th and closes on Friday, October 27.
This year’s festival returns to Truro and will feature more than 100 acts from across the province between Nov 2-5, 2017. The award show proper will be held on Sunday, November 5. The performers that have been announced so far include ONE8TEA, Cyndi Cain, Kyle MacDonald, Dazor, Matt Steele & The Corvette Sunset, DJ IV, J-BRU, and Juno award winners Wintersleep. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 15.
