A singer-songwriter from The Rock and a Nova Scotia rock mainstay top the list of 2020 East Coast Music Awards nominations, announced Thursday morning in St. John’s.
Singer-songwriter Tim Baker, formerly the driving force behind the now-defunct Hey Rosetta!, was joined by indie band Wintersleep with seven nods apiece for the honours which will be presented during the 2020 ECMAs Festival & Conference in St. John’s from April 29 to May 3.
Wintersleep singer/guitarist Paul Murphy said he was glad the band was keeping good company in the nominations, and hoped listeners would take the opportunity to expand their horizons by exploring the list of musicians and releases further.
“It’s a cool way to highlight all the different artists that are here, and I think (the nominations) are such a strong pool of artists from the East Coast. Then when you go to the actual ECMAs, it’s a celebration of all the music that’s made here,” enthused Murphy, who appreciated the fact that his band’s latest album In the Land Of was warranting the attention despite having a darker tone and a more direct approach to its urgent subject matter, from climate change to global unrest.
“It’s nice to get recognized for any record, it feels good when it comes after we’ve completed all the touring for this record. Now we get to go back and celebrate it in our favourite city on the East Coast, there’s something kinda poetic about it all.”
A top folk act from another island, P.E.I.’s globetrotting folk trio the East Pointers, proved their popularity with six nominees, while the other top slots were filled out by Nova Scotia performers.
Wintersleep's 'Beneficiary' stands in the Song of the Year category, one of seven nominations for the band.
The quintuple nominee list belongs to modern pop acts Ria Mae, Neon Dreams and Rich Aucoin, while Lake Echo-based pop-folk singer-songwriter Jenn Grant and Cape Breton neo-folk group Villages picked up four nominations apiece.
The nominations came as a treat for Neon Dreams, which just received its first Juno Award nomination for breakthrough group of the year for Sweet Dreams TIll Sunbeams. The duo of Frank Kadillac and Adrian Morris also recently released the fresh new single Turn Back Now which shows them honing their talent for infectious, upbeat tunes even further.
“Over the past year-and-a-half I think we’ve completely changed our mindset as to what kind of band we are, and I think it’s worked, even though it’s kind of like trying to reinvent the wheel,” said Morris, pleased to see Neon Dreams’ nominations include the fan-voted entertainer of the year category.
“Especially when you’ve been playing together as long as me and Frank have. ... It’s been really awesome how the East Coast has supported us, to the point where we’ve been able to tour across the country and be nominated for a Juno. Being surrounded by supportive people on the East Coast is really what helped us build that.”
Jenn Grant also counts entertainer of the year among her four nominations, an honour she gets to display when she plays a Valentine Day show at home at Halifax’s Rebecca Cohn Auditorium on Friday, Feb. 14.
Nominated for her landmark release Love, Inevitable — recorded with producer Tucker Martine in Portland, Ore. — Grant said she appreciated the opportunity to step outside her comfort zone and work with a creative partner other than her husband Dan Ledwell, just one of many life-changing events for Grant over the past year.
“It was a challenging year because I’d just had a baby and then we went out on tour, so it was hard and rewarding,” said the singer, currently expecting her second child with Ledwell. “We have a lot of memories of being together as a family in many different places in the world.
“The best thing is that we got to be together as a family, and I’m so grateful to be supported by my partner and my team who have encouraged me that I can be a great mother and a working artist at the same time.”
In addition to the award categories voted on by members of the East Coast Music Association, Thursday’s announcement included the news that beloved St. John’s folk band Shanneyganock would receive the Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award for its ongoing efforts on record and on the road to preserve and promote the traditional songs of Newfoundland and Labrador. More honourary award recipients will be announced closer to the event this spring.
Tim Baker, late of Hey Rosetta!, also has seven nominations for the album 'Forever Overhead'.
"We are so excited to be returning to St. John’s — a city steeped in cultural vibrancy and unwavering hospitality,” ECMA CEO Andy McLean said of the ramp-up to the event’s 2020 edition.
