Manitoba Artists and Industry Take Top Honours at the Western Canadian Music Awards
Artists and industry from Manitoba picked up hardware in nine categories at this year’s Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMA) in Regina. Celebrating the accomplishments of some of Western Canada's best and brightest, the envelopes were opened at a gala event on October 13 that kicked off the BreakOut West festivities, at an industry brunch on October 15, and at venues throughout the festival.
Emerging singer/songwriter William Prince, who performed at the gala, was on hand to accept his award for Aboriginal Artist of the Year. A multiple past winner, Romi Mayes picked up Blues Artist of the Year. JUNO Award-winning outfit The Bros. Landreth landed the honour for BreakOut Artist of the Year. Bilingual duo Nadia Gaudet & Jason Burnstick won for Children’s Artist of the Year. Jocelyne Baribeau, who is also up for a Canadian Folk Music Award this year, was named Francophone Artist of the Year. JUNO nominee Curtis Nowosad and his quintet won for Jazz Artist of the Year.
Manitoba’s industry entrepreneurs and music companies earned accolades at the Industry Awards. Paquin Artist Agency was recognized for its Impact in Artist Development. The West End Cultural Centre picked up the Community Excellence Award for its programs focusing on youth and the community. JUNO-winning designer Roberta Hansen landed honours for Excellence in Visual Design for her work on The Small Glories’ Wondrous Traveller.
The awards were part of BreakOut West, which was held October 13-16, and also features an industry conference and two-night music festival. Winners Prince, Gaudet & Burnstick, and Baribeau, were among this year’s festival acts, along with Adam Hanney & Co., Dirty Catfish Brass Band, Don Amero, Ghost Twin, JP Hoe, Justin Lacroix Band, Micah Visser, Quinton Blair, Slow Leaves, The Mariachi Ghost, and The Proud Sons.
BreakOut West presents an important 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.
For a complete list of 2016 WCMA winners, please visit breakoutwest.ca.
2016 Western Canadian Music Awards - Manitoba Winners
ABORIGINAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
William Prince
BLUES ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Romi Mayes
BREAKOUT ARTIST OF THE YEAR
The Bros. Landreth
CHILDREN'S ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Nadia Gaudet & Jason Burnstick
FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jocelyne Baribeau
JAZZ ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Curtis Nowosad Quintet
COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE AWARD
West End Cultural Centre
EXCELLENCE IN VISUAL DESIGN
Roberta Hansen
IMPACT IN ARTIST DEVELOPMENT
Paquin Artist Agency