Nominees for the 2026 Canadian Folk Music Awards Including Local Artists

Nominees for the 2026 Canadian Folk Music Awards were recently announced and a few local acts were part of that prestigious list.  The award ceremony will take place April 9-12, 2026 in Calgary.

You can see the nominee announcement below.

Links: CFMA, More CFMA Stories, Video above courtesy of prixfolkawards

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

Contemporary Album of the Year

• Boreal (ft Tannis Slimmon from Guelph) - Winterbirds
  
  
  
  Links: Boreal, More Boreal Stories, Video above courtesy of Boreal Oficial
  
  
• AHI - The Light Behind The Sun
• Claire Morrison - Where Do You Go at Night?
• Sacred Wolf Singers X Simon Walls - L'nu'k Mawiejik
• The Fretless (featuring Madeleine Roger) - Glasswing

Contemporary Singer of the Year

• Stephen Fearing (Guelph)- The Empathist
  
  
  
  Links: Stephen Fearing, More Stephen Fearing Stories, Video above courtesy of Stephen Fearing
  
  
• AHI - The Light Behind The Sun
• Julian Taylor - Pathways
• Kyle McKearney - To The River
• Mia Kelly  - To Be Clear

Ensemble of the Year

• Boreal (ft Tannis Slimmon from Guelph)- Winterbirds
• Cassie and Maggie - Gold and Coal
• Garçons à Marier - La Dot
• Jessica Pearson and the East Wind - LIVE from Motel Chelsea
• The Southern Residents - Folk Signals

Single of the Year

• Lost and Found - Sultans of String (Burlington) feat. Shannon Thunderbird
  
  
  
  Links: Sultans of String, More Sultans of String Stories, Video above courtesy of Sultans of String
  
  
• Human Kind - AHI
• Edge Of The Earth - Aysanabee
• You Were There - Irish Millie
• To Fail - Rachel Cousins

Stan Rogers Traditional Singer of the Year

• Lotus Wight - Original Works for Voice and Banjo (signed to Waterdown's Borealis Music)
• Maggie MacDonald: Cassie and Maggie - Gold and Coal
• Mathieu Baillargeon: La Déferlance - Âmes des bois
• Matthew Byrne - Stealing Time
• Michael Darcy & The Atlantic Tramps - Homemade

Vocal Group of the Year

• Boreal (ft Tannis Slimmon from Guelph)- Winterbirds
• Cassie and Maggie - Gold and Coal
• Jessica Pearson and the East Wind - LIVE from Motel Chelsea
• PIQSIQ - Legends
• The Barrel Boys - Chicken In The Window

Album Artwork of the Year

• Kevin Hutchings - Halcyon Days (Lisa Dickson - artist, Richard Boudreau - designer) 
• Nastasia Y - Kyiv Soul (BRATY Art )
• Oktoecho - Saimaniq Sivumut (Ulaayu Pilurtuut - artist, Caroline Marcant designer) 
• Ru Rose - Revival (Ru Rose)
• The Arrogant Worms - Canadian Famous (Jeff May) 

Children’s Album of the Year

• Ginalina - All the Earth Speaks
• Heather Feather - Together
• James Culleton - Superfolk
• Marky Weinstock & Friends (a.k.a. Dr. Marky) - Here for you!
• Oh Clementine - One Thousand Mornings

English Songwriter(s) of the Year

• AHI - The Light Behind The Sun
• Mia Kelly  - To Be Clear
• Shane Pendergast - Winter Grace
• Suzie Ungerleider - Among the Evergreens
• Terra Spencer - Sunset

French Songwriter(s) of the Year

• Sandie Valiquette - Forêt Marine
• Fred Dionne - Eldorado
• Guillaume Arsenault - Les plantes continuent de pousser même quand tu dors - Face B
• Maude Carrier  - Les journées grises
• Yves Marchand - Tellement naturel

Global Roots Album of the Year

• Ahmed Moneka - Kanzafula
• Amir Amiri Ensemble - Ajdad - Ancestors, Echoes of Persia
• Joaquin Nunez & Habana Safari - Ruta de la Clave
• Kazdoura - Ghoyoum (Clouds)
• Selcuk Suna - The Space Between

Indigenous Songwriter(s) of the Year

• Amanda Rheaume - The Truth We Hold
• Asiah Holm - The Mask That You Made
• Aysanabee - Edge Of The Earth
• PIQSIQ - Legends
• Wyatt C. Louis - Chandler

