East Coast Music Awards - Show and Awards Information

IThe most complete Information on the East Coast Music Awards on One Page! 

Cape Breton, Nova Scotia is ALL FIRED UP for the East Coast Music awards to be held Sunday February 20th, 2005 at Centre 200 In Sydney.

ALL FIRED UP!
CBC TELEVISION, ECMA ANNOUNCE ARTISTS
FOR 2005 EAST COAST MUSIC AWARDS,
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20 AT 8 P.M. (8:30 P.M. NL)

CBC Television and the East Coast Music Association have assembled a stellar lineup of artists to perform on this year’s Gala Awards Ceremony, broadcast live from Centre 200 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, on Sunday, February 20th.

Country singer George Canyon will host the two-hour extravaganza that boasts performances by The Trews, MIR, The Joel Plaskett Emergency, Gordie Sampson, Susan Crowe, Barry Canning, The Cottars, Beòlach, Vishten, Dave Gunning, and Nathan Wiley. Also on the program - an all-star tribute to the much-loved Rita MacNeil, including performances by audience-pleasers Shaye, Jimmy Rankin, and 2005 Maple Blues Awards Entertainer of the Year, Matt Minglewood.

George Canyon is known to audiences across the U.S. and Canada from the hugely popular Nashville Star television show. Last year, he won the Rising Star Award at the Canadian Country Music Awards, and his debut major label release, One Good Friend, hit stores across North America on September 28th 2004. ECMA 2005 marks Canyon’s debut as a television host.

The Trews, from Antigonish, NS, are the first indie rock band to have a #1 single on the Canadian rock charts. The band is nominated for five ECMAs in 2005.

MIR is one of the most innovative pop/rock groups on Canada’s independent music scene. Recently, MIR spearheaded a sold-out Tsunami benefit concert in Halifax, and played to rave reviews on the hugely successful “Canada For Asia” concert on CBC television.

Truthfully Truthfully, The Joel Plaskett Emergency’s latest album, is a music lover’s dream-come-true. Canada take notice: Truthfully, Joel Plaskett is a star in-the-making.

Multi-award winning songwriter, producer and recording artist Gordie Sampson recently released his second solo album, Sunburn. The album’s title track and video have become chart-topping hits on radio and TV, and in 2004 his songs were recorded by international superstars including Faith Hill and Keith Urban.

PEI singer-songwriter Nathan Wiley recently released his much-anticipated follow-up album, High Low, after earning widespread critical acclaim for his debut album, Bottom Dollar. Wiley is well known for his unforgettable melodies and infectious grooves.

Susan Crowe is one of Canada's most respected singer-songwriters in the folk genre, captivating audiences wherever she plays. Crowe is a two-time JUNO and ECMA nominee.

Beòlach hails from Cape Breton and performs an energetic mix of Celtic tunes, featuring piano, pipes, whistles, guitar, and fiddles. Vishten is a brilliant quartet from New Brunswick that celebrates the rich tradition of East Coast music in a hardy mix of Acadian, Irish and Scottish styles. When these two groups hit the stage, dancing is sure to follow.

The Cottars are a young and dynamic Celtic music quartet from Cape Breton. Called “one of the hottest acts in the folk world today” by The Boston Globe, this award-winning foursome continues to thrill audiences around the world.

Two singer-songwriters on this year’s broadcast are new to network television: Dave Gunning has created a name for himself in the world of folk music. This year, Gunning is nominated for two East Coast Music Awards including Folk Recording of the Year and Male Artist of the Year. Barry Canning is one of hottest acts from St. John’s, thrilling enthusiastic crowds with infectious melodies and hook-laden songs. Canning is nominated for Pop Recording of the Year in 2005.

Several artists will share the stage with other performers on this year’s show. They include: Shanklin Road, Paul Lamb and Cory Tetford of Crush, and Damhnait Doyle.

The 2005 EAST COAST MUSIC AWARDS pay tribute to the great successes of the artists, composers, writers and technicians of the region. The awards gala celebrates all genres, and is one of the few remaining televised award shows in the world that offers 100 per cent live (not pre-recorded) performances.

The 2005 EAST COAST MUSIC AWARDS is produced by Geoff D’Eon and Michael Lewis for CBC Television, Jac Gautreau for ECMA, and is produced in association with The East Coast Music Association. Gemini-award winning director Shelagh O’Brien will helm the show for the sixth consecutive year.

East Coast music fans can starting voting on Thursday, January 27th for this year’s ECMA Cape Breton Post Entertainer of the Year award. This award is the only East Coast Music Award that is decided by the public.

This year’s nominees for ECMA Cape Breton Post Entertainer of the Year are:

Crush
George Canyon
Jimmy Rankin
Natalie MacMaster
The Trews

This year, there are three ways to vote for your favourite ECMA Cape Breton Post Entertainer of the Year nominee. Fans can cast their vote by phone, by text messaging, or online.

To vote by phone, call 1-900-870-ECMA (3262). A touch–tone phone is required and each call costs .99 cents.

To vote online, go to www.ecma.ca or www.cbc.ca/ecma and make your choice. Only one vote per computer is tabulated.

And new this year, fans can vote via text messaging. To register your vote, text the word “VOTE” to the number assigned to your favorite Entertainer of the Year nominee.
To vote for Crush, text ALIANT01 (25426801)
To vote for George Canyon, text ALIANT02 (25426802)
To vote for Jimmy Rankin, text ALIANT03 (25426803)
To vote for Natalie MacMaster, text ALIANT04 (25426804)
To vote for The Trews, text ALIANT05 (25426805)

Each vote costs .99 cents. Text message voting available to Aliant Mobility customers exclusively.

