The East Coast Music Awards are heading to Halifax this spring, meaning that from May 3-7 the local scene is going to simmer even hotter with showcases, industry events and, yes, the awards ceremony itself. Yesterday, a press conference from the awards revealed the full list of nominees. Nova Scotia lead the pack with over 80 acts in the running, while HRM-area rapper Classified scored the most noms overall. Here’s a full list of who’s in the running for a big win at the ECMA’s award ceremony, which will be held May 4 at the Scotiabank Centre:
African Canadian Artist of the Year
- Aquakultre
- Jah’Mila
- Maggie Andrew
- Owen O’Sound Lee
- Zamani Folade
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Album of the Year
- Andrew Waite – Andrew Waite (Self Titled)
- Classified – Retrospected
- David Myles – It’s Only A Little Loneliness
- Fortunate Ones – That Was You and Me
- Jason Benoit – TIME TRAVELLER – SIDE A
- Kristen Martell – Every Season
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Blues Recording of the Year
- Allen Snow – The Quorum
- Charlie A’Court & Witchitaw – When Country Gets The Blues
- Mark Riley – PM BLUE
- Mike Trask – TV Dinner
- Rev. Dave and The Sin Eaters – Beams of Love
Children’s Entertainer of the Year
- Bingly and the Rogues (with The Villains Theatre)
- Heather Feather
- Matt the Music Man
- Pete
Choral Recording of the Year
- Dr. Zoo Featuring South African Singers Choir – We May Win
- Halifax Camerata Singers – Last Evening
- Luminos Ensemble – I Am an Island That Dreams
- Men of the Deeps – Remember the Miner
- Sirens – In Her Image
Classical Composer Of The Year
- Andrew Staniland
- Derek Charke
- Edward Enman
- Grej
- Natalie Williams Calhoun
Classical Recording of the Year
- Andrew Staniland – Reddened by Hammer: Earthquakes & Islands Remixed
- Atlantic String Machine – A Single Juniper Post
- Duo Concertante – Ecology of Being
- Jennifer King – O Mistress Moon (Canadian Edition)
- SHHH!! Ensemble – Meanwhile
Contemporary Roots Recording of the Year
- Carleton Stone – Papercut
- David Myles – It’s Only A Little Loneliness
- Madison Violet – eleven
- Rawlins Cross – Sunrise
- The East Pointers – House Of Dreams
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Country Recording of the Year
- La Patente – L’Illusion d’la perfection
- Mallory Johnson – Surprise Party
- Pretty Archie – Pretty Archie (Self Titled)
- Rev. Dave and The Sin Eaters – Beams of Love
- Willie Stratton – Drugstore Dreamin’
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Dance Recording of the Year
- Alex Byrne – Nothing but a Liar
- Bishu – WYGD
- Cloverdale & DJ Susan – Talkin
- Corey LeRue – IDTYK
- PINEO & LOEB – Hope
Electronic Recording of the Year
- It Could Be Franky – Edena
- Maura Whitman – Introspection
- Mear – Soft Chains
- Rich Aucoin – Synthetic Season 1
- Sparkee – Snack Pack
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Folk Recording of the Year
- Dylan Menzie – Modern Classic
- Fortunate Ones – That Was You and Me
- Julie Aubé – Contentement
- Kristen Martell – Every Season
- Madison Violet – eleven
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Enregistrement francophone de l’année
- Caroline Savoie – Bruits blancs
- Laurie LeBlanc – Long Weekend
- Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire – Pas l’temps d’niaiser
- Lisa LeBlanc – Chiac Disco
- Plywood Joe – Et les mangeux de baloni
- P’tit Belliveau – Un homme et son piano
Global Recording of the Year
- Andru Branch & Halfway Tree – Weather the Storm
- Jah’Mila – Roots Girl
- Jing Xia – The Numinous Journey
- Kubasonics – Kubasongs
- Vineet Vyas – Satyam
Group Recording of the Year
- Fortunate Ones – That Was You and Me
- Moira & Claire – I’m not usually this forward but…
- Pretty Archie – Pretty Archie(Self Titled)
- The East Pointers – House Of Dreams
- The Trews – Wanderer
Indigenous Artist of the Year
- Deantha Edmunds
