MusicNL’s awards celebrate the musicians and industry professionals of Newfoundland and Labrador. “The awards recognize accomplishments and promote careers in the music industry, and are important in building the resumes of music professionals.”

Details of MusicNL week, and this year’s award nominees were revealed at Fred’s Records this morning, where Fred’s Owner Jim Brockenshire acknowledged MusicNL’s “indispensable role in developing talents and supporting artists’ new projects and especially fostering the professional development of musicians through their offices, programs, and conferences. Once upon a time there was no music industry in Newfoundland, There were musicians playing in clubs and dances, no there is an industry, healthy, viable and thriving.”

Minister Mitchelmore on the Benefits of Music NL Week

Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, spoke to the value of MusicNL week for local musicians. “Of course, the awards ceremony is just one of the events schedule for this week. Musicians will have the opportunity to showcase their work, discuss the current industry trends, as well as participate in training opportunities”

He said “Musicians have often gotten their big breaks by participating in these kinds of events, that have a great opportunity to give exposure, and to learn about the industry,and grow your audience base.” After declaring our province a cut above most in terms of musical talent, he revealed that the arts industry contributed a whopping $450 MILLION to our province’s GDP last year.

This Year’s Music NL Week Will be in Bonavista, Oct.13-16

No community is booming more than Bonavista this year, with a wave of new life crashing into its streets in the form of new shops, new blood, and new restaurants, and now, the 2016 MusicNL week, full of conferences, events, and an awards gala.

Details Revealed about Panels and Events

From  the “Song House” workshop (of working with professional songwriters to help songwriting skills, like making your lyrics sing to “morphing your melodies into heart-melting music”) to workshops on exporting music and “Social media for artists” there plenty of trade tips to be taken in. Read more here.

In terms of musical performances, outside of Sunday Night’s big award gala, there will be plenty of music to take in, from all ages shows, to Friday Night’s “Garrick Annex Acoustic Show” to the louder “Lion’s Club Electric Stage.”

This year’s Songwriters’ Circle will honour Ron Hynes. The Songwriters’ Circle will feature prominent local songwriters sharing their favourite tunes and stories about Ron. “It’s an opportunity for the most renowned songwriters in the province to share their skills and secrets amid a warm audience of their peers.

This Year’s Award Nominees:

Five Bands Earn 4 or More Nominations:
Repartee (6)
Duane Andrews (5)
Long Distance Runners (5)
Mick Davis (4)
Pilot to Bombardier (4)

FACTOR Album of the Year

  • Rum Ragged
  • Repartee
  • Duane Andrews
  • Mick Davis
  • Pilot to Bombardier
  • Long Distance Runners

Group of the Year

  • Cabbages & Kings
  • Waterfront Fire
  • Repartee
  • Beauwater
  • Long Distance Runners
  • Fairgale

Alternative Recording of the Year

  • Long Distance Runners
  • Hot x Proxy
  • Pilot to Bombardier
  • London Above
  • Green & Gold
  • Cabbages & Kings

Instrumental Recording of the Year

  • Dave Panting
  • Ewan Dobson
  • Laura Madonna Murray
  • Rozalind MacPhail

Country Recording of the Year

  • Corey Pike
  • Peter Willie Youngtree
  • Stephen B Lawrence

Coast 101.1 Jazz/Blues Recording of the Year

  • Beauwater
  • Duane Andrews
  • Earle & Coffin

Entertainer of the Year

  • Duane Andrews
  • Long Distance Runners
  • Everglow
  • Green & Gold
  • Fortunate Ones
  • Repartee

DC Design House Male Artist of the Year

  • Ewan Dobson
  • Mick Davis
  • Pilot to Bombardier
  • Matt Cooke
  • Stephen Green
  • Duane Andrews

The Elephant Shop Female Artist of the Year

  • It Could Be Franky -Danielle Hamel
  • Laura Madonna Murray
  • Michelle Noftall
  • Rozalind MacPhail

MOLSON/COORS Pop/Rock Recording of the Year

  • Repartee
  • Stephen Green
  • Mick Davis
  • David Picco
  • Fairgale
  • The Monday Nights

Folk/Roots Recording of the Year

  • Quote The Raven
  • Adam Baxter
  • AE Bridger
  • Michael Kinsella
  • Gary & Whit
  • Rum Ragged

Bell Aliant Rising Star of the Year

  • Lady Brett Ashley
  • Hot x Proxy
  • Gary & Whit
  • Waterfront Fire
  • Stephen Green
  • Quote the Raven

SOCAN Songwriter of the Year

  • Repartee
  • The Monday Nights
  • Chris Kirby
  • Mick Davis
  • Ewan Dobson
  • Duane Andrews

Music Educator of the Year

  • Kyle McDavid
  • Adam Baxter
  • Matthew Barrett

Urban/Electronic Artist of the Year

  • Alex Byrne
  • It Could Be Franky

The Nickel Music Video of the Year

  • Repartee – “Dukes” [Director: Josh Warburton]
  • Fortunate Ones – “Lay Me Down” [Directors: Tatjana Green & Nazar Melconian & Matt Barnett]
  • Cabbages & Kings – “Earth”
  • Long Distance Runners – “Pulling It Together”[Director: Mike Simms]
  • Waterfront Fire – “First Light” [Director: Cody Westman]
  • Pilot To Bombardier – “Long Time Coming”

MusicNL Industry Awards

Industry Professional of the Year

  • Christopher K Daw
  • Glenn Pardy
  • Jason Whelan
  • Peter Daniel Newman
  • Second Stage Creative Arts
  • Citadel House

Outstanding Company of the Year

  • Citadel House
  • Sound Solution
  • Lawnya Vawnya
  • Second Stage Creative Arts

Media Person of the Year

  • Glenn Pardy
  • Greg Smith
  • Warren Gordon

Graphic Artist of the Year

  • Jessie Meyer
  • Tara Thompson

Volunteer of the Year

  • Christopher K Daw
  • Gary Mitchell
  • Glenn Pardy

Side Musician of the Year

  • Andrew McCarthy
  • Jason Whelan