Nominations for the 2026 Ontario Folk Music Awards

From the FolkCanada.com news release:

Folk Canada Announces 2026 Ontario Folk Music Award Nominees

The 32nd annual Ontario Folk Music Awards will take place at The Studio in Hamilton, Ontario on Wednesday, October 14th during the annual Folk Canada Conference.

The event will feature performances by a select number of nominated artists and special guests, and is open to all Folk Canada Conference attendees. Still to be announced are the Estelle Klein Award recipients, the Laureate for the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award and Culture in Climate Award.

Established in 1987 and now in its 39th year, the Folk Canada Conference (previously the Folk Music Ontario Conference and Ontario Council of Folk Festivals) will take place October 14-18 in Hamilton, Ontario and welcomes attendees from across the country to the event. To learn more, Folk Canada invites interested parties to visit their website and sign up for their newsletter.

“The Ontario Folk Music Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the incredible talent and creativity found across the province,” says Rosalyn Dennett, Executive Director of Folk Canada. “We’re proud to recognize this year’s nominees and bring the folk community together in Hamilton to celebrate their work.” Rosalyn Dennett is available for interviews, and select artists are available for interviews and performances in advance of the event.

Below is a complete list of nominees. Local artists are bolded.

Album of the Year

• Honesty by The Lifers (Guelph)
  
  
  
  Links: The Lifers, More Lifers Stories, Video above courtesy of The Lifers
  
  
• The Truth We Hold by Amanda Rheaume
• Not Defeated by Angelique Francis Band
• Mi Pequeña by Eliana Cuevas
• Immersed by Justin Gray
• Sofreh Tisch by Ladom Ensemble
• Reasons To Stay by Tanika Charles

Music Video of the Year

• “One More Dance Around The Sun” by Great Lake Swimmers
  
  
  
  Links: Great Lake Swimmers, More GLS Stories, Video above courtesy of  GreatLakeSwimmers
  
  
• “Without You” by Aysanabee
• “Been Done” by Frank Mighty
• “Kaku “Grandma’” by Jonathan Nvita
• “Exploits Island” by Kate Weekes
• “Vulgar Bulgar” by Medusa Quartet
• “Fruta Prohibida” by Payadora

Performing Artist of the Year

• Logan Staats (Brantford)
  
  
  
  Links: Logan Staats, More Logan Staats Stories, Video above courtesy of Logan Staats
  
  
• The Barrel Boys
• Julian Taylor
• Mimi O’Bonsawin
• OK Naledi
• Schmaltz & Pepper

Recording Artist of the Year

• Great Lake Swimmers (Wainfleet)
• Aysanabee
• John Muirhead
• Kazdoura
• The Pairs
• summersets

Song of the Year

• “Unforgettable” by Amanda Rheaume
• “Inevitable” by Emma Lamontagne
• “WIHOGORA” by Empress Nyiringango
• “Oh, Little One” by Jory Nash
• “Patron Saint” by Kate Greenland
• “Until the Devil’s Paid” by Michael Darcy & The Atlantic Tramps
• “Quit My Habit” by Rebekah Hawker
• “Temporary” by Vicki Brittle

More Ontario Folk Music Awards Stories

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2024 Ontario Folk Music Award Nominees, Including Local Arists

From the press release: 

Folk Music Ontario Announces the 2024 Ontario Folk Music Award Nominees!

The 30th annual Ontario Folk Music Awards will take place in Mississauga, Ontario on Sunday, October 6, 2024 following the Folk Music Ontario Conference.

Mississauga, ON - August 14 2024 - In recognition of the outstanding work and contributions of Folk artists and musicians from across the province of Ontario, Folk Music Ontario (FMO) is pleased to announce the nominees for the 2024 Ontario Folk Music Awards (formerly the 'Songs from the Heart Awards'). Now celebrating its 30th year, the annual award ceremony will take place as the final event of the Folk Music Ontario Conference at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, Ontario on Sunday, October 6, 2024 and will feature performances by a select number of nominated artists and special guests.