Instrumental Composer(s) of the Year

• Anne Lindsay - SOLOWORKS 2
• Dane George - Spring Buds
• Max Francis - Home
• Schmaltz & Pepper- Schmaltz & Pepper
• The Fretless (featuring Madeleine Roger) - Glasswing

Instrumental Group of the Year

• Amir Amiri Ensemble - Ajdad - Ancestors, Echoes of Persia
• Amir Eslami - Multicultural Wind Ensemble
• Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira - Here To Stay
• Ladom Ensemble - Sofreh Tisch
• The Fretless (featuring Madeleine Roger) - Glasswing

Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year

• Max Francis - Home
• Olivia Barrett - Elsewhere
• Rachel Therrien - Mi Hogar II
• Scott Duncan - Grandpa & Me
• Yves Cloutier - Fleuve

New Artist(s) of the Year

• Claire Morrison - Where Do You Go at Night?
• Jessica Pearson and the East Wind - LIVE from Motel Chelsea
• Kazdoura - Ghoyoum (Clouds)
• Robert Thomas and the sessionmen - The Way We Roll
• Wyatt C. Louis - Chandler

Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries

• AHI - The Light Behind The Sun
• Calgaréal - Vanishing Points
• Cassie and Maggie - Gold and Coal
• Oktoecho - Saimaniq Sivumut
• Payadora - Legend of Carau

Producer(s) of the Year

• Liam Duncan (Boy Golden - For Eden)
• Jim Bowskill (Brooks & Bowskill - Blissful State of Mind)
• Rayannah (Claire Morrison - Where Do You Go at Night?)
• Colin Buchanan, Davy Gallant, Lennie Gallant (Lennie Gallant - Shelter From the Storms)
• Ben Plotnick (Loud in the Pines - Every Colour Left)

Solo Artist of the Year

• Duane Andrews - Duane Andrews And The Hot Club Of Conception Bay
• Heather MacIsaac - The Moon’s Daughter
• Lennie Gallant - Shelter From the Storms
• Mallory Chipman - Songs to a Wild God
• Terra Spencer - Sunset

Traditional Album of the Year

• Cassie and Maggie - Gold and Coal
• Matthew Byrne - Stealing Time
• Max Francis - Home
• Richard Wood - Richard Wood Live! An Evening of Celtic Music
• The Barrel Boys - Chicken In The Window

Young Performer(s) of the Year

• Ella Gunning Parker - Look Alive
• Irish Millie - Between Then and Now
• Luka Hall - To Be Honest
• Max Francis - Home
• Salt Beef Junkies - Untitled Demo

Links: CFMA, More CFMA Stories

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Summer Videos by Tebey & Una Healy, Teenage Head, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings

Links: Rodeo Kings, More BARK stories, More Gordon Lightfoot Stories/Covers, Video above courtesy of Aljoshaaa

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

Links: Teenage Head, More Teenage Head Stories, Video above courtesy of FranticRomantic88

More Summer Videos

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World Radio Day Videos by Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Age of Mirrors, Colin James

Update of 2022 Post

Links: Rodeo Kings, More BARK stories, Video above courtesy of The Rodeo Kings - Topic

Links: Bob Bryden (AOM singer), More Bob Bryden Stories, Video above courtesy of Bob Bryden

Links: Colin James, More Colin James Stories, Video above courtesy of Colin James - Topic

More World Radio Day Videos

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National Train Day Videos by Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Rob Lamothe, Tianna Woods

Links: Rodeo Kings, More BARK Stories, Video above courtesy of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings 

Links: Rob Lamothe, More Rob Lamothe Stories, Video above courtesy of Rob Lamothe - Topic

Links: Tianna Woods, More Tianna Woods Stories, Video above courtesy of Tiannawoodsmusic

More Train Day Videos

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The Local Music Scene Honours the Legendary Gordon Lightfoot

Canadian music icon Gordon Lightfoot passed away Monday, May 1, 2023. The legendary singer/songwriter left an indelible mark in the international music scene. Our condolences to his family friends and fans.

The world is still reeling from the loss of Lightfoot and this is also being felt in the local music scene where quite a few musicians knew and worked with the musical giant.

Local Media

• CHCH TV
• Hamilton Spectator: Story 1, Story 2, Story 3, Sylvia Tyson remembers Gordon

Local Social Media Reaction

Bill Dillon (Boomers, Robbie Robertson, Gordon Lightfoot, more)

Long before recording with Gord, long before singing and playing this song (Home From the Forest) in Ronnie (Hawkins)'s room after a gig, and I was still just learning to play guitar a little when I'd first heard it.

How many thousands of songs have I heard and how many I've loved so much how many have I played?

