This past weekend, for the first time Rifflandia Festival and Breakout West Conference combined for a weekend of music in Victoria. Part of the Breakout West Conference was the Western Canadian Music Awards, hosted by CBC’s Grant Lawrence from the McPherson Playhouse on Sunday, September 20th.
Presented to music artists from the 4 Western Provinces, the awards were presented 20+ categories on Sunday plus an additional dozen award were presented to Music Industry professionals at a Saturday brunch.
Performers at the Sunday awards ceremony included Tanya Tagaq, The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer, Joe Silva, Annette, Jesse Roper, Sarah MacDougall and The Wet Secrets. In addition, NoMeansNo, the 2015 Hall of Fame inductees performed during the show.
The Western Canadian Music Awards Winners were:
Aboriginal Recording of the Year, presented by APTN: Tanya Tagaq – Animism (MB)
Blues Recording of the Year: The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer – A Real Fine Mess (BC)
Children’s Recording of the Year, presented by Bolen Books: *TIE* Fred Penner – Where In The World (MB) & Raffi – Love Bug (BC)
Classical Composition of the Year, presented by Canadian Music Centre: Cobalt – Jocelyn Morlock (BC)
Classical Recording of the Year: Ysaÿe Sonatas For Solo Violin – Karl Stobbe (MB)
Country Recording of the Year, presented by CCMA: Ridley Bent – Wildcard (MB)
Electronic/Dance Recording of the Year, presented by UnionElectronic: Kiesza – Hideaway (AB)
Francophone Recording of the Year, presented by Musicaction: Annette – Papillon Amiral (SK)
Independent Album of the Year, presented by Stingray Music: The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer – A Real Fine Mess(BC)
Instrumental Recording of the Year: Five Alarm Funk – Abandon Earth (BC)
Jazz Recording of the Year: Jill Barber – Fool’s Gold (BC)
Metal/HardMusic Recording of the Year: Shooting Guns – WolfCop Soundtrack (SK)
Pop Recording of the Year, presented by Rifflandia: BESTiE – No Bad Days (BC)
Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year: Def3 – Wildlif3 (SK)
Rock Recording of the Year, presented by Radio Starmaker: 36? – where do we go from here? (AB)
Roots Duo/Group Recording of the Year: Twin Peaks – Trouble (BC)
Roots Solo Recording of the Year: Sarah MacDougall – Grand Canyon (YT)
Songwriter(s) of the Year, presented by SOCAN: Dan Mangan, Gordon Grdina, Kenton Loewen, John Walsh “Vessel” – Dan Mangan + Blacksmith From the Album Club Meds (BC)
Spiritual Recording of the Year: Tanya Tagaq – Animism (MB)
Urban Recording of the Year: Dawn Pemberton – Say Somethin’ (BC)
World Recording of the Year: Tanya Tagaq – Animism (MB)
For more information and the complete list of winners check out breakoutwest.ca