SYDNEY — Classified leads this year's East Coast Music Award nominations with eight nods while Rose Cousins followed with six.
Beòlach, Catherine MacLellan, David Myles, Neon Dreams, and Rich Aucoin each received four. Nova Scotia scored 94 nominations, New Brunswick had 39, Newfoundland and Labrador had 35 and Prince Edward Island scored 25 for this year’s upcoming East Coast Music Awards, to be held in Sydney May 5-9.
Although the nomination announcement was supposed to held in Sydney Tuesday, it was held as a virtual event from Halifax on Facebook and YouTube due to provincial restrictions announced Feb. 26 limiting travel from Halifax due to COVID-19 concerns.
“We were really looking forward to reconnecting with everybody,” ECMA CEO Andy McLean told the Cape Breton Post. “There was going to be opportunity to meet with some of the stakeholders and then the announcement on Friday happened. And since then, I just didn’t want to risk bringing my whole team up to Sydney from Halifax. So we’ve been scrambling like crazy because everything now has to be online.”
Cape Bretoners receiving nominations included Beòlach with four nominations, Mike McKenna Jr with three, Maxim Cormier with 2, SHiFT FROM THA 902 with two, Celtic Colours International Festival with two, Jamie Foulds with two, and one nomination each for Hauler, Jordan Musycsyn, Lakewind Sound Studios, Launch Media, Mike "Sheppy" Shepherd, Norma MacDonald, Pretty Archie and Soundpark Studios.
In addition to the nominations, several other announcements were also made. The Children’s Entertainer of the Year category has been brought back and all showcase submissions have been made free. As well. Fees have been reduced to all award applications to $15 per award and a $20 flat fee for applications to the Export Buyers Showcase program. A new submissions platform that provides a better online experience was introduced and some new awards that address shifts in the industry were introduced.
There will be a new African Canadian Artist of the Year Award and the annual Bucky Adams Memorial Award will be now designated as an honorary award. New board members, Delvina Bernard, Patricia Bourque and Eva George, were also announced to build within marginalized communities.
Further announcements including showcasing artists and conference details will be unveiled in the upcoming weeks.
This year’s East Coast Music Award nominees are as follows:
African Canadian Artist of the Year
- Joe Bowden
- Keonté Beals
- Miokal
- Owen O'Sound Lee
- Shelley Hamilton
- Zamani
Album of the Year
- Classified - Time EP (Producer: Classified)
- Joel Plaskett - 44 (Producer: Joel Plaskett)
- Neon Dreams - The Happiness Of Tomorrow (Producer(s): Corey LeRue, PJ Bianco, Nathaniel
- Motte, Scott Effman, Adrian Morris)
- Rachel Beck - Stronger Than You Know (Producer: Daniel Ledwell)
- Rose Cousins - Bravado (Producer: Rose Cousins)
Children’s Entertainer of the Year
- Bingly and The Rogues
- Dr G
- Matt the Music Man
- Silly Robbie
- The Swinging Belles
Classical Composition of the Year
- Andrew Staniland - "Peter Quince at the Clavier"
- Bekah Simms - "Granitic"
- Derek Charke - "Tree Rings"
- Dinuk Wijeratne - "The Spirit and the Dust"
- Emily Doolittle - "Doolittle: Minute Études “Excerpts” (Live)"
- Peter-Anthony Togni - "Sea Dreams"
Classical Recording of the Year
- Charke-Cormier Duo - Bathymetric Terrains
- Duo Concertante - Franz Schubert Music for Violin and Piano
- Sarah Hagen - Women of Note
- Sarah Slean, Symphony Nova Scotia, Bernhard Gueller - Sarah Slean and Symphony Nova Scotia
- Steve Cowan and Adam Cicchillitti - Focus
Contemporary Roots Recording of the Year
- Catherine MacLellan - Coyote
- Coco Love Alcorn - Rebirth
- Émilie Landry - Arroser les Fleurs
- Mike McKenna Jr. - At the Edge of the World
- Rose Cousins - Bravado
Country Recording of the Year
- Brooklyn Blackmore - Get A Little Crazy
- Laurie LeBlanc - When It's Right It's Right
- Lawrence Maxwell - Almost Natural
- Norma MacDonald - Old Future
- The Heavy Horses - With Darkness In My Eyes
Dance Recording of the Year
- BRDGS & FWLR - "Suspicious"
- Cloverdale - Keep Dancing EP
- Karate Kactus - "Shut Up And Say It"
- Kin Crew x LNY TNZ - No Limits EP
- PINEO & LOEB - Free ft. Liinks & Kayo
Electronic Recording of the Year
- ELEPHANT SKELETONS - SLEEP
- grej - In Search Of...