There is one song that from the very first time went beyond anything I knew about anything from a song, inside myself somehow,

I'd spent many a quietly desperate night roaming the dark lonely streets of Toronto when I was young, my dad was also a deeply alcoholic individual, I had an uncle that suffered the same fate in Toronto as the storyline in this song depicts.

I'd spent lonely nights looking down on various Toronto streets at night thru many different windows, I'd watched with heartache Native brothers staggering in rags with paper bags of booze, and many older men huddled in doorways sleeping on steps, these things and much more were in some sense just too hard for my inexperienced mind to come to terms with, somehow in a strange way, it helped me thru the personal pain and hardship of home life knowing I wasn't alone, what's going to become of me? will I wind up like that? them?

And that's just one small angle of the picture 

My heart was broken long before it had a chance to experience it's own growth 

To this day and to my grave this is the one song of them all that taught me the meaning of life and death in my heart, its taken a lifetime of proof of it's truth 

For this one song I've been and will always be grateful for Gord's insight and ability to put it so simply and deeply in words.

Links: Gordon Lightfoot, More Gordon Lightfoot Stories/Covers, Video above courtesy of  hankgwe

Tom Wilson (Junkhouse, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Lee Harvey Osmond)

Rave On Gordon Lightfoot - My Mother used to come and visit me from time to time when I was a kid. I was maybe six years old or so.  One time she showed up with an old portable record player with a shitty needle that made every record I played sound like it had a five o’clock shadow in the grooves.

She came through the door one day with a copy of a record by a guy she used to go see at Steele’s Tavern on Yonge Street. Across the top of the record in big letters LIGHTFOOT and a photo of a guy leaning back in a studio chair holding a guitar up towards the ceiling and looking cool as shit.

The photo alone captured my young imagination. He looked serious, like he knew something that he wanted to tell me.

Dropping the needle on that record changed my life immediately. It was responsible for igniting the devil in me and stirring the sludge up at the bottom of my lake. Everything sounded so real like the guy was standing right there beside me in my bedroom fingerpicking that guitar and singing in my ear. He opened up the doors of possibilities with the haunting Oh Linda, Steel Rail Blues and Rich Man's Spiritual.

Gordon Lightfoot has left us but he lives in our blood. His voice will always  raise up our ghosts and reunite us with a tremendous  joy we all hold in our hearts but may have forgotten about. Thank you Gordon.  

Brian Mee (local fan) 

I was in attendance at the Grand Hall at Hamilton Place in Nov 2004  for his first concert back after suffering  / recovering from a life threatening  aneurysm he incurred in 2002.

Gordon was treated at McMaster Health sciences and he showed his appreciation by donating many tickets to the medical staff that could attend and publically thanked the surgeon that headed the operation that saved hid life.

Understandibly, Gordon was initally a bit shaky to start off with, however the audience positive reaction to see him back on stage soon brought him back to form.

A memorable night and a win win for McMaster Health Sciences since Lightfoot also gave a generous donation to them as well as raised their  reputation with the life saving surgery they gleaned with a celebrity patient such as Lightfoot.

Local Covers

Links: Stephen Fearing, More Stephen Fearing Stories,Video above courtesy of Stephen Fearing - Topic

Links: Rodeo Kings, More BARK stories, Video above courtesy of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings

 

Links: Evan Cameron, More Evan Cameron Stories, Video above courtesy of Evan Cameron

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GOOD LUCK! 2021 Canadian Folk Music Award Nominees

For details on the event, please scroll down.

Here is a complete list of nominees (local acts are bolded)

Contemporary Album

• Coyote by Catherine MacLellan (Burlington)
  
  
  
  Links: Catharine MacLellan, More Cathy MacLellan Stories, Video above courtesy of Catherine MacLellan
  
  
• The Unconquerable Past by Stephen Fearing (Guelph)
  
  
  
  Links: Stephen Fearing, More Stephen Fearing Stories, Video above courtesy of Stephen Fearing - Topic

• Are You in Love? by Basia Bulat 
• At the Edge of the World by Mike McKenna Jr. 
• Drifters by Joe Nolan  
• Reliever by William Prince
• Sugar & Joy by The Dead South 
• Yours To Break by The East Pointers 

Contemporary Singer

• Catherine MacLellan for Coyote (Burlington)
• Coco Love Alcorn for Rebirth 
• Basia Bulat for Are You in Love? 
• Tim Chaisson for Yours To Break
• William Prince for Reliever 

Solo Artist 

• Coyote by Catherine MacLellan (Burlington)
• Lynn Miles for We'll Look For Stars 
• William Prince for Reliever 
• Riit for ataataga 
• Julian Taylor for The Ridge 

