Artists from all four Atlantic Canadian provinces were represented among the 2021 Canadian Folk Music Award nominees announced on Tuesday. The video for the reveal of the list of contenders began with a rousing cross-country singalong of the Small Glories’ Time Wanders On that included artists like Halifax’s Hillsburn, Pictou County bard Dave Gunning and St. John’s duo Earle & Coffin. (See bottom of story for full announcement video.)
Among the 100 nominees in 19 categories, Cape Breton’s skilled Celtic quartet Beolach’s All Hands picked up a pair of nominations for traditional album of the year and instrumental group of the year while Troy native Natalie MacMaster finds herself in the instrumental solo artist of the year category for her latest, Sketches.
Also from Nova Scotia, Cape Breton singer-songwriter Mike McKenna Jr. received a contemporary album of the year nod for his heartfelt songs of island life on At the Edge of the World, and Windsor-area family band the Gilberts were nominated for the young performer of the year award.
From Prince Edward Island, folk group the East Pointers chalked up an impressive four nominations with the album Yours to Break, including the Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries category, contemporary album of the year, single of the year for the Gordie Sampson-produced song Wintergreen and contemporary singer of the year for co-founder Tim Chaisson.
The East Pointers have some friendly competition in the contemporary album and contemporary singer categories in the form of P.E.I. songwriter Catherine MacLellan and her album Coyote, which also earned her a solo artist of the year nomination.
The robust tunes of Newfoundland and Labrador ensemble Rum Ragged earned the group two nominations, for new/emerging artist of the year and traditional singer of the year for Mark Manning. 16-year-old St. John’s folk-pop singer Paige Penney was also recognized for her emerging talent in the young performer of the year category.
From New Brunswick, songwriter and former Elvis tribute artist Mike Bravener was the province’s lone nominee, in the traditional singer of the year category for his record Depends Upon the Pay.
The top nominee for next year’s awards is the British Columbia duo Pharis & Jason Romero for their album Bet On Love, which landed in six categories, followed closely by Manitoba’s William Prince, whose acclaimed Reliever album was a quintuple nominee.
As with the 2020 edition of the annual celebration of the country’s roots and traditional music performers, the winners will be announced during a virtual ceremony that will be streamed over the April 9-10 weekend next year.
Originally the awards were planned to take place in Charlottetown on those dates, but due to concerns over COVID-19 and the health and safety of artists, organizers and the general public, the CFMAs will be happening online for the second year in a row.
