Irish Mythen leads the way of nominees in 30 categories vying for a trophy at the 2020 Music PEI Awards with 7 nominations for her new album ‘Little Bones’. She received nominations in Album of the Year, Entertainer, Roots Contemporary/Country, Songwriter, Solo Recording, Song of the Year and Touring Artist of the Year.
Pop music is showing strong as Paper Lions and Sorrey are close behind with 6 nominations each. Both bands had albums out late this year and have garnered nominations in some of the top categories including Album of the Year, Group Recording of the Year, and Song of the Year. Atlantic String Machine and Cory Gallant are both sitting with 5 nominations, while 4 nominations belong to Andrew Waite, Dennis Ellsworth, Tