Western Canadian Music Awards 2010

Last night the Western Canadian Music Awards were handed out at the Kelowna Community Theatre, wrapping up this year’s BreakOut West music festival and conference.

The awards celebrate and recognize achievements in Canadian music for artists based between Manitoba and BC, including the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.

The event went quickly with over twenty awards handed out between stellar mashup performances that saw We Are the City team up on stage with Grapes of Wrath, Bif Naked perform with Fringe Percussion, You Say Party get funked up with Grand Analog, and Said the Whale jam with Jean Paul Maurice and Aidan Knight — just to name a few.

Backstage John and I hung out in the media room (which was also the green room) in order to catch the winners as they made their way in with their new hardware. At least about 40 percent of them were unable to attend last night including International Achievement Award Winners Sarah McLachlan, as well as Tegan and Sara.

Aboriginal Recording of the Year
Leela Gilday – Calling All Warriors – NWT

Blues Recording of the Year
Jim Byrnes – My Walking Stick – B.C.

Children’s Recording of the Year
Norman Foote – Love My New Shirt – B.C.

Classical Composition of the Year
Stephen Chatman – Earth Songs – B.C.

Classical Recording of the Year
musica intima – into light – B.C.

Contemporary Christian/Gospel Recording of the Year
Amanda Falk – In Between the Now & Then – MB

Country Recording of the Year
Doc Walker – Go – MB

Roots Duo/Group Recording of the Year
Carolyn Mark & NQ Arbuckle – Let’s Just Stay Here – B.C.

Album francophone de l’année/ Francophone Recording of the Year
Geneviève Toupin – Geneviève Toupin – MB

Independent Album of the Year
Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice – B.C.

Jazz Recording of the Year
Sandro Dominelli – The Alvo Sessions – AB

Roots Solo Recording of the Year
Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice – B.C.

Pop Recording of the Year
laurell – Can’t Stop Falling – B.C.

Rap/Hip Hop Recording of the Year
Grand Analog – Metropolis Is Burning – MB

Rock Recording of the Year
You Say Party – XXXX – B.C.

Songwriter of the Year
Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice – B.C.

Urban Recording of the Year
Maiko Watson – Sweet Vibration – MB

World Recording of the Year
Alpha YaYa Diallo – Immé – B.C.

The biggest success story of the night was Dan Mangan, who had a clean sweep in all three categories in which he was nominated, Songwriter of the Year, Roots Solo Album of the Year, and Independent Album of the Year for Nice, Nice, Very Nice. Mangan was in New York last night so WCMA host, Grant Lawrence, read Dan’s acceptance speeches on stage via email on his Blackberry.

Just before the awards Dan Mangan followed me on Twitter so I was able to send him a direct message, asking for thoughts on his hat-trick.

The night ended on a high note as Hall of Fame inductees, Chilliwack, played back to back hits. From classical to instrumental and children’s recording artists, everyone was in good spirits and supporting of fellow artists last night. BC and Manitoba were well represented in the awards room and from the sounds of the crowd and thunderous applause out in the theatre, it seems like everyone had a fantastic time.

All photos by John Bollwitt for Miss604.com