“We extend a wealth of gratitude to the city and to the province of Newfoundland for hosting us once again, and for helping us celebrate a tremendous week of music, conferences, networking events, and new business opportunities for our hard-working East Coast artists.
“It will be one for the record books.”
The festivities in Newfoundland this spring will also include a special performance by Dartmouth-bred rocker Matt Mays on May 2, headlining a special 2020 ECMA Big Ticket concert at Delta Hotels by Marriott St. John’s Conference Centre, with Saint John, N.B. indie band the Backstays joining the bill.
Mays’ ECMAs appearance comes after his extensive touring for his two consecutive albums, Once Upon a Hell of a Time..., “a Saturday night party-rock record for the brokenhearted,” and its subsequent acoustic reimagining, Twice Upon a Hell of a Time..., “the version for the hangover on Sunday.”
Besides live showcases across St. John’s and the awards gala, the ECMA Conference provides workshops and mentorship programs for musicians and those working in the industry. The event includes a focus on developing regional music management and self-managed artists, and a virtual conference with sessions on promotion and essential steps for emerging artists looking to build a strong foundation for their careers.
Further announcements about 2020 ECMA showcasing artists, conference details and performers for the gala awards show will be revealed in the coming weeks.
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)
Blues Recording of the Year
Grasshopper - Southern Bones
Matchstick Mike - Dog Up The Road
Mike Biggar - Mike Biggar & Band Live at The BMO Theatre
Myles Goodwyn - Myles Goodwyn and Friends of the Blues 2
Bucky Adams Memorial Award
Jody Upshaw
Jon Samuel
Rey D
Tachichi
ZAMANI
Classical Recording of the Year
Atlantic String Machine - The Bayfield Sessions
Christine Carter and Duo Concertante - Invitation
Gillian Smith - Into the Stone
Marc Djokic - Solo Seven
Various - Songs of the Invisible Summer Stars
Contemporary Roots Recording of the Year
Damhnait Doyle - Liquor Store Flowers
Erin Costelo - Sweet Marie
Madison Violet - Everything’s Shifting
Steven Bowers - Elk Island Park
The East Pointers - Yours to Break
Country Recording of the Year
Ben Chase - All Over It
Cory Gallant - Welcome To My World
Dave Sampson - All Types of Ways
Jason Benoit - Revolution Pt. 1
Tomato/Tomato - Canary in a Coal Mine
Dance Recording of the Year
CRaymak - “I’d Do It Again” feat. Saint Yves
Famba - “Swear to God”
Karate Kactus - “SHY” feat. FAANGS
Sparkee - Discovery
Spoutnique - Solace
Electronic Recording of the Year
Dead Horse Beats - Inglaterra
It Could Be Franky - We All Know How This Will End
PINEO & LOEB - Elevation
Rich Aucoin - Release
Rozalind MacPhail - Don’t Let Me Fall Too Far
Folk Recording of the Year
Dave Gunning - Up Against the Sky
Jenn Grant - Love, Inevitable
Old Man Luedecke - Easy Money
Tim Baker - Forever Overhead
Villages - Villages
Francophone Recording of the Year
Cy - Acadian Dream
Jacobus - Caviar
Jacques Surette - Marche, marche, marche
Sirène et Matelot - Sirène et Matelot
Spoutnique - Solace
Group Recording of the Year
Motherhood - Dear Bongo,
Neon Dreams - Sweet Dreams Till Sunbeams
The East Pointers - Yours to Break
Villages - Villages
Wintersleep - In The Land Of
Indigenous Artist of the Year
Carolina East
City Natives
Deantha Edmunds
Eastern Owl
SHiFT FROM THA 902
Inspirational Recording of the Year
Chris Stephens - When It Was Dark