Click here to purchase tickets

Copyright © 2024 Folk Music Ontario, All rights reserved.

Below is a complete list of nominees. Local artists are bolded

Performing Artist of the Year

• Sultans of String (members from Burlington)
  
  
  
  Links: Sultans of String, More Sultans of String Stories, Video above courtesy of Sultans of String
  
  
• Payadora Tango Ensemble featuring Lenka Lichtenberg and Aviva Chernick
• Mimi O'Bonsawin
• The Angelique Francis Band
• OKAN
• Adrian Sutherland
• Jessica Pearson and the East Wind

Recording Artist of the Year

• Great Lake Swimmers (Wainfleet)
  
  
  
  Links: Great Lake Swimmers, More GLS Stories, Video above courtesy of GreatLakeSwimmers
  
  
• Logan Staats (Brantford)
  
  
  
  Links: Logan Staats, More Logan Staats Stories, Video above courtesy of L Staats
  
  
• Good Lovelies
• The Pairs
• Sarah Segal-Lazar
• OKAN
• Tarek Ghriri

Song of the Year

• “Hey Boy” - Mike Leon (Hamilton) (co-written by Matthie Leon)
  
  
  
  Links: Mike Leon, Video above courtesy of Mike Leon
  
  
• “I Called It Love” - David Francey (co-written by Terry Tufts - Port Colbourne)
• “Georgia Moon” - Julian Taylor
• “Le Reina de Norte” - OKAN (written by Elizabeth Rodriguez, Magdelys Savigne)
• “christian scientist” - summersets (written by Kalle Mattson)
• “Annie’s Daughter” - The Pairs (written by Renée Coughlin, Noelle Frances Coughlin, Hillary Watson)

Album of the Year

• Steven Taetz​ - "Late Bloom" (ft Hamilton's Jill Barber & Adrean Farrugia)
• Good Lovelies​ - "We Will Never Be The Same"
• David Francey​ - "The Breath Between"
• Payadora Tango Ensemble featuring Lenka Lichtenberg and Aviva Chernick​ - "Silent Tears, The Last Yiddish Tango"
• Julian Taylor​ - "Anthology Vol 1"
• Aysanabee​ - "Here and Now"
• Rose-Erin Stokes​ - "When The Sun Goes Away"

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GOOD LUCK! Local 2019 Indie Awards Nominees

We are keeping our fingers crossed, hoping that some of the local nominees for the The 19th Annual Independent Music Awards will win a couple of the trophies! The ceremony's part of Canadian Music Week festivities and will take place May 11, 2019 at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto.

Hamilton has a number of artists in the game: Whitehorse (Album of the Year), Dundas rockers The Dirty Nil (Group of the Year), the Trews (Songwriter of the Year, Rock Artist or Group of the Year), Ellevator (Alternative Artist or Group of the Year) and Iskwē (Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year).



Links: Whitehorse, More Whitehorse Stories, Video above courtesy of Whitehorse



Links: Dirty Nil, More Dirty Nil Stories, Video above courtesy of The Dirty Nil



Links: The Trews, More Trews Stories, Video above courtesy of THE TREWS



Links: Ellevator, Video above courtesy of Arts Crafts



Links: Iskwé, More Iskwé Stories, Video above courtesy of iskwe

St. Catharines Country superstar Tim Hicks is also in the running for Video of the Year.



Links: Tim Hicks, More Tim Hicks Stories, Lindsay Ell, More Lindsay Ell Stories, Video above courtesy of Tim Hicks

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Here's a complete list of nominees.