- Gearl
- Jason Benoit
- Morgan Toney
- Silver Wolf Band
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Inspirational/Gospel Recording of the Year
- Dr. Zoo – 20
- Elijah MacDougall – The Boy Who Would Be
- Keith Mullins – Vets for Healings Song Camp 1
- One8tea – Say Amen
- Yvette Lorraine – Same Story
Instrumental Recording of the Year
- Atlantic String Machine – A Single Juniper Post
- Florian Hoefner – Desert Bloom
- Quilting – Quilting (Self Titled)
- Sarah Hagen – Johann Sebastian Bach: Goldberg Variations
- Shannon Quinn – 20 Summers
Jazz Recording of the Year
- Behrooz Mihankhah – Lydium
- Big Space – In Relation To
- Duane Andrews and the Hot Club of Conception Bay – Djangology
- Florian Hoefner – Desert Bloom
- JOYFULTALK – Familiar Science
Loud Recording of the Year
- Dali Van Gogh – New Blood, Old Wounds
- Electric Spoonful – 2 Poor 4 a Two Four
- Red Usurper – Abandon
- Swimming – That’s OK
- TRUCE. – Unentitled
Pop Recording of the Year
- Caroline Savoie – Bruits blancs
- Lisa LeBlanc – Chiac Disco
- Maura Whitman – Introspective
- The East Pointers – House Of Dreams
- Yvette Lorraine – Same Story
R&B / Soul Recording of the Year
- Aquakultre – Don’t Trip
- Boy T – Ride Your Name
- DEE HERNANDEZ – Remember Those Days
- JRDN – Red Eye
- Nicole Ariana – Crybaby
Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year
- Albert Dalton – If I Can’t Have It
- City Natives – The People of the Dawn
- Classified – Retrospected
- Owen O’Sound Lee – 235
- Reggie Morales – Regicide
Rising Star Recording of the Year
- Daniel James McFadyen – Hot Sun
- Dylan Menzie – A Piece of Me
- Isabella Samson – Love Takes You Home
- Marian – Astral Plane
- Moira & Claire – South Shore
Rock Recording of the Year
- Dali Van Gogh – New Blood, Old Wound
- Julie & Dany – Julie & Dany (Self Titled)
- Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire – Pas l’temps d’niaiser
- Motherhood – Winded
- Nick Earle – No More Hiding
- The Trews – Wanderer
Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year
- Gina Burgess – ISNOW
- Jing Xia – The Numinous Journey
- Kubasonics – Kubasongs
- Les Fireflies – Day by Day
- Shane Pendergast – The House Before the Bridge
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Solo Recording of the Year
- Adam Baldwin – Concertos & Serenades
- David Myles – It’s Only A Little Loneliness
- Jason Benoit – TIME TRAVELLER – SIDE A
- Lisa LeBlanc – Chiac Disco
- Owen O’Sound Lee – 235
Song of the Year
- Adam Baldwin – “Lighthouse in Little Lorraine”
- Andrew Waite – “Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That”
- Braden Lam – “Silence feat. Wolf Castle”
- Brandon Howard Roy – “Give Me Love”
- Daniel James McFadyen – “Hot Sun”
Songwriter of the Year
- Andrew Waite
- Kellie Loder
- Madison Violet
- Quote the Raven
- The East Pointers
Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year
- Classified
- David Myles
- Jason Benoit
- Kellie Loder
- Lisa LeBlanc
- Madison Violet
- Neon Dreams
- Rich Aucoin
- Robert Thomas and the Sessionmen
- The East Pointers
Fans’ Choice Video of the Year
- Andrew Waite – “Full Time, Tryin’ 2 Luv” (Director: Brendan Henry)
- Braden Lam – “don’t let go (Chapter 1 of 2)” (Directors: Tim Mombourquette, Braden
- Lam)
- Classified – “Accept It (Retrospected)” (Directors: The Boyd Brothers)
- Dave Sampson – “All My Friends” (Directors: Ryker Titus, Andy Hines)
- Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire – “Safe to Say” (Directors: Katrine Noël, Kevin McIntyre)
- Moira & Claire – “Delaney’s Dad” (Director: Ray Antonison)
- Neon Dreams – “ITS ALL GOOD” (Directors: Dan Lewis Cole,Frank Kadillac)
- Nicole Ariana – “Master of Denial” (Directors: Griffin O’Toole, Brendan Lyle
- (MooseCanFly))
- PINEO & LOEB – “Attached 2 U” (Director: Gee Clarke)
- The East Pointers – “Save Your Lonely” (Director: Lucas Eastmure)
This article appears in Jan 1-31, 2023.