The deadline for voting is Wednesday, February 16, 2005. The East Coast Music Awards and Conference takes place in Sydney, Cape Breton from February 17th to 20th and culminates with the ECMA Gala Awards Show, broadcast live on CBC Television, Sunday, February 20th starting at 8pm in all time zones (8:30NT). The Cape Breton Post Entertainer of the Year will be announced during the broadcast.

ECMA Gala Awards Show and Showcase tickets are now available at the Centre 200 box office or by calling (902) 564-6668.

For more information, please go to our website at www.ecma.ca or www.cbc.ca/ecma.

The East Coast Music Association is proud to announce the recipients of the 2005 Stompin’ Tom Awards. These annual awards are presented to the “unsung heroes” of the music industry in Atlantic Canada, in honor of one of the east coast’s most colorful musical heroes, Stompin’ Tom Connors.

The Stompin’ Tom Awards are presented annually to one individual or group from each of the East Coast Music Association’s five regions: Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, mainland Nova Scotia, and Cape Breton. This year’s recipients are: Charles Hansen from Prince Edward Island, Donat Lacroix from New Brunswick, Émile Benoît from Newfoundland & Labrador, Carl Douglas Elliott from mainland Nova Scotia, and Charlie MacKinnon from Cape Breton.

“These musicians are well known for keeping the music alive in their communities and sharing their passion for music with others,” said Shelley Nordstrom, chair of the board of directors of the East Coast Music Association.

When Stompin’ Tom Connors was presented with the Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement award in 1993, he agreed to accept the award on one condition – that he could return it! Instead of accepting the award, he requested that an award be created to honor musicians who have made long-term contributions to the East Coast Music industry, paving the road for many successful east coast artists today. The East Coast Music Association has recognized more than 60 of these musical pioneers to date. The recipients are chosen by a committee of Atlantic Canadian folklorists in consultation with the ECMA board of directors.

The 2005 honorees will be recognized during the East Coast Music Association’s Industry Awards Show and Brunch, presented by FACTOR, on Friday, February 18th at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre in Sydney, Cape Breton.

For information on tickets to the Industry Awards Show and Brunch, please contact the ECMA 2005 Event Office in Sydney, Cape Breton, at (902) 539-6909 during regular office hours.

Tickets are also available for the ECMA Gala Awards Show and Showcase stages at the Centre 200 box office or by phoning (902) 564-6668.

For information regarding the Stompin’ Tom Award and its recipients, as well as any other information regarding the ECMA 2005 event, please visit our website at www.ecma.ca .

The ECMAs will take place in Sydney, Cape Breton from February 17th to 20th and will culminate in the ECMA Awards Gala Show, broadcast on CBC Television, Sunday, February 20th starting at 8 pm in all time zones (8:30 NT)

From the genres of Celtic, blues, pop, rock, jazz and folk, the East Coast Music Association has put together an amazing lineup of up-and-coming artists that’s sure to thrill audiences for the two hour opening portion of the 2005 East Coast Music Awards, at 6 p.m. Sunday, February 20th at Sydney’s Centre 200.

Hosted by Newfoundland funnyman, actor, writer and comedian Andrew Younghusband, the pre-show will feature performances by Allie Bennett and Samantha Robichaud, Forever, Madviolet, Matt Andersen, and Duane Andrews, and will include the presentation of several 2005 East Coast Music Awards.

Bennett, a Cape Breton musician who has toured the world with some of the biggest names in the Canadian music industry for almost three decades, released his first solo fiddle album last year and is nominated for two ECMAs this year. Robichaud, a 17-year-old fiddler from New Brunswick, has already played Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry and is also a double-ECMA nominee this year.

Cape Breton rockers Forever combine a classic and modern rock sound that helped them earn the Aboriginal Recording of the Year ECMA in 2004. They are nominated in the category again for 2005, along with Rock Recording of the Year.

Madviolet also has two ECMA nominations this year. With their sweet sounds and smart lyrics, Lisa MacIsaac and Brenley MacEachern have been earning popular and critical acclaim across the country with their debut full-length recording, Worry the Jury.

New Brunswick bluesman Matt Andersen truly must be seen – and heard – to be believed. He has been called “a force of nature” and when you experience his magnetic stage presence and incredible musicianship, you’ll understand why. Andersen has an ECMA 2005 nomination for Blues Recording of the Year.

Newfoundland’s Duane Andrews has earned comparisons to the legendary Django Reinhardt for his original guitar style that melds jazz, folk and original music into an incredible listening experience. Andrews has two ECMA nominations this year.

“This is one of the biggest and most diverse pre-telecast lineups we’ve ever had,” says Marc Chouinard, vice-chair of the East Coast Music Association. “These artists are top-quality and they are going to have the 4000 plus audience of music industry professionals and public at Centre 200 on the edge of their seats – that’s a promise.”

The pre-telecast portion of the evening begins at 6 p.m. sharp and tickets are going fast, with only 1,500 remaining for sale to the general public, so book yours now.

The ECMAs will take place in Sydney, Cape Breton from February 17th to 20th and will culminate in the ECMA Awards Gala Show, broadcast on CBC Television, Sunday, February 20th starting at 8pm in all time zones (8:30NT). The Entertainer of the Year will be announced during the broadcast.

ECMA Gala Awards Show and Showcase tickets are now available at the Centre 200 box office or by calling (902)564-6668.

For more information, please go to our website at www.ecma.ca