GOOD LUCK! Local Artists Earn 2015 Canadian Folk Music Award Nominations

A number of talented local artists have earned 2015 Canadian Folk Music Award Nominations. Hopefully, some of them will be bringing home the hardware on November 6-8, 2015 in Edmonton, Alberta after the ceremony.

Hamilton's Whitehorse duo is up for the English Songwriter, Pushing the Boundaries and Ensemble categories. Two more area musicians were nominated for Pushing the Boundaries: Hamilton singer/songwriter Dana Sipos and Elora's Kevin Breit.



Links: Dana Sipos, More Dana Sipos Stories, Video above courtesy of Jacob Frese



Links: Kevin Breit, More Kevin Breit Stories, Video above courtesy of Richard Sugarman

Brantford's Benjamin Dakota Rogers and Oakville songstress  Mira Meikle earned nods for Young Performer of the Year as well.  The Lucky Sisters, a trio featuring Guelph's Tannis Slimmon, Cambridge's Allison Lupton, and Toronto's Rosemary Philan) is also up for Vocal Group of the Year. Lastly Dundas native Les Cooper was recognized for his producing work on the new Good Lovelies CD, Burn the Plan.



Links: Mira Meikle, Video above courtesy of StarWorld617

Here is the complete list:

Pushing the Boundaries

• Dana Sipos
• Whitehorse
• Kevin Breit
• The Shoeless
• The Jerry Cans

English Songwriter

• Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland (Whitehorse)
• Catherine Allan and Andrew James O'Brien (Fortunate Ones)
• Jenn Grant
• Amelia Curran
• Jon Brooks

Ensemble

• Whitehorse
• The Sweet Lowdown
• Big Little Lions
• The Once
• Jayme Stone

Vocal Group

• Lucky Sisters (ft Tannis Slimmon, Allison Lupton, Rosemary Philan)
• Pharis and Jason Romero
• Fortunate Ones
• The Young Novelists
• Good Lovelies

Young Performer

• Mira Meikle
• Benjamin Dakota Rogers
• Coastline
• Robbie Bankes
• Rebecca Lappa

Producer 

• Les Cooper - Burn The Plan (Good Lovelies)
• Pharis and Jason Romero, David Travers-Smith - A Wanderer I'll Stay (Pharis and Jason Romero)
• Jory Nash and Chris Stringer - The Many Hats of Jory Nash (Jory Nash)
• Daniel Ledwell - Compostela (Jenn Grant)
• Murray Pulver, Dave Zeglinski, Steve Bell - Pilgrimage (Steve Bell)

Traditional Album

• Pharis and Jason Romero: A Wanderer I'll Stay
• Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy: ONE
• Jayme Stone's Lomax Project
• Le Vent du Nord: Têtu
• Matthew Byrne: Hearts and Heroes

Contemporary Album

• Jenn Grant: Compostela
• The Once: Departures
• Jon Brooks: The Smiling And Beautiful Countryside
• Gabrielle Papillon: The Tempest of Old
• Catherine MacLellan: The Raven's Sun

Children’s Album

• The Swinging Belles: More Sheep, Less Sleep
• Stella Swanson: I'm Not a Bunny
• Hilary Grist: Tomorrow is a Chance to Start Over
• Henri Godon: La vie rêvée!
• Ginalina: Forest Friends' Nature Club Album

Traditional Singer

• Annie Lou
• Pharis and Jason Romero
• Ventanas
• Michael Jerome Browne
• Matthew Byrne

Contemporary Singer

• Jory Nash
• Amelia Curran
• Peter Katz
• Catherine MacLellan
• Sarah MacDougall

Instrumental Solo Artist

• Patti Kusturok 
• Jean-François Bélanger
• Adrianna Ciccone
• Wendy MacIsaac
• Nick Hornbuckle

Instrumental Group

• Lemon Bucket Orkestra
• Coastline
• Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy:
• Shane Cook and Jake Charron
• Monsoon

French Songwriter

• Benoit Pinette (Tire le Coyote) 
• Dany Placard
• Louis-Jean Cormier
• Geneviève Toupin (Willows)
• Jocelyne Baribeau

Aboriginal Songwriter

• Miranda Currie
• Buffy Sainte-Marie
• Laura Vinson and Free Spirit
• The Jerry Cans
• Raven Kanatakta and ShoShona Kish (Digging Roots)

Solo Artist

• Lizzy Hoyt
• Oh Susanna
• Amelia Curran
• Michael Jerome Browne
• Catherine MacLellan

World Solo Artist 

• Emmanuel Jal
• Kiran Ahluwalia
• Wagner Petrilli
• Jean-François Bélanger
• Elage

World Group

• Lemon Bucket Orkestra
• Ventanas
• Ayrad
• Alex Cuba
• Monsoon

New/Emerging Artist

• Fortunate Ones
• The Young Novelists
• The Harpoonist and The Axe Murderer
• The River And The Road
• Crooked Brothers

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: CFMA, More CFMA Stories

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Mark McNeil Brings Hamilton History to Musical Life on < Flashbacks >

History lessons don't have to be boring and dull, especially with Hamilton's colourful past.  The Hammer's Mark McNeil and his band of musical historians have taken the city's most interesting tales and brought them to vivid life on Flashbacks,

The CD is an extension of James Street, the incredible musical written by Mark. This Hamilton Music Award nominated album will tell you true tales about infamous alleged killer Evelyn Dick, a crazy monkey called Jacko, Einstein's brain, and Hamilton's military past.  History was never this fun!

Mark has enlisted some amazing Steeltown talent to add amazing music to these wonderful stories: Michael Hickey (bass), Paul Panchezak of Trickbag (drums/percussion), Jeff Griffiths (drums), Steve Parisien (guitar), Jay Burr (tuba/trombone), Charly Chiarelli (harmonica), Steve Fuller (fiddle), Cyndi Devereux (fiddle), Geoff Somers (fiddle), Allison Lupton (flute), Gayle Bridger (bodhran/cajon), Major Michael Rehill and the RHLI Military Band, Orange McFarland (bass). Background vocals by Mike Trebilcock, Paula Grove, Jon Gordon Odegaard, Kris Rochard and Scott Cameron Smith.

Copies of his historical CD can be picked up at  The Hamilton Store and the front Desk of the Hamilton Spectator building or ordered online vie The Spec Store,   Downloads are available through Bandcamp.







Blast from the Past: Videos from the Musical James Street

Links: Mark McNeil, More Mark McNeil stories, Videos above courtesy of Hamilton Blues Lovers, More Releases

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