The East Coast Music Association rounded out a weekend of socially-distanced festivities with a broadcast awards show and a slew of performances. Having already announced the bulk of the 2020 award winners, the final night set aside some of the ECMA’s biggest categories. Among the biggest winners this year were Wintersleep and Tim Baker.
The East Coast Music Awards took place with a special pre-recorded broadcast on July 11, after being postponed for more than two months by COVID-19.
“Although our plans for a big celebration in St. John’s were put on hold this year, we were very proud to produce this special program to pay tribute to our hard-working and deserving East Coast artists and industry professionals,” says Andy McLean, CEO of the East Coast Music Association. “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those who participated in the preparation of this show, to all those who tuned-in and to the city of St. John’s and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador for their inimitable hospitality over the past year.”
Nine awards went out during the final night of awards, along with a special performance that included Ron Hynes’ induction in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
The 2020 ECMA Nominees and Winners are as follows:
(Winners are in bold)
2020 MUSIC AWARD NOMINEES
Album of the Year
Neon Dreams – Sweet Dreams Till Sunbeams (Producer: Corey Lerue)
Ria Mae – Stars (Producers: Truancy, Joel Stouffer, John Nathaniel, Kristoffer Eriksson, Adam King, Les Cooper, Ryan Kowarsky, Scott Effman)
Rich Aucoin – Release (Producers: Rich Aucoin, Joel Waddell)
Tim Baker – Forever Overhead (Producer: Marcus Paquin)
Wintersleep – In The Land Of (Producers: Tony Doogan, Wintersleep)
Bucky Adams Memorial Award
Jody Upshaw
Jon Samuel
Rey D
Tachichi
ZAMANI
Francophone Recording of the Year
Cy – Acadian Dream
Jacobus – Caviar
Jacques Surette – Marche, marche, marche
Sirène et Matelot – Sirène et Matelot
Spoutnique – Solace
Indigenous Artist of the Year
Carolina East
City Natives
Deantha Edmunds
Eastern Owl
SHiFT FROM THA 902
Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year
Anna Ludlow – Wherever You Go
Còig – Ashlar
JP Cormier – Once
Keith Mullins – Upward (Howlin’ at the Moon)
Natalie MacMaster – Sketches
Shannon Quinn – Watchmaker
Solo Recording of the Year
Damhnait Doyle – Liquor Store Flowers
Jason Benoit – Revolution Pt. 1
Jenn Grant – Love, Inevitable
Natalie MacMaster – Sketches
Rich Aucoin – Release
T. Thomason – T. Thomason
Tim Baker – Forever Overhead
Songwriter of the Year
Adyn Townes
Dave Sampson
Ria Mae
Rich Aucoin
The East Pointers
Wintersleep
Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year
Dave Gunning
Jenn Grant
Jimmy Rankin
Lennie Gallant
Neon Dreams
Ria Mae
Rich Aucoin
The East Pointers
Tim Baker
Wintersleep
Fans’ Choice Video of the Year
Devarrow – “Crashed Cars” (Directors: Dom Fegan & Graham Ereaux)
Gabrielle Papillon – “Shout It Out” (Director: Teryl Brouillette)
Jason Benoit – “Slow Hand” (Director: Tim Deegan)
Jenn Grant – “Keep A Light On” (Director: Samantha Scaffidi)
Madison Violet – “Tell Me” (Director: Jillian Martin)
Neon Dreams – “High School Dropout” (Directors: Frank Kadillac & Alex Gayoso)
Ria Mae – “Hold Me” feat. Frank Kadillac (Director: Kat Webber)
The East Pointers – “Wintergreen” (Director: Emma Watkins)
Tim Baker – “All Hands” (Director: Jordan Canning)
Wintersleep – “Forest Fire” (Director: Christopher Mills)
Earlier in the day, the recipients of the Stompin’ Tom Awards — awards celebrating individuals and groups who have made long-term contributions to Atlantic Canada’s music industry from the ECMA’s five regions (Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Mainland Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Cape Breton) were also presented on CBC’s Weekend Mornings
The recipients of the 2020 Stompin’ Tom Awards are:
Kinnon & Betty Beaton (CB)
Chuck Teed (NB)
Wonderful Grand Band (NL)
Brent Williams (NS)
Paul Bernard (PE)
To see who else won at the 2020 East Coast Music Awards check the link below.
East Coast Music Association Announces First Round of 2020 ECMA Winners
The East Coast Music Awards will return, presumably, in 2021 with their regular awards show and conference being held in Sydney, Cape Breton.