For a scene newcomer, Ria Mae already has the achievements stacked up, but she's "over the moon" about your votes. The singer-songwriter has just returned from Iqaluit, where she played two shows for International Womens' Day. "That was certainly a highlight, not just in terms of music, but the trip itself. Margot Durling (percussionist/vocalist extraordinaire) and I got to experience a new culture and climate and meet lots of amazing people up north," she writes. As for 2009 highlights, Mae---whose first full-length album is due out in the fall---names opening for The Cliks during the Halifax Pride show on Garrison Grounds, her EP release and her acting debut in Rohan Fernando's movie Snow. Not bad newbie, not bad.
First runner-up: Cold Warps
Second runner-up: Three Sheet