Eastern Owl - Qama'si
Ian Foster and Nancy Hynes - A Week in December
One8Tea - Ventilation
Rey D - No Failing Faith
Instrumental Recording of the Year
Florian Hoefner - First Spring
Mark Djokic - Solo Seven
Natalie MacMaster - Sketches
Paul Tynan - Quartet
Sam Wilson - Groundless Apprehensions
Jazz Recording of the Year
Ethan Ardelli - The Island of Form
Florian Hoefner - First Spring
Heather Bambrick - Fine State
Paul Tynan - Quartet
Sam Wilson - Groundless Apprehensions
Loud Recording of the Year
Dischord - Corruption of Innocence
Dumpster Mummy - Dumpster Mummy 2
Hard Charger - Vol 4: Take The Guff And Suffer
Spirit of the Wildfire - Bittersweet Nothings
ZAUM - Divination
Pop Recording of the Year
Neon Dreams - Sweet Dreams Till Sunbeams
Rachel Cousins - Rachel Cousins
Ria Mae - Stars
T. Thomason - T. Thomason
Tara MacLean - Deeper
R&B/Soul Recording of the Year
Chris Kirby - What Goes Around
Jody Upshaw - Guilty One
Laura Roy - Forte
Selby Evans - Forever
Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year
Aquasocks - HOLOS
City Natives - Reborn
Jacobus - Caviar
JYAY - Rambo
Tachichi - Top Ten
Rising Star Recording of the Year
Dave Sampson - All Types of Ways
Leanne Hoffman - What Remains
Motherhood - Dear Bongo,
Quote the Raven - Golden Hour
Villages - Villages
Rock Recording of the Year
Adam Baldwin - No Rest for the Wicked
Andrew Waite - Tremors
Jon Samuel - Dead Melodies
Motherhood - Dear Bongo,
Wintersleep - In The Land Of
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
Song of the Year
Mo Kenney - Ahead of Myself (Producer: Mo Kenney)
Port Cities - Montreal (Producer: Dylan Guthro, Thomas Tawgs Salter)
The East Pointers - Wintergreen (Producer: Gordie Sampson)
Tim Baker - Dance (Producer: Marcus Paquin, Tim Baker)
Wintersleep - Beneficiary (Producer: Tony Doogan / Wintersleep)
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 (Director: 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)
2020 INDUSTRY AWARDS
Company of the Year
Foleymore Entertainment
Krista Keough Creative Communications
Parkindale Productions Inc.
Sound of Pop
The Citadel House
The Syrup Factory
Event of the Year
Celtic Colours International Festival
Halifax Jazz Festival
Makin' Waves presented by Sydney Credit Union
Shivering Songs Festival
Stan Rogers Folk Festival
Graphic/Media Artist of the Year
Aaron Bishop
Deep Hollow Print
James Bennett
Jud Haynes
Launch Media
Management/Manager of the Year
Forward Music Group
Jones & Co
Mary Beth Waldram
Roger Lockyer
Media Outlet of the Year
Canadian Beats
Parkindale Productions Podcast
The East
The East Coast Music Hour
Weekend Mornings with Bill Roach - CBC Radio 1
Media Person of the Year
Alex Cook
Bill Roach
Erin Bond
Greg Smith
Richard Lann
Producer of the Year
Chris Kirby
Daniel Ledwell
Jon Matthews
Mark Adam
Mike “Sheppy” Shepherd
Studio Engineer of the Year
Jamie Foulds
Jason Jenkyns
Jon Matthews
Scott Ferguson
Thomas Stajcer
Studio of the Year
Codapop Studios
Echo Lake
FMP Matrix: STUDIO FMP
Soundpark Studios
The Sound Mill
Venue of the Year
Celtic Performing Arts Centre at The College of Piping
Parkindale Productions: Parkindale Hall & Shepody House
The Capital Complex
The Carleton
The Ship Pub
Video of the Year
Don Brownrigg - Room For Me (Directors: Mel Stone & Don Brownrigg)
Ryan Cook - Memory Foam (Director: Stephen Cooper)
Tim Baker - All Hands (Director: Jordan Canning)
Villages - Maggie of the Cove (Director: Jeff Miller)
Vishtèn - Elle Tempête (Directors: Millefiore Clarkes/One Thousand Flowers Production)