Single

• Yellowknife by Craig Cardiff (Producer: Craig Cardiff) (Waterloo)
  
  
  
  Links: Craig Cardiff, More Craig Cardiff Stories, Video above courtesy of The Indie Folk Music Channel

• K'eintah Natse Ju by Leela Gilday (Producer: Hill Kourkoutis)
• Some Kind of Hell by Burnstick (Producers: Jason & Nadia Burnstick)
• The Spark by William Prince (Producers: Scott Nolan, Dave Cobb)
• Wintergreen by The East Pointers (Producer: Gordie Sampson)

Traditional Album 

• Crowing Ignites by Bruce Cockburn (available on Waterdown's True North Records)
• The Lost Tapes by Ian and Sylvia  (available on Waterdown's Stony Plain Records)
• All Hands by Beòlach
• Bet On Love by Pharis and Jason Romero
• Debout! by Le Diable à Cinq

Indigenous Songwriter(s) 

• Crystal Shawanda for Church House Blues (available on Waterdown's True North Records)
• Jason and Nadia Burnstick for Kîyânaw 
• A.W. Cardinal for Bare Knuckles & Brawn 
• Leela Gilday for North Star Calling 
• Riit for ataataga 

Instrumental Group

• Emilyn Stam and John David Williams for Honeywood (Guelph)
  
  
  
  Links: Emilyn and John, Video above courtesy of Emilyn Stam and John David Williams

• Beòlach for All Hands 
• Gordon Grdina’s The Marrow for Safar-E-Daroon
• Jessica Deutsch and Ozere for Traces 
• Rhizome for Double Capture 

Children’s Album

• The Mountain Man by Spencer Burton (Niagara)
  
  
  
  Links: Spencer Burton, More Spencer Burton Stories, Video above courtesy of Dine Alone Records
  
  
• Broccoli Farm by Claire Ness
• Goodnight To You All by Charlie Hope 
• Small But Mighty by Ginalina 
• Tous musiciens by Henri Godon 

English Songwriter(s)

• Coco Love Alcorn for Rebirth
• Basia Bulat for Are You in Love? 
• William Prince for Reliever 
• Pharis and Jason Romero for Bet On Love 
• Sarah Jane Scouten for Confessions 
• Julian Taylor for The Ridge  

Ensemble

• OKAN for Sombras
• Pharis and  Jason Romero for Bet On Love 
• Sultans of String for Refuge
• Sussex for The Ocean Wide
• The Dead South for Sugar and Joy 

French Songwriter(s) 

• Guillaume Arsenault for La partie de moi qui tremble 
• Raphaël Delahaye for Le sens de la dérive
• Marie-Ève Lapierre-Lemoyne for Onze
• Flavie Léger-Roy for Ce chapeau est trop grand pour moi 
• Alexandre Poulin for Nature humaine

Instrumental Solo Artist 

• Marc Atkinson for Solo 
• Benjamin Barrile for Esperando el Alba 
• Gordon Grdina for Prior Street 
• Nick Hornbuckle for 13 or So
• Natalie MacMaster for Sketches 

New/Emerging Artist(s) 

• Noah Derksen for America, Dreaming
• Marie-Ève Laure for Onze 
• Maya Rae for Can You See Me? 
• Emily Rockarts for Little Flower
• Rum Ragged for The Thing About Fish
• Emily Triggs for Middletown 

Producer(s)

• Dave Clarke and  Bill Garrett for Coming Home (Steel Rail) 
• Roy Forbes for Edge of Blue (Roy Forbes) 
• Marc Jenkins for Bet On Love (Pharis and Jason Romero) 
• Dayna Manning for Morning Light (Dayna Manning) 
• Chris McKhool & John 'Beetle' Bailey for Refuge (Sultans of String)  

Pushing the Boundaries Award 

• Aerialists for Dear Sienna 
• Mélisande [Électrotrad] for Les myriades 
• Riit for ataataga 
• The East Pointers for Yours To Break 
• The Henrys for Paydirt 

Traditional Singer 

• Mike Bravener for Depends Upon The Pay
• Kevin Harvey for Hand Me Down Blues 
• Mark Manning for The Thing About Fish 
• Lou Natale for Workin' the Mystery 
• Pharis Romero for Bet On Love 

Vocal Group

• Beauséjour for Beauséjour 
• Big Little Lions for Inside Voice 
• Kennedy Road for A Little Fight Left Yet
• Pharis and Jason Romero for Bet On Love 
• The Barrel Boys for Mainline 

