GOOD LUCK! 2018 Hamilton Arts Award Nominees

Over 75 artists have been nominated in the 2018 City of Hamilton Arts Awards, including a number in the Music category.

From the arts award site:

The Awards Presentation will take place on Wednesday June 6, 2018 at Theatre Aquarius Dofasco Centre for the Arts as part of Hamilton Arts Week. The catered presentation event will feature great performers, art demonstrations, and the awarding of $35,000 in cash prizes to artists.

Below are the music nominees:

Click here for the complete list

Established

• Andre Bisson
• Benjamin Hackett (Azalea)
• Harrison Kennedy
• Amy King
• Terra Lightfoot
• Bill Majoros (The Foreign Films)
• Mike McCurlie
• Max Scramp
• Pip

Emerging

• Olivia Brown 
• Jennifer Budd 
• Jason Hachey (Hachey the MouthPEACE)
• Andrew MacPhail 
• Ryan Moore 
• Gillian Nicola 
• Justin Ross 
• Travis Stoddart 
• Vince Tarlton

A few musicians were also nominated in other categories as well

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Kosha Braun (Vioinist)
• Dr. David Gerry (Professor of Music)

Arts Innovation Award

• Astrid Hepner (Sax, Educator)
• Budd Roach (Tenor, Music Industry)
• Emma Rush (Guitarist)

Arts Education and Community Arts Awards

• Dave Gould (Musician, Educator)
• Becky Katz (Musician, Visual Artist)

Writing Award 

• Jamie Tennant (Journalist, CFMU Program Director, Author)

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Tickets to the ceremony are free but you must reserve them.

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Hamilton Arts Awards, More Hamilton Arts Awards Stories

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CONGRATS! Hamilton Arts Award Winners!

Hamilton's ever-expanding Arts scene was in the spotlight for the 2015 Hamilton Arts Awards held at Theatre Aquarius on June 4, 2015.  This wonderful event celebrated all aspects of art in the Hammer.

Click here for the Spectator story.

In the  music categories, Classical musician Bud Roach (Established award) and singer/songwriter Steve McKay (Emerging award) took home the top prizes.  CONGRATS!



Links: Bud Roach, More Bud Roach Stories, Video above courtesy of Bud Roach



Links: Steven McKay, More Steven McKay Stories, Video above courtesy of Balcony TV 

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Hamilton Arts Awards, More Hamilton Arts Awards Stories

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GOOD LUCK! 2015 Hamilton Arts Award Nominees

The arts in Hamilton are stronger than ever and the city is recognizing this through the Hamilton Arts Awards.  This year's nominee list has been released and, as always, music plays a big role.  Many talented musicians (divided into Established and Emerging categories) are up for these prestigious prizes.  Winners will be announced at a FREE ceremony at Theatre Aquarius on June 4, 2015.

Here are the music nominees:

Established

• Kojo “Easy” Damptey
• Bud Roach
• Philip Pip  Kummel 
  
  
  
  Links: More Pip Stories,, Video above courtesy of Pip
  
  
• Ruth Sutherland

Emerging

• Michael Dex Brown
• Steven McKay
  
  
  
  Links: More Steven McKay Stories, Video above courtesy of Southern Souls
  
  
• Marie Avery
  
  
  
  Links: More Marie Avery Stories, Video above courtesy of Angelo NotoCampanella
  
  
• Sara London

Click here for a full listing of the nominees. 

Click here for the results

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Hamilton Arts Awards, More Hamilton Arts Awards Stories

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Hamilton Music Industry Awards Nominees Announced - Including One for This Blog!

Nominees for the Hamilton Music Industry Awards were recently unveiled and this very blog received our first nod!  Many of the best and brightest that the Hammer has to offer were recognized for their wonderful work.  Winners will be announced on May 23, 2015 during a ceremony at the Dofasco Centre for the Arts.

A word from Lou, our blogger: "I am truly honoured to be nominated for an HMA and I'm definitely in great company!  It's wonderful being acknowledged by Hamilton's incredible music scene.  Thank you!"

