Two albums, two musical genres, three MusicNL awards — Sunday night was a rewarding one to cap off Steve Maloney’s busy and reflective year.
Maloney took home three awards — Ron Hynes SOCAN Songwriter of the Year, Alternative Artist of the Year and Country Artist of the Year - for the two very personal recordings he released in 2017. “Room With a View” was an album Maloney created for the RPM Challenge last February; a collection of what he calls “reflective cowboy songs,”written and recorded from the window on the top floor of his old place on Military Road on his last night in the house. “The Memory Game,” an EP he released at the end of August.
“The album draws from feelings of detachment and loneliness, contemplation and acceptance,” Maloney wrote on his blog when it was released. “It’s a long arm to the past for myself and turned into a very cathartic experience.”
Maloney led the pack of MusicNL Award winners with his three awards Sunday night, along with two other triple award winners.
Janet Cull, fresh from touring the province and being hand-picked by k.d. Lang to open her Mile One Centre show last month, won the Factor Album of the Year, Molson Coors Pop/Rock Artist of the Year and the Travel Bug and Posie Row Female Artist of the Year awards for her latest album, “Real Tough Love.”
Ukrainian-Canadian speed folk band the Kubasonics won all three awards for which they were nominated: VOCM Group of the Year, Folk/Roots Artist of the Year, and The Overcast Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year, for their album “Kubfunland,” released last April. The latter award was the only MusicNL trophy presented after a public vote.
When it comes to MusicNL’s industry awards, Andrew Boyd of Rock Eden Magazine (also a member of rock band Waterfront Fire) led with two: Industry Professional of the Year and Outstanding Company of the Year.
Hosted by Alan Doyle at the St. John’s Convention Centre, the MusicNL awards gala wrapped up 2017 MusicNL Week, and a celebration of the provincial music industry’s 25th anniversary. Performers included Shanneyganock, Amelia Curran, Fortunate Ones, The Once and others.
Here’s the full list of this year’s winners:
FACTOR Album of the Year
Janet Cull - Real Tough Love
Alternative Artist of the Year
Steve Maloney
O’Reilly’s Irish Newfoundland Pub Celtic/Traditional Artist of the Year
Rum Ragged
Country Artist of the Year
Steve Maloney
The Overcast Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year
The Kubasonics
Posie Row & The Travel Bug Female Artist of the Year
Janet Cull
Folk/Roots Artist of the Year
The Kubasonics
VOCM Group of the Year
The Kubasonics
Instrumental Artist of the Year
Fretboard Journey
DC Design House Male Artist of the Year
Mick Davis
Molson Coors Pop/Rock Artist of the Year
Janet Cull
Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year
JYAY
Rising Star of the Year
Tied between Town House and Clare Follett
Ron Hynes SOCAN Songwriter of the Year
Steve Maloney
Ticketpro Electronic Artist of the Year
Happy Beats
The Nickel Music Video of the Year
Kellie Loder — “Boxes”
Dir: Tom Cochrane
Classic Hits Coast 101.1 FM Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year
Earle & Coffin
The Sign Shop Graphic Artist of the Year
Krista Power
Industry Professional of the Year
Andrew Boyd
Media Person of the Year
Paul Brace
Long & McQuade Music Educator of the Year
Melanie O’Brien
Outstanding Company of the Year
Rock Eden Magazine
Yahama Side Musician of the Year
Darren “Boobie” Browne
Volunteer of the Year
Don-E Coady