Album

• Whitehorse - A Whitehorse Winter Classic
• Aaron Pritchett - Out On The Town
• Alexandra Stréliski – INSCAPE
• Suuns - Felt - Secret City Records
• U.S. Girls - In A Poem Unlimited

Group

• The Dirty Nil
• Suuns
• The Dead South
• Tokyo Police Club
• U.S. Girls

Songwriter

• The Trews
• Dizzy
• Donovan Woods
• La Force
• Sarah MacDougall

Rock Artist or Group

• The Trews
• Crown Lands
• The Barr Brothers
• The Elwins
• The Glorious Sons

Alternative Artist or Group

• Ellevator
• Born Ruffians
• Nap Eyes
• MONOWHALES
• La Force

Indigenous Artist or Group

• Iskwē 
• Elisapie
• Jeremy Dutcher
• Midnight Shine
• Nêhiyawak

Singer-Songwriter Artist or Group

• Great Lake Swimmers (Wainfleet)
• Dan Mangan
• Megan Bonnell
• Joshua Hyslop
• Sarah MacDougall

Video

• Tim Hicks - The Worst Kind (feat. Lindsay Ell)
• Chromeo - Must've Been (feat. DRAM)
• DVBBS - IDWK (feat. Blackbear)
• Loud Luxury - Body (feat. Brando)
• Suuns - Watch You, Watch Me

Single

• DVBBS – IDWK
• Loud Luxury - Love No More
• Lucky Rose - Lost ft. Jordan Hart
• MONOWHALES - Take it Back
• Patrick Watson - Mélody Noir

Artist

• Born Ruffians
• Jeremy Dutcher
• Lindi Ortega
• Neko Case
• Tanya Tagaq

Electronic/Dance Artist or Group

• Caracol
• DVBBS
• Keys N Krates
• Milk and Bone
• REZZ

Francophone Artist or Group

• Choses Sauvages
• Jean-Michel Blais
• Jesuslesfilles
• Pierre Lapointe
• Safia Nolin

Pop Artist or Group

• Chromeo
• Emilie Kahn
• Ralph
• Said The Whale
• Soran

Rap/RnB Artist or Group

• Cadence Weapon
• Evil Ebenezer x JYAY
• Killy
• Shad
• Zaki Ibrahim

Links: Indie Awards, More Indie Awards Stories

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Dundas' Colour Film (aka Matthew de Zoete) Launches Wonderful, Cinematic EP

The EP, Super 8 is the debut recording under Dundas singer/songwriter Matthew de Zoete's new musical identity, Colour Film.  With this new name comes a wonderful, cinematic style of music.

Matthew has always been an amazing lyricist but he's outdone himself on the EP by consciously creating imagery for the listener to experience.  Each tune tells an interesting story set to incredible pop folk melodies and strong vocal harmonies.

Backing him up on this project is  Julie Fader (of Etiquette, Great Lake Swimmers), Mark McIntyre and producer Les Cooper.

This outstanding EP can be purchased and/or downloaded through Bandcamp, cdbaby or iTunes.  It's also available at Dr Disc, Cheapies, Revolution Records and Records on Wheels.



Video above courtesy of Colour Film

Stream the album below



Blast from the Past: Matthew's Previous Album

Links: Colour Film, More Colour Film Stories, More Releases

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Local Musicians Nominated for Junos

Hamilton has once again had a strong showing at the Juno nominations, which just goes to prove how much world-class music is in the area.

Both Jack de Keyzer and Steve Strongman will be going head to head for Blues Album of the Year of the year along with Colin James (whose nominated disc includes songwriting from Hamilton's own Tom Wilson), Steve Hill, and Shakura S'Aida (her nominated CD features a performance from local blues legend Harrison Kennedy).



Links: Jack de Keyzer, More Jack De Keyzer Stories,  Video courtesy of The Capital Voice



Links: Steve Strongman, More Steve Strongman stories, Video courtesy of Brian Blain

Local singer/songwriter, Kathleen Edwards is up for two awards (Songwriter and Adult Alternative Album).