World Album 

• Africa Without Borders by Okavango African Orchestra 
• Kora flamenca by Zal Sissokho 
• La Serena by Aviva Chernick 
• Patria by Mazacote 
• Sombras by OKAN 

Young Performer(s)

• Maya Rae for Can You See Me? 
• Moscow Apartment for Better Daughter 
• Paige Penney for Watch Out For Your Step
• Quin With One N for Out of the Blue 
• The Gilberts for The Gilberts: One  

From the newsletter:

(December 1, 2020 - HALIFAX) The Canadian Folk Music Awards celebrates its 16th edition, with a roster of nominations that celebrates the breadth and depth of Canadian folk music.  This year’s nominees span the country from Baie-Egmont, Prince Edward Island to Pangnirtung, Nunavut, and from Horsefly, British Columbia to St. John's, Newfoundland — celebrating the diversity and talent of artists and musicians across Canada.

Established by Canada’s vibrant and internationally-recognized folk music community, the awards currently boasts 19 categories. Nominees are chosen for each category through a two-stage jury process. More than 100 jurors, located across Canada, representing all official provinces, territories and languages, determine the official recipients in each category.

CFMAs are pleased to present two NEW Award categories for 2021. A new award for “Single of the Year” recognizes an artist or group, and their producer(s) for a single release recording, or a track from an album that was released as a single, open to all folk genres, songs and instrumentals.  Another award has been added, “World Music Album Of The Year,” which replaces the former awards for “World Solo Artist of the Year,” and “World Group of the Year.”

The 16th edition of the Canadian Folk Music Awards Celebration will take place online again this year, and will present all 19 Awards, plus the Unsung Hero Award bringing the total to 20 Awards, virtually, over the weekend of April 9-10, 2021. The Awards were originally scheduled in-person over this weekend in Charlottetown, PEI, however, the CFMAs have made the difficult decision to cancel the live shows and weekend celebrations due to COVID-19. The health and safety of our patrons, artists, staff and the general public remains paramount, more information will be shared in early 2021. 

The Awards Weekend online presentations will capture the true heart of the folk community, while celebrating the 2021 nominees and the category recipients. The virtual CFMA Awards show will announce the recipients of the 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Our bilingual hosts will review all the CFMA categories, nominees, and announce recipients, including the Unsung Hero Award Presentation, along with announcing where our 2022 event will take place. Please be sure to “like” our facebook page here for easier access to the live stream → https://www.facebook.com/prixfolkawards/

Links: CFMA, More CFMA Stories

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CONGRATS! Canadian Bluesman Colin Linden Wins Grammy

Canadian Bluesman Colin Linden (member of local group Blackie and The Rodeo Kings) made his country proud when he won a Grammy on Sunday, January 26, 2020. He was the co-producer of  Keb' Mo's latest album Oklahoma, winner of the Best Americana Album award. The pair even accepted the hardware together.

CONGRATS



Links: Colin Linden, More Colin Linden Stories, Keb' Mo', More Keb' Mo' Stories, Video above courtesy of Recording Academy / GRAMMYs



Video above courtesy of Keb' Mo'

His Rodeo Kings bandmate, Tom Wilson had this to say on Facebook:

I am bustin’ with Joy and yes that is in fact how it’s done baby!!!!

Congratulations to my brother Colin Linden and my friend KEB ‘MO for winning a damn Grammy last night in LA for the poetic genius of #Oklahoma

Stephen Fearing (also from the Rodeo Kings) was proud his buddy as well"

So excited to watch my fellow Rodeo King, Colin Linden walk onstage with Keb Mo who accepted the Grammy for his Americana Album of the year “Oklahoma”, which Colin co-produced.

Click here for the FYI Music News story

Other Canadian nominees included: Drake, Shawn Mendes, Jessie Reyez and Daniel Caesar.

Blast from the Past: Rodeo Kings CD Review

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Blackie and the Rodeo Kings on Americana Music Association's Top 100 Airplay Chart

Recently, the Americana Music Association revealed their 2017 Americana Airplay Chart Top 100 Albums List. Kings and Kings, the latest disc from Blackie and the Rodeo Kings (ft Hamilton's Tom Wilson, Guelph's Stephen Fearing and Toronto's Colin Linden) was on the list along with a few of their fellow Canadian artists.