Click here for the results

Here are some highlights:

Website/Online Publication

• Cut From Steel
• Hamilton Blues Lovers
• I Heart Hamilton
• Southern Souls
• Urban Hero Magazine

Video

• Ash and Bloom: This Town
• Katie Bulley: Up and In
• Yitka Karlik: Wonderbus #2
• Mike McCurlie and Laura Cole: You Can’t Toboggan In The Hammer Anymore
• Sumo Cyco: The Ugly
• TommyGunn: Hounds of Hamilton
• Tongue Fu: James Street North

Guitarist

• Strat Andriotis
• Jack de Keyzer
• Brian Griffith (Harrison Kennedy, Mimi Shaw)
• Daniel Lanois
• Jacob Moon
• Bud Roach
• Steve Strongman

Female Vocalist

• Laura Cole
• Terra Lightfoot (Dinner Belles)
• Melissa McClelland (Whitehorse)
• Diana Panton
• Ginger St. James

Male Vocalist

• Justin Dunlop
• Harrison Kennedy
• Max Kerman (Arkells)
• Bud Roach
• Tom Wilson (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings)

Drummer

• Nick Burson (Rae Billing)
• Dan Fila (Varga)
• Dave King (Steve Strongman)
• Paul Panchezak (Mark McNeil)
• Robin Pirson (Mississippi Bends)
• Tone Valcic (Mimi Shaw)

Bassist

• Carrie Ashworth (Mississippi Bends)
• Justin Bozzo (The Zilis)
• Ken Corke (Sumo Cyco)
• Justin Dunlop
• Justine Fischer (Fred Eaglesmith)
• Joe Varga (Varga)

Instrumental Record

• Strat Andriotis: Liars Incorporated
• Danielle Lennon: String Theory
• Emma Rush: Folklorica
• Bud Roach: Arias By Sances From 1636
• Daniel Lanois: Flesh and Machine

Ethnic Recording 

• Kenny C: Live Life
• Steel City Rovers: The Second Thrumming

Dance Recording

• The Bryan Sorensen Groove Trio: Stealing from the DJ
• Buckeye Red: INB4 404

Piano/Keyboard Player

• Greg Brisco (The Dinner Belles)
• Chris Bruder (Kojo Easy Damptey)
• Ron Cole (Laura Cole)
• Jeremy Fisher
• Jesse O'Brien (Harrison Kennedy, Steve Strongman)

Special Instrumentalist

• Brandon Bliss – Banjo (The Dinner Belles)
• Hachey the MouthPEACE (Beatbox)
• Ed Roth – Accordion (Rae Billing)
• Melanie Pothier – Mandolin (The Dinner Belles)
• Mark Sasso – Banjo (Elliott Brood)

Instrument Retailer

• Absolute Music
• Crash Landing
• Long and McQuade
• Mountain Music
• Picks and Sticks

Studio Engineer

• Nick Blagona
• Bob Doidge
• Daniel Lanois and Alex Krispin
• Darren Magierowski
• Roman Marcone
• moon:and:6
• Scott Peacock

Producer (s)

• Giuliano Baglioni
• Steve Bigas
• Michael J Birthelmer
• Nick Blagona
• Daniel Lanois and Alex Krispin
• Trevor Titian

Recording Studio

• Catherine North
• Grant Avenue Studio
• Jukasa Studio
• Pine Street Studios
• Porcelain Records
• Studio 410 Sound Productions

Artist Website

• www.arkells.ca
• www.blackieandtherodeokings.com
• www.elliottbrood.com
• www.jeremyfishermusic.com
• www.dianapanton.com
• www.whitehorsemusic.ca

Best Album Artwork

• Katie Bulley: Sun Wolf
• Jeremy Fisher: The Lemon Squeeze
• Harlan Pepper: Take Out A $20
• Mark McNeil: Flashbacks
• Jacob Moon: Fascination
• Sumo Cyco: Lost in Cyco City

