Manitoba Acts Receive 27 Nominations at 2005 WCMAs

Manitoba artists have been honoured with numerous nominations at the 2005 Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMA), showing the strength of the keystone province’s music industry on a national stage yet again. Local artists account for 27 nominations in 16 different categories, including several multiple nominees, the Western Canadian Music Alliance announced in Vancouver on September 14. The trophies will be handed out at a gala event held on October 23 at Vancouver’s prestigious Commodore Ballroom.

Leading with four nominations is 2005 JUNO Award-nominated roots quartet Nathan for its sophomore album Jimson Weed, competing for Outstanding Album (Independent), Outstanding Roots Recording, Outstanding Songwriter, and Video of the Year. Nathan’s debut recording, Stranger, was awarded Outstanding Album (Independent) in 2001 at the Prairie Music Awards, which preceded the WCMAs.

Fellow 2005 Juno-nominated band The Waking Eyes is up for three awards: Entertainer of the Year, Outstanding Rock Recording, and Outstanding Album (Independent). Double nominees include bluesman Billy Joe Green, Francophone children’s artist Damien Lussier, and Grammy-winning Celtic fusion quintet The Duhks.

Industry professionals from Manitoba are also a force at this year’s Industry Awards, to be held at a brunch on October 22. Local engineers, media, talent buyers, managers, studios, venues, and graphic designers are poised to take home 16 awards. Nominees include Gilles Paquin and Paquin Entertainment, the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s Director of Music Programming Chris Frayer, and Smallman Records.

The awards gala is the pinnacle event of the third annual Western Canadian Music Week - held October 20 to 23, 2005 in Vancouver - which also features a conference and three-day music festival including 18 showcasing Manitoba acts. The WCMAs present an incredible opportunity for emerging and established artists to be a part of the western Canadian music community. Participating artists and other music professionals have the chance to meet key industry stakeholders, creating the opportunity for a new wave of exciting industry developments from record deals to international tours.

The 2006 Western Canadian Music Awards will be held in Winnipeg.

2005 Western Canadian Music Awards Manitoba Nominees

Artistic Awards

Outstanding Album (Independent)
Nathan - Jimson Weed
The Duhks – The Duhks
The Waking Eyes - Video Sound

Outstanding Album (Major Label)
Amanda Stott- Chasing the Sky

Outstanding Aboriginal Recording
Billy Joe Green - Muskrat Blues and Rock & Roll
Burnt Project 1 - Hometown
Kimberley Dawn - Healing Jane

Outstanding Blues Recording
Billy Joe Green - Muskrat Blues and Rock & Roll
South ThunderBird - Tough Go

Outstanding Children’s Recording
Damien Lussier - Terre en Sante

Outstanding Christian Recording
Amanda Falk - Amanda Falk

Outstanding Classical Recording
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra - So Much to Tell

Entertainer of the Year
The Waking Eyes - Video Sound

Outstanding Francophone Recording
Damien Lussier - Terre en Sante
Ya Ketchose - En Route

Outstanding Instrumental Recording
Greg Lowe - The Yellow Pelican
Moses Mayes - Needle to the Groove

Outstanding Jazz Recording
Michelle Gregoire - Reaching

Outstanding Rap/Hip-Hop Recording Team Rezofficial - The Foundation

Outstanding Rock Recording
Comeback Kid - Wake the Dead
The The Waking Eyes - Video Sound

Outstanding Roots Recording
Nathan - Jimson Weed
Romi Mayes - The Living Room Sessions: Volume One
The Duhks – The Duhks
Outstanding Songwriter Nathan - Jimson Weed

Video of the Year Nathan - "Sunset Chaser"
Tin Foil Phoenix - "Neopolitan"

Industry Awards

Agency of the Year
Paquin Entertainment

Engineer of the Year
Paul Scinocca

Independent Record Label/Distributor of the Year Smallman Records

Manager of the Year
Chris Burke-Gaffney
Paquin Entertainment
Jason Smith

Musician of the Year Gilles Fournier Radio, TV or Print Media Person of the Year
Lochlin Cross

Recording Studio of the Year
NB Sounds
Private Ear Recording

Talent Buyer/Promoter of the Year
Chris Frayer
Gilles Paquin

Live Music Venue of the Year
MTS Centre
West End Cultural Centre

Best Album Design
Craig Medwyduk (at Guppy Design) for the Album: Zanshin - Fubuki Daiko
Michelle Zieske for the Album: As Constant As the Northern Car - Patrick Keenan

For a complete list of nominees, please click HERE