Click here for the full list

Top 10

1. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit: The Nashville Sound
   
   
   
   Video above courtesy of Jason Isbell
   
   
2. Chris Stapleton: From A Room: Volume 1
3. Nikki Lane: Highway Queen
4. Ryan Adams: Prisoner
5. Steve Earle: So You Wannabe An Outlaw
6. Band Of Heathens: Duende
7. Justin Townes Earle: Kids In The Street
8. Lukas Nelson and Promise Of The Real: Lukas Nelson and Promise Of The Real
9. Son Volt: Notes of Blue
10. Old 97s: Graveyard Whistling

Canadians on the List

58. Bruce Cockburn: Bone On Bone (Released by Waterdown's True North Records)



Links: Bruce Cockburn, More Bruce Cockburn Stories, Video above courtesy of The Indie Folk Music Channel

66. Blackie and the Rodeo Kings: Kings and Kings



Links: Rodeo Kings, More BARK stories, Rodney Crowell, More Rodney Crowell Stories, Video above courtesy of File Under: Music

69. Neil Young: Peace Trail



Links: Neil Young, More Neil Young Stories, Video above courtesy of neilyoungchannel

Blast from the Past: 2015's List

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Help Local Artists Win the 2017 No Depression Readers Poll! VOTE! Deadline Dec 15

International Americana online magazine No Depression is holding their annual year-end readers poll (for best album) and a few local artists on on the ballot.

This includes:

• Whitehorse: Panther in the Dollhouse (Hamilton)
  
  
  
  Links: Whitehorse, More Whitehorse Stories, Video above courtesy of Six Shooter Records
  
  
• Blackie and the Rodeo Kings: Kings and Kings (ft Hamilton's Tom Wilson, Guelph's Stephen Fearing and Toronto's Colin Linden)
  
  
  
  Links: Rodeo Kings, More BARK stories, Video above courtesy of Austin Peacock
  
  
• Stephen Fearing: Every Soul's A Sailor (Guelph)
  
  
  
  Links: Stephen Fearing, More Stephen Fearing Stories,  Video above courtesy of muziekpodium bakkeveen

• Ron Sexsmith: The Last Rider (St. Catharines)
  
  
  
  Links: Ron Sexsmith, More Ron Sexsmith Stories, Video above courtesy of Ron Sexsmith

Other Canadians on the ballot include:

• Jim Byrnes: Long Hot Summer Days
• Bruce Cockburn: Bone on Bone (released on Waterdown's True North Records)
• Rose Cousins: Natural Conclusion
• New Pornographers: Whiteout Conditions
• The Wailin' Jennys: Fifteen (released on Waterdown's True North Records)
• Neil Young: Hitchhiker
• Brock Zeman: The Carnival is Back in Town (released on Kitchener's Busted Flat Records)

Acts can also be added to the ballot during the voting process so if there are any artists you'd like recognized, this is your chance!

Click here to vote (you can pick the top ten)

Blast from the Past: 2015 No Depression Nominees

Links: No Depression, More No Depression Stories

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CONGRATS! Stephen Fearing and Danny Michel Win Canadian Folk Music Awards

Pictures courtesy of the Canadian Folk Music Awards

Former Guelphite Stephen Fearing and Waterloo's Danny Michel took home some hardware at the 10th Annual Canadian Folk Music Awards. Stephen won for Contemporary Singer of the Year and Danny earned two awards: Producer of the Year and The Oliver Schroer Pushing The Boundaries Award.



Links: Stephen Fearing, More Stephen Fearing Stories, Video above courtesy of David Barrs



Links: Danny Michel, More Danny Michael Stories, Video above courtesy of  Danny Michel

The only other multiple winner was Ken Yates who won in the New/Emerging Artist of the Year and English Songwriter(s) of the Year categories.



Links: Ken Yates, Video above courtesy of Ken Yates

CONGRATS GUYS!

Here's a complete list of winners

• Contemporary Singer: Stephen Fearing
• Producer(s): Danny Michel and Rob Carli (Danny Michel: Khlebnikov)
• Pushing The Boundaries: Danny Michel
• The New/Emerging Artist: Ken Yates
• English Songwriter(s): Ken Yates
• Solo Artist: Leeroy Stagger
• Young Performer: Moscow Apartment
• Aboriginal Songwriter(s): Twin Flames
• World Group: Kobo Town
• World Solo Artist: Louis Simão
• Traditional Album: Cassie and Maggie: The Willow Collection
• Traditional Singer: Hannah Shira Naiman
• Contemporary Album: Abigail Lapell: Hide Nor Hair
• Instrumental Group: Scott Macmillan and Colin Grant
• Instrumental Solo Artist: André Brunet
• Unsung Hero: Gerry Strong
• Vocal Group: Coco Méliès
• Ensemble: Mama’s Broke
• French Songwriter(s): Luc De Larochellière
• Children’s Album: Fred Penner: Hear The Music

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: CFMA, More CFMA Stories

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GOOD LUCK! Local Canadian Folk Music Award Nominees

The Canadian Folk Music Awards recently unveiled the nominees for their 10th annual celebration and three talented, area musicians will be up for awards. Hopefully, a few of them will take home the hardware on November 19, 2017 at the ceremony in Ottawa.