Record Label

• Hidden Pony
• Other Songs Music Co.
• Schizophrenic Records
• Six Shooter Records
• Sonic Unyon Recording Company

Music Retailer

• Cheapies
• Dr. Disc
• Hammer City Records
• Picks And Sticks
• The Beat Goes On

Music Director (Radio)

• Chuck Evans (Y108)
• Sara Heres (The HAWK)
• Michelle Quinn (K-Lite)
• Ben Robinson (CFMU)

Publicist

• Listen Harder
• Lisa Millar
• Dave Young
• James Tennant

Radio Show

• Freewheelin Folk Show (CFMU)
• Get Hammered/Indie Show (Y108)
• Lou's Control (CFMU)
• Lullabies in Razorland (CFMU)
• Watermelon Throwdown (CFMU)

Media Person 

• Kristin Archer (ihearthamilton.com, CFMU)
• Lou Molinaro  (CFMU)
• Graham Rockingham (The Hamilton Spectator)
• Ric Taylor (CFMU, View Magazine)
• James Tennant (CFMU, Hamilton Magazine)
• Adam Carter (CBC Hamilton)

Radio Station

• 93.3 CFMU 
• 101.5 The Hawk
• 102.9 K-LITE
• Fresh 95.3
• Y108

Print Publication

• Hamilton Magazine
• Urbanicity
• View Magazine
• The Hamilton Spectator

Major Concert Venue

• Ancaster Fairgrounds
• Christie Conservation Area
• First Ontario Centre
• Gage Park
• Spencer Smith Park 

Live Club

• Baltimore House
• Club Absinthe
• The Corktown Pub
• Homegrown Hamilton
• Stonewalls
• The Casbah
• This Ain’t Hollywood

Theatre

• Hamilton Place
• Dofasco Theatre of the Arts
• McIntyre Performing Arts Centre
• Molson Canadian Studio
• The Pearl Company
• The Staircase Theatre

Talent Buyer

• Adam Carter (Homegrown Hamilton
• Ken Inyoue (Various)
• Marko Lubardo/Ben Rispin/Billy Pozeg (Club Absinthe)
• Lou Molinaro (This Ain’t Hollywood)
• Scott Warren (First Ontario Centre)
• Brodie Schwendiman (The Casbah)
• Grant Winestock (Baltimore House)

Booking Agent

• Live Tour Artists
• Paquin Entertainment
• S.L. Feldman and Associates
• Spherical Productions
• The Agency Group

Tour Manager

• Joe Cacioppo
• Brad Ferguson
• Duke Foster
• Rich Hagan
• John Morley

Live Sound Engineer 

• Anthony Cascella (The Casbah)
• Stephen Foster (Molson Canadian Studio)
• Steve Haines (Club Absinthe)
• Rich Hagan (Various)
• Adam Neumann (The Casbah)

Sound and Lighting Company 

• AVW Tel Av 
• Bates Audio
• Creative Artists Group 
• Lou’s Music
• Soundbox Productions 

Event Photographer

• Alex Bromke
• Ted Buck
• David McEachern
• Misha Photos
• Kyle Weir

Click here for the complete industry nominations

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2015 Hamilton Music Award Nominations Announced!

Recently, the 2015 Hamilton Music Award nominations were announced.  Once again, the best musical artists in the Hammer will get a chance to shine.  The hardware will be divvied up on May 24, 2015.

Singer/Songwriter Laura Cole leads the way with 5 nods (Female, Songwriter, Record, New Artist, and Adult Alternative). Jeremy Fischer is next in line with 4, The Arkells, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, and Elliott Brood all have three nominations apiece.

Click here for the Industry Award nominations - including one for this site!

Nominees for the industry categories will be announced in early April.

Click here for the Spectator story.