- Rich Aucoin - United States
- Scientists of Sound - The Beginning (Of the Beginning of the End)
- Sparkee - Moon Mist
Francophone Recording of the Year
- Émilie Landry - Arroser les Fleurs
- Joey Robin Haché - TRENTE
- Les Hay Babies - Boîte aux lettres
- Matt Boudreau - Armageddon
- Menoncle Jason - La grosse piastre
Folk Recording of the Year
- David Myles - Leave Tonight
- Dylan Menzie - Lost In Dreams
- Jennah Barry - Holiday
- Rube & Rake - Leaving With Nothing
- Sherman Downey - New Beautiful
Group Recording of the Year
- Beòlach - All Hands
- Jessica Rhaye & the Ramshackle Parade - Just Like a Woman: Songs of Bob Dylan
- Les Hay Babies - Boîte aux lettres
- Rube & Rake - Leaving With Nothing
- Sorrey - In Full Bloom
Indigenous Artist of the Year
- Alan Syliboy & The Thundermakers
- Mike Bern
- SHiFT FROM THA 902
- Silver Wolf Band
- Wolf Castle
Inspirational Recording of the Year
- Jordan Musycsyn - Around The Fire
- Justin Fancy - Sure Beats a Good Time
- Kristen Martell - Coming Home
- Martine Kelsey - Sweet Hallelujah
- Natasha Blackwood - Ease Back
Instrumental Recording of the Year
- Beòlach - All Hands
- grej - In Search Of...
- Maxim Cormier - Maxim and Gervais Cormier: Live at the Fortress of Louisbourg
- Sarah Hagen - Women of Note
- Taktus - Mirrored Glass
- Wrong Planet Band - Wrong Planet Band
Jazz Recording of the Year
- Anteater - Anteater
- Joe Bowden - ROOTS - Tales of the Urban Yoda
- Joel Miller - UNSTOPPABLE
- Lee Park - Lee Park
Loud Recording of the Year
- Diner Drugs - As Is
- Hero's Last Rite - Behind the Darkest Days
- Sonic Detour - Sonic Detour
- Sound Drown - Selfish Reasons
- WinterheartH - Riverbed Empire
Pop Recording of the Year
- BRDGS - ie+
- Kim Harris - Heirloom
- KINLEY - KINLEY
- Rachel Beck - Stronger Than You Know
- Sorrey - In Full Bloom
R&B/Soul Recording of the Year
- Kam Sparks - "Witness" feat. Jamie Sparks
- Keonté Beals - KING
- Rey D - "Loyal"
- aRENYE - 23//97
- Zamani - Outside
Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year
- Atay & JAX - Last Night
- Classified - Time EP
- Owen O'Sound Lee - "Listen"
- SHiFT FROM THA 902 - This Ones For You EP
- Wolf Castle - Gold Rush
Rising Star Recording of the Year
- Beauts - Dalliance
- Braden Lam - Inside Four Walls
- Hauler - Hauler
- Mike McKenna Jr. - At the Edge of the World
- Moira Bren - 6 Is Green
- Rube & Rake - Leaving With Nothing
Rock Recording of the Year
- Beauts - Dalliance
- Chris Colepaugh - 2019
- Kestrels - Dream or Don't Dream
- Like A Motorcycle - Dead Broke
- Nap Eyes - Snapshot Of A Beginner
Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year
- Beòlach - All Hands
- Matthew Byrne - Matthew Byrne with the Lady Cove Women’s Choir - In Concert
- Maxim Cormier - Maxim and Gervais Cormier: Live at the Fortress of Louisbourg
- Pretty Archie - Running For Cover
- Rum Ragged - The Thing About Fish
Solo Recording of the Year
- Catherine MacLellan - Coyote
- Classified - Time EP
- David Myles - Leave Tonight
- Dylan Menzie - Lost In Dreams
- Rose Cousins - Bravado
Song of the Year
- Classified - "Good News" feat. Breagh Isabel (Producer: Classified)
- Like A Motorcycle - "Wide Awake" (Producer: Howard Redekopp)
- Neon Dreams - "Sick of Feeling Useless" (Producer: Nathaniel Motte)