The Hidden Roots Collective (featuring Hamilton's Anni Sumi) is in the The New/Emerging Artist of the Year category. 

Links: Hidden Roots Collective, More Annie Sumi Stories, Video above courtesy of Hidden Roots Collective

Former Guelphite Stephen Fearing leads the pack of nominees with four nods (Solo Artists of the Year, English Songwriter of the Years, Contemporary Singer of the Year and Producer of the Year).



Links: Stephen Fearing, More Stephen Fearing Stories, , Video above courtesy of Lucky Dice

Last, but not least, Waterloo's Danny Michel is in the running for Producer of the Year and The Oliver Schroer Pushing The Boundaries Award)



Links: Danny Michel, More Danny Michael Stories, Video above courtesy of  Danny Michel

GOOD LUCK GUYS!

Click here for the winners.

Here's a complete list of nominees

The New/Emerging Artist

• Hidden Roots Collective (ft Hamilton's Anni Sumi)
• Silent Winters
• Ken Yates
• Braden Gates
• The Bombadils

Solo Artist

• Stephen Fearing
• Zachary Lucky
• BEYRIES
• Leeroy Stagger
• Amelia Curran

English Songwriter(s)

• Stephen Fearing
• Oh Susanna
• Scott Cook
• Ken Yates
• Amelia Curran

Contemporary Singer

• Stephen Fearing
• Oh Susanna
• Abigail Lapell
• Lisa LeBlanc
• Coco Love Alcorn

Producer(s)

• Stephen Fearing and David Travers-Smith (Stephen Fearing: Every Soul’s A Sailor)
• Danny Michel and Rob Carli (Danny Michel: Khlebnikov)
• Jim Bryson (Oh Susanna: A Girl In Teen City)
• Joel Plaskett (Bill and Joel Plaskett: Solidarity
• Amelia Curran and Chris Stringer (Amelia Curran: Watershed)

Pushing The Boundaries

• Danny Michel
• Shreem
• Mélisande
• Turkwaz
• Tanya Tagaq

Young Performer

• Moscow Apartment
• Quin Etheridge-Pedden
• Keltie Monaghan
• The Wolfe
• John Muirhead

French Songwriter(s)

• Patrice Michaud
• Luc De Larochellière
• Les Hay Babies
• Philippe B
• Catherine Durand

Aboriginal Songwriter(s)

• Lisa Muswagon
• Julian Taylor Band
• Twin Flames
• Cindy Paul
• Desiree Dorion

World Group

• MAZ
• Turkwaz
• Beyond The Pale
• Twin Flames
• Kobo Town

World Solo Artist

• Louis Simão
• Farnaz Ohadi & The Mashregh Ensemble
• Kelly Bado
• Briga
• Maneli Jamal

Traditional Album

• Jayme Stone: Folklife
• André Brunet: La grosse maison rouge
• Còig: Rove
• Jenny Whiteley: The Original Jenny Whiteley
• Cassie and Maggie: The Willow Collection

Traditional Singer

• Dave Penny
• Hannah Shira Naiman
• Mélisande Gélinas-Fauteux (Mélisande)
• Maggie MacDonald (Cassie and Maggie)
• Sarah Jane Scouten

Contemporary Album

• The Fretless: Bird’s Nest
• Abigail Lapell: Hide Nor Hair
• Tomato Tomato: I Go Where You Go
• Braden Gates: Much Rather Be Sleeping
• Leif Vollebekk: Twin Solitude

Instrumental Group

• Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy
• The Fretless
• Scott Macmillan and Colin Grant
• Beyond The Pale
• MacIsaac and MacKenzie

Instrumental Solo Artist

• Don Ross
• Roberto López
• Glenn Chatten
• André Brunet
• Maneli Jamal

Vocal Group

• The Big East
• The Bombadils
• Twin Flames
• Coco Méliès
• Cassie and Maggie

Ensemble 

• Mama’s Broke
• Silent Winters
• 100 mile house
• The Jerry Cans
• Cassie and Maggie

Children’s Album

• Jessie Farrell: Chirp Chirp Happy
• Fred Penner: Hear The Music
• Ginalina: Home Is Family
• Stella Swanson and the Rosie Joyfuls: Pants on Backwards
• Madame Diva et Micah le jeune voyageur: Zing-E-Zing!

