The Music Newfoundland and Labrador Awards nominees have been announced.
I'll italicize my choice.
Album of the Year
This year, album of the year is a ****ing powerhouse. Every single one of these artists is a HUGE deal here, but I have to go with my all-time favourite band, The Once. However, I suspect Janet Cull has this. Her being nominated is like Beiber up for some award that only teenage girls can vote for.
Chris LeDrew – Art of the Confessor
Earle & Coffin – Wood Wire Blood & Bone
Ian Foster – Sleeper Years
Janet Cull – Real Tough Love
Steve Maloney – The Memory Game
The Once – We Win Some We Lose
Alternative Artist of the Year
Category VI
Gavin Simms
Informants
Steve Maloney
Town House
Young Manics
Celtic Traditional
Rum Ragged is
amazing live. There's just so much passion and raw talent that doesn't need a studio's finesse. I think if enough of the voters have experienced it, they'll win by a landslide.
Colleen Power
Cordeen
Dave Penny
Doug Dorward
Matthew Byrne
Rum Ragged
Country Artist of the Year
Could not care less. But choosing Steve Maloney since I've heard of him and don't even consider him country.
Bev Allen
Steve Maloney
Victoria and The Lyricist
Entertainer of the Year
This is a tough one because it's everything, music, shows, interactions with people around town. The Once is still my favourite but in this category I think I have to go with Kubasonics because they're just so fun. But it's another strong one - I know and enjoy every nominee.
At my neighbourhood local:
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Hip Waders
Ian Foster
Janet Cull
The Kubasonics
The Once
Waterfront Fire
Female Artist of the Year
Janet Cull all the way. The only other remote possibility is Rachel Cousins.
Colleen Power
Janet Cull
Maria Cherwick
Melanie O’Brien
Rachel Cousins
Victoria Doyle
Folk/Newfoundland Roots Artist of the Year
This is the tough one. I'm choosing The Once out of subjective preference, but it could legitimately, objectively be any of these.
Adam Baxter
Christian Howse
Ian Foster
The Kubasonics
The Once
Weight of the World
Group of the Year
This one I have to vote for The Novaks. Their return was a BIG ****ING DEAL here. It was the water cooler talk for a couple of weeks. I think that hype, and joy, will overshadow all the rest.
Earle & Coffin
Informants
The Kubasonics
The Novaks
The Once
Town House
Instrumental Artist of the Year
Rozalind has this in the bag.
Fretboard Journey
Rozalind MacPhail
Jazz/Blues Artist
This is a fringe category, I imagine Hip Waders will take it as they seem bigger.
Earle & Coffin
Hip Waders
Male Artist of the Year
I think it's between Ian (political, separatist) and Steve (artistic, thoughtful), and I think Steve will take it.
Gavin Simms
Ian Foster
Luke Tremblett
Matthew Byrne
Mick Davis
Steve Maloney
Pop/Rock Arist of the Year
Clare Follett
Janet Cull
Mick Davis
Rough Hands
The Novaks
Land of the Lakes
Music Video of the Year
Adam Baxter – “Poor Cold Hungry Happy” Dir: John Pike
Doug Dorward- “Morag and Binker’s” Dir: Phil Maloney
Ian Foster – “Feels Like It Wants to Rain” Dir: Ian Foster
It Could Be Franky – “Always” Dir: Matthew Thomson
Kellie Loder – “Boxes” Dir: Tom Cochrane
Land of The Lakes – “On These Days” Dir: Duncan De Young
Rap/Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Unfortunately, I don't follow this genre (locally, though I love it internationally) and, if they're actually born and raised here, I guarantee they're awful. So, whichever of these is a relatively recent Newfoundlander or Labradorian, take it.
Adam Jenkins
JYAY
Lee Fitz
Tony Delicious
Rising Star of the Year
Rachel Cousins is not that new, so I think Rough Hands will take it. They've been making some pretty impressive headway in local airtime, media coverage, etc.
Clare Follett
Doug Dorward
Melanie O’Brien
Rachel Cousins
Rough Hands
Town House
Songwriter of the Year
This is another stacked category, so voting subjectively for The Once.
Clare Follett
Gavin Simms
Janet Cull
Rough Hands
Steve Maloney
The Once
Electronic Artist of the Year
If it's not Elling, we riot. Although, Repartee should've been nominated (they moved to Toronto this year to try to get bigger, and I suspect that's part of this. Didn't do them any good, though, their songs only became hits here).
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Alex Byrne
Elling Lien
GAME BOY
Happy Beats
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