Links: Kathleen Edwards, More Kathleen Edwards Stories, Video courtesy of CBC Music 

Other area musicians up for Junos include Monster Truck, Diana Panton, Walk Off the Earth, and  The Arkells.

We'll be keeping our fingers crossed for everybody on the April 21 ceremony in Regina.

Click here for the Spectator Story

Click here for more of our Juno stories

Blast from the Past: De Keyzer and the Arkells Bring Home the Junos in 2010

Below are a few nomination highlights.

Blues Album

• Colin James, FIFTEEN
• Jack de Keyzer, Electric Love
• Shakura S'Aida, Time
• Steve Hill, Solo Recordings Volume One
• Steve Strongman, A Natural Fact

Roots & Traditional Album (Group)

• Elliott BROOD (Hamilton), Days Into Years
• Great Lake Swimmers (Wainfleet), New Wild Everywhere
• Le Vent du Nord, Tromper le temps
• The Strumbellas, My Father and The Hunter
• The Wooden Sky, Every Child A Daughter, Every Moon A Sun

Roots & Traditional Album (Solo)

• Amelia Curran, Spectators
• Annabelle Chvostek, Rise
• Corb Lund, Cabin Fever
• Old Man Luedecke, Tender Is The Night
• Rose Cousins, We Have Made A Spark

Songwriter

• Afie Jurvanen (Bahamas)
• Arkells
• Hannah Georgas
• Kathleen Edwards (Hamilton)
• Leonard Cohen

Country Album

• Chad Brownlee, Love Me Or Leave Me
• Dallas Smith, Jumped Right In
• Dean Brody, Dirt
• Emerson Drive, Roll
• Johnny Reid, Fire It Up

Adult Alternative Album

• Bahamas, Barchords
• Kathleen Edwards, Voyageur
• Royal Wood, We Were Born to Glory
• Serena Ryder, Harmony
• The Barr Brothers, The Barr Brothers

Juno Fan Choice Award

• Carly Rae Jepsen
• Céline Dion
• Drake
• Hedley
• Justin Bieber
• Leonard Cohen
• Marianas Trench
• Metric
• Michael Bublé
• Nickelback

Single

• Billy Talent, "Viking Death March"
• Carly Rae Jepsen, "Call Me Maybe"
• Hedley, "Kiss You Inside Out"
• Serena Ryder, "Stompa"
• The Sheepdogs, "The Way It Is"

International Album

• Maroon 5, Overexposed
• Mumford & Sons, Babel
• One Direction, Up All Night
• Rod Stewart, Merry Christmas, Baby
• Taylor Swift, Red

Album

• Carly Rae Jepsen, Kiss
• Céline Dion, Sans Attendre
• Hedley, Storms
• Justin Bieber, Believe
• Marianas Trench, Ever After

Artist

• Carly Rae Jepsen
• Deadmau5
• Johnny Reid
• Justin Bieber
• Leonard Cohen

Group

• Billy Talent
• Marianas Trench
• Metric
• Rush
• The Sheepdogs

Breakthrough Group

• Hey Ocean!
• Monster Truck
• The Pack a.d.
• Walk Off the Earth
• Yukon Blonde

Rock Album

• Big Wreck, Albatross
• Billy Talent, Dead Silence
• Rush, Clockwork Angels
• The Sheepdogs, The Sheepdogs
• The Tragically Hip, Now For Plan A

Vocal Jazz Album

• Carol Welsman, Journey
• Diana Krall, Glad Rag Doll
• Diana Panton, Christmas Kiss
• Elizabeth Shepherd, Rewind
• Emilie-Claire Barlow, Seule ce Soir

Aboriginal Album

• BURNT-Project 1, The Black List
• Crystal Shawanda, Just Like You
• Don Amero, Heart On My Sleeve
• Donny Parenteau, Bring It On
• Janet Panic, Samples

Canadian Music Hall of Fame Inductee

• k.d. Lang

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