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: CFMA, More CFMA Stories

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News Roundup (Polaris Prize, Chris Mercer, Rodeo Kings)

Lido Pimienta Wins Polaris Prize

Links: Lido Pimienta,  More Polaris Prize Stories, Video above courtesy of lido tv

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News

Local

• Barber Shop Podcast w Chris Mercer
  
  
  
  Links: Chris Mercer, More Barber Shop Podcasts, Video above courtesy of Barber Shop Podcast
  
  
• CHCH Video: Thompson Wilson
• Local and Canadian Global Music Award Winners
• Spectator Readers' Choice Award Nominees
• Niagara Music Award Nominees

Canada

• Toronto Blues Society welcomes new Office Manager Hüma Üster and Project Manager Amanda Rheaume
• Gary Slaight Earns Inaugural Changemaker Award
• September 2017 issue of Maple Blues

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The Adventures of Trebleclef the Music Loving Monkey

We recently put up pics of Trebleclef's visit to Supercrawl 2017.

Treble takes a selfie with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings

Click here for more pictures from the event



Links: Rodeo Kings, More BARK stories,, Video above courtesy of JeanetteG

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GOOD LUCK! Local Artists Receive Indie Award Nominations!

Once again, a number of talented local artists have received Indie Award nominations.

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, featuring Hamilton's Tom Wilson, Guelph's Stephen Fearing and Toronto's Colin Linden) are up for the Folk/Roots category.  Other nominees from the Hammer include Whitehorse (Songwriter), Diana Panton (Jazz) and Caribou (Artist, Electronic Artist).

Links: Rodeo Kings, More BARK stories, Video above courtesy of StellaBlu477

You+Me, the alt-folk duo featuring St. Catharines boy Dallas Smith (aka City and Colour) with international superstar P!nk, is in the running for both the Songwriter and Alternative categories. Also from St. Catharines, Tim Hicks was nominated for Best Country.

Links: You+Me, More You+Me Stories, Video above courtesy of You+Me



Links: Tim Hicks, More Tim Hicks Stories, Video above courtesy of csChicago

Hopefully they will be taking home some hardware on Saturday May 9th, 2015 when the awards are handed out at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto.  GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Here are some nomination highlights:

FOLK/ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP

• Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
• Del Barber
• Oh Susanna
• The Bar Brothers
• The Bros. Landreth

SONGWRITER

• Whitehorse
• You+Me
• July Talk
• The New Pornographers
• The Weeknd

JAZZ ARTIST OR GROUP

• Diana Panton
• BadBadNotGood
• Elizabeth Shepherd
• Myriad3
• The Souljazz Orchestra

COUNTRY ARTIST OR GROUP

• Tim Hicks
• Dallas Smith
• Jess Moskaluke
• Kira Isabella
• The Road Hammers

ALTERNATIVE ARTIST OR GROUP

• You+Me
• Alvvays
• Bahamas
• Dan Mangan + Blacksmith
• Timber Timbre

ARTIST 

• Caribou 
• Mac DeMarco
• Owen Pallett
• Tanya Tagaq
• The Weeknd

ELECTRONIC ARTIST

• Caribou 
• Art Department 
• Operators 
• Plastikman 
• Zeds Dead

ALBUM

• Alvvays: Alvvays
• Death From Above 1979: The Physical World 
• Mac DeMarco: Salad Day’s
• Owen Pallett: In Conflict 
• The New Pornographers: Brill Bruisers

SINGLE

• [SEBELL]: Till the Sun Burns Out
• Chromeo: Jealous (I Ain’t With It)
• Death From Above 1979: Trainwreck 1979 
• MAGIC!: Rude
• USS: Yin Yang

GROUP OR DUO

• Alvvays
• Death From Above 1979
• The Glorious Sons
• The New Pornographers
• Tokyo Police Club

FEMALE ARTIST

• Jenn Grant
• Lisa LeBlanc
• Lowell
• Steph Cameron
• Tanya Tagaq

MALE ARTIST 

• Chad VanGaalen (Flemish Eye)
• Jay Malinowski and the Deadcoast
• Kevin Drew
• Owen Pallett
• Rich Aucoin

EMERGING ARTIST (ENGLISH

• Alvvays
• BESTiE
• Close Talker
• Cousins
• Gay Nineties
• JPNSGRLS
• Royal Tusk
• The Barr Brothers
• The Dying Arts
• The Mohrs

Blast from the Past: 2014 Winners

Links: Indie Awards, More Indie Awards Stories

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