- Rachel Beck - "Warrior" (Producer: Daniel Ledwell)
- Rich Aucoin - "Walls" (Producers: Rich Aucoin, Joel Waddell, Kevin Maher)
Songwriter of the Year
- Catherine MacLellan
- Classified
- David Myles
- Joel Plaskett
- Rose Cousins
Industry Nominees
- Artist Innovator of the Year (In light of COVID-19)
- Adam Baldwin
- Duo Concertante
- Laurie LeBlanc
- Stephen Lewis & The Big Band of Fun
- The East Pointers
Company of the Year
- 618 Entertainment INC
- Atlantic Disc & DVD
- The Citadel House
- Sonic Concerts
- Sound of Pop
Event of the Year
- Celtic Colours International Festival - Celtic Colours International Festival 2020
- Levee on the Lake
- Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society - Saturdays in the Park
- Shivering Songs
- The Jibfest Weekender
- Industry Innovator of the Year
- Side Door
- The Cap
- The East
- NSCC Music Business class of 2020 - The Revival Initiative
Live or Virtual Sound Engineer of the Year
- Carter Snow
- Michelle LaCour
- Peter Gallant
- Peter Green
Management/Manager of the Year
- Bruce Morel
- Kate Butler / She Said Feck Records
- Matthew Sampson
- Roger Lockyer
- Sonic Entertainment Group
Media Outlet of the Year
- Canadian Beats
- KIXX Country Network
- Maritime Centre Stage
- The East
- VOCM
Media Person of the Year
- Alex Cook
- Chris Pride
- Greg Smith
- Richard Lann
Producer of the Year
- Chris Kirby
- Classified
- Jamie Foulds
- John D.S. Adams
- Matthew Sampson
Studio Engineer of the Year
- Jamie Foulds
- John D.S. Adams
- Mike "Sheppy" Shepherd
- Paul Aarntzen
- Scott Ferguson
Studio of the Year
- FMP Matrix
- Lakewind Sound Studios
- Soundpark Studios
- Stonehouse Sound
- The Sonic Temple
Video Director of the Year
- Catherine MacLellan and Tara MacLean ("This Storm" - Catherine MacLellan and Tara MacLean)
- Mathieu Laprise ("Camping Colibri" - Raphaël Butler)
- Mr Mike Boyd ("Good News" feat. Breagh Isabel - Classified)
- Nicole C. Holland, Kat Shubaly ("Big Universe" - Jennah Barry)
- Patrick Canning ("Weight In My Lungs" - Heavy Horses)
Visual Artist of the Year
- Aaron Bishop
- Ashley Anne Clark
- Jessica Rhaye
- Kt Lamond
- Launch Media
Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year
- Beòlach
- Classified
- David Myles
- Jimmy Rankin
- Lennie Gallant
- Like A Motorcycle
- Neon Dreams
- Rich Aucoin
- Rose Cousins
- The East Pointers
Fans' Choice Video of the Year
- Andrew Waite - "Faith" (Director: Brendan Henry)
- BRDGS - "Dancing Without Music" (Director: Kostadin Kolev)
- Classified - "Good News" feat. Breagh Isabel (Director: Mike Boyd)
- Kellie Loder - "Molded Like A Monster" (Director: Ashlea Wessell)
- Kim Harris - "Once You Were Wondrous" (Director(s): Meaghan & Marie Wright
- of Mirror Image Media)
- Levi Rowan - "Let It Go" (Director(s): Levi Rowan, Alex Gayoso)
- Mike McKenna Jr. - "At the Edge of the World" (Director: Danny Gillis and Siyi Liu
- (Broken Lighthouse Films); Edited by: Marc-André Manseau (Tour de
- Force Média)
- Neon Dreams - "Sick of Feeling Useless" (Director(s): Frank kadillac, Adrian
- Morris)
- Rich Aucoin - "Walls" (Director: Jason Levangerie)
- Rose Cousins - "The Benefits of Being Alone" (Director(s): Shebab Illyas & Rose
- Cousins)
Elizabeth Patterson is a culture and health reporter at the Cape Breton Post.