Click here for the results

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Here are a few highlights:

Female Artist

• Bianca Bernardi
• Katie Bulley
• Laura Cole
• Diana Panton
• Mimi Shaw
• Ginger St. James

Male Artist

• Jeremy Fischer
• Hachey the MouthPEACE
• Harrison Kennedy
• Jacob Moon
• Bud Roach
• Steve Strongman

Songwriter

• The Arkells
• Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
• Laura Cole
• The Dinner Belles
• Elliott Brood
• Jeremy Fischer

Record

• The Arkells: High Noon
• Blackie and the Rodeo Kings: South
• Caribou: Our Love
• Laura Cole: Dirty Cheat
• Elliott Brood: Work And Love
• Jeremy Fischer: The Lemon Squeeze

New Artist/Group of the Year

• Ash and Bloom
• Laura Cole
• Dirty Jeans
• Mississippi Bends
• Tongue FU

Blues Recording 

• Jack de Keyzer: Voodoo Boogie
• Joel Johnson: Blues Joose Volume II
• Harrison Kennedy: This Is From Here
• Shawn O'Halloran: Jumpin' The Gun On Mardi Gras
• Steve Strongman: Let Me Prove It To You

Folk/Traditional Recording

• Ash and Bloom: Let the Storm Come
• John and Sheila Ludgate: Northern Soul
• Scott Orr: A Long Life
• Matt Paxton: Mountain Eyes
• Alfie Smith and Nicole Christian: Come On In My Kitchen
• The Vaudevillian: Salty Dog

Roots Recording (Group) 

• Blackie and the Rodeo Kings: South
• Elliott Brood: Work And Love
• The Folk Sinners: Move That Rock
• Tim Gibbons and the Swampbusters: Swamp Tooth Comb
• Harlan Pepper: Take Out A Twenty And Live Life To The Fullest

Roots Recording (Solo) 

• Katie Bulley: Sun Wolf
• Fred Eaglesmith: Tambourine
• Low Country Hill: Low Country Hill
• Mark McNeil: Flashbacks
• Peter Tigchelaar: Better Things

Alt/Country Recording

• Rae Billing and the Unpayable:, Walls and Fences
• The Dinner Belles: The River And The Willow
• Mississippi Bends: Mississippi Bends
• Mimi Shaw: Niagara
• Ginger St. James: Diesel and Peas

New Country Recording

• Ty Baynton: Good Ol' Boy
• Billy J White: Damn Fool Thing

Jazz Recording

• Brenda Brown: Brenda Brown
• Diana Panton: Red 
• Haolin Munk: HMEP
• The Out of Towners: Dirty. Organ. Jazz
• Karen Thornton: Rain Down On Me

Alternative/Indie Rock Recording

• Beautiful Nothing: Beautiful Nothing
• The Dirty Nil: Smite
• Pet Sun: Feel Like I'm Going Away
• Dave Rave and the Governors: Ashtray Makeup
• Thought Beneath Film: Cartographers
• The Zilis: Sketches II

Rock Recording

• The Arkells: High Noon
• Bob Bryden: Yorkville Days
• Live How You Live: Live How You Live
• Social Animals: Innominate
• Sons of Revelry: Fractal

Adult Alternative Recording

• Laura Cole: Dirty Cheat
• Justin Dunlop: Black Bay Nocturnes
• The DoneFors: Lush Life Below The Poverty Line
• Jeremy Fisher: The Lemon Squeeze
• Jacob Moon: Fascination
• Whitehorse: Éphémère Sans Repère

Pop Recording

• Allotrope: Allotropic
• Among Millions: Among Millions
• Bianca Bernardi: Bianca
• Kojo "Easy" Damptey: Daylight Robbery
• Jordan Haller: Drifting
• Hello Harvard: EP

Click here for a complete list of nominees.

Blast from the Past: Last Years; Winners

Links: Hamilton Music Awards, More HMA Stories

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Hamilton Music Awards 2013 Nominations Announced

On Wednesday, October 30, 2013, the nominees for the latest edition of the Hamilton Music Awards were announced.   On November 17, there will a celebration of our amazing music scene at when the awards are given out.

