Virtual awards for Wintersleep, Sampson, Baker
Somehow it just wasn't the same, watching a parade of the first round of 2020 East Coast Music Awards winners play out across a computer or smartphone screen on Friday afternoon, as opposed to the traditional ECMA weekend Industry and Music Awards Brunch that accompanies the splashier night time gala.
But since the April 29 to May 3 event in St. John's was cancelled due to COVID-19, a virtual version on Youtube and Facebook would have to do, with the additional bonus of allowing fans of Atlantic Canadian music everywhere the ability to see the Friday winners announced in real time in advance of Saturday night's 9 p.m. main event, broadcast and streamed on CBC-TV and CBC Gem with host Mary Walsh.
The strongest showing on Friday came from Nova Scotia band Wintersleep, for its seventh album In the Land Of. At the same time that most of its members have moved back to the East Coast after being based in Quebec, the group's latest collection of well-orchestrated songs addressing personal and worldly concerns earned three awards, including group recording and rock recording of the year, plus song of the year for Beneficiary, produced by the band and its longtime collaborator, Scottish studio guru Tony Doogan.
Talented Cape Breton songwriter Dave Sampson, whose latest release All Types of Ways was produced by fellow islander and Grammy Award-winner Gordie Sampson, was a double winner at the pre-awards show. Known for collaborating with Classified, Alan Doyle and Neon Dreams as well as his own melodic storytelling, Sampson saw his work named country recording and rising star recording of the year.
Speaking of Neon Dreams, after recently enjoying its first Juno Award win as breakthrough group of the year, the duo of Frank Kadillac and Adrian Morris added another trophy to the mantle with a pop recording of the year win for Sweet Dreams Till Sunbeams.
A recent transplant to Toronto since the dissolution of his band Hey Rosetta!, Newfoundland and Labrador songwriter Tim Baker saw the work from his acclaimed solo debut Forever Overhead pick up two ECMAS on Friday, for folk recording of the year and video of the year for the joyous All Hands clip, a love letter to friends and family in St. John's and beyond, directed by Jordan Canning.
Newfoundland's other double win on Friday was for St. John's musician and composer Forian Hoefner. The German-born Memorial University jazz professor earned instrumental recording and jazz recording of the year for his album First Spring.
Due to the online nature of Friday's presentation, the only actual acceptance speeches were made by its honourary award recipients. East Coast opera star Measha Brueggergosman dedicated her Director's Special Achievement Award to her late father, the Rev. Sterling Gosman and family members who supported her following her 2019 heart surgery, with a message of hope for those working towards positive change.
“We all of us carry within us nations, and the potential for change and the potential to spread love, joy, peace, prosperity and excellence,” said the Nova Scotia-based singer.
“I pray that for you, and I promise you that is exactly what I'm going to continue to do; to serve with excellence and endurance, to love aggressively, to be fiercely compassionate, to be fearlessly empathetic, and to make my faith built on the unshakeable rock of Jesus.”
Presented with the Musician's Achievement Award, Newfoundland fiddler Kelly Russell — from Figgy Duff, the Wonderful Grand Band and Kelly Russell & the Planks, to name a few of his bands — was genuinely enthusiastic about the recognition, and the comradeship he's felt with fellow musicians over the years.
“Wow! It's often referred to as a sideman's award, and although I have played as a sideman in many bands, trios and duos, I've almost always been able to sneak in a Newfoundland fiddle tune or two into the setlist,” said Russell.
“This is an especially great honour as it is bestowed by one's peers. Musicians, fellow music industry people, I am sincerely grateful.”
Other notable Nova Scotian ECMA wins on Friday included an April Wine rock legend with a blues recording of the year award for Myles Goodwyn and Friends of the Blues 2, Marc Djokic's classical recording of the year award for Solo Seven, Halifax's Famba for dance recording of the year for Swear to God and Rich Aucoin's electronic recording of the year award for Release.
Clare artist Jacobus, a.k.a.
Jacques Alphonse Doucet from the Acadian hip-hop ensemble Radio Radio, picked up rap/hip-hop recording of the year for Caviar, genre-spanning band Spirit of the Wildfire's Bittersweet Nothings was named LOUD recording of the year, and Canning-raised, U.k.-based performer Laura Roy won her first ECMA for R&B/ soul recording of the year for Forte.
Halifax-based music management company The Syrup Factory topped the list of Friday's ECMA Industry Awards, as company of the year, with Cape Breton's Celtic Colours International Festival earning event of the year just before it too has to go virtual due to COVID-19 this fall.
Familiar faces on the industry awards winners list also included Jones & Co. (management/manager of the year), Daniel Ledwell (producer of the year), Sydney's Soundpark Studios (studio of the year), New Scotland Yard's Thomas Stajcer (studio engineer of the year). St. John's' legendary Ship Pub, known to devotees as simply “The Ship” was named venue of the year.
The 2020 East Coast Music Awards will continue on Saturday night with the 9 p.m. vitual gala hosted by Walsh, with an array of specially captured performances by Friday award-winners Wintersleep, Tim Baker, Neon Dreams and Jacobus, as well as Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement honouree Shannyganock.
The lineup also includes Newfoundland and Labrador Indigenous-led women's drum group Eastern Owl, Dartmouth rocker Matt Mays, Halifax R&B songwriter Zamani, Maritimes singer-songwriter Rose Cousins and New Brunswick rock band Motherhood.
The event will also feature a special tribute to Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Ron Hynes featuring vocal trio Shaye, P.E.I. songwriter Lennie Gallant and Joel Hynes along with longtime band members who performed with “The Man of 1,000 Songs.”