Local blues legend Harrison Kennedy leads the pack with 5 nominations (Male Artist, Blues Recording, Songwriter, Male Vocalist, Record) and a lifetime achievement award. Ian Thomas, Bud Roach and Jessy Lanza landed four nods each.  Diana Panton, Ruth Sutherland and Tom Wilson (aka Lee Harvey Osmond) all have three nominations to their names

Click here for the results.

Click here for the Spectator story.

You can click here to see a complete list of nominees or check the highlights below:

Blues Recording of the Year
Andre Bisson – Bad Scene
Jack de Keyzer – Electric Love
Sonny Del-Rio – Blow Your Horn Man
Jerry Johnson – Barber’s Chair
Harrison Kennedy – Soulscape
Smoke Wagon Blues Band – Live In Hamilton

Folk/Traditional Recording of the Year
The Acoustics – Erie Long
Dawn and Marra – Teaspoons and Tablespoons
Poor Angus – Gathering
Timid, The Brave – Timid, The Brave
Michael Vallely – Circus Songs

Roots Recording of the Year
The Caretakers – Love, War + Propaganda
Rob Green – Soul Dancing
Andy Griffiths – Mind On Other Things
Lee Harvey Osmond – The Folk Sinner
Whitehorse – The Road to Massey Hall

Alt/Country Recording of the Year
1220 Blast – Home
The Barn Katz – Roadkill Grill
Tia McGraff – Break These Chains
Gillian Nicola & the Radio Interference – Chasing the Wind
JP Riemens & the Fabulous Barflies – No Filter

Adult Alternative Recording of the Year
Buckshot Bebee & the Secret Boyfriends – Merchants of Youth
Cowlick – Night Vision
Killin Time Band – One Set To Freedom
Meme – Meme
Marcio Novelli – It’s Not An Excuse, It’s A Reason
Perennials – This Is Tomorrow

Adult Contemporary Recording of the Year
Garth Baker – That Could Be Everything
Jamie Barnes – Coming Home
Paul Federici – Now And Then
Ghosts of Memphis – The Devil and the Details
Dave Rave – Memphis Midnight
Ian Thomas – Little Dreams

Ethnic/World Recording of the Year
Yiannis Kapoulas – Mystic Journey
Loril Shannik – The Vagabond Harp
Ruth Sutherland – A Canadian Christmas
Steel City Rovers – Steel City Rovers
John Gora and Gorale – Butterfly

Jazz Recording of the Year
Brad Cheeseman Group
George Rose Big Band
Jimmy Stahl Big Band
Robin Lee
Diana Panton

Female Artist of the Year
Buckshot Bebee
Jessy Lanza
Diana Panton
Rosanna Riverso
Ruth Sutherland

Male Artist of the Year
Jack de Keyzer
Harrison Kennedy
Dave Rave
JP Riemens
Bud Roach
Ian Thomas

New Artist/Group of the Year
Allotrope
Engine Empire
Jessy Lanza
Gillian Nicola & the Radio Interference
Two Piece Extra Spicy

Mohawk College Artist Lifetime Achievement Award
Harrison Kennedy

Instrumental Recording of the Year
Brad Cheeseman Group – Brad Cheesman Group
Yiannis Kapoulas – Mystic Journey
Loril Shannik – The Vagabond Harp
George Rose Big Band – Echoes of Legends

Songwriter of the Year
Harrison Kennedy
Dawn Larsh (Dawn and Marra)
Ian Thomas
Walk Off The Earth
Tom Wilson (Lee Harvey Osmond)

Female Vocalist of the Year
Sarah Blackwood (Walk Off The Earth)
Melissa McClelland (Whitehorse)
Diana Panton
Rosanna Riverso
Ruth Sutherland

Male Vocalist of the Year
Jon Harvey (Monster Truck)
Harrison Kennedy
Bud Roach
Ian Thomas
Tom Wilson

Record of the Year
Harrison Kennedy – Soulscape
Jessy Lanza – Pull My Hair Back
Lee Harvey Osmond – The Folk Sinner
Monster Truck - Furiosity
Walk Off the Earth – R.E.V.O.

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Click here for more about the Hamilton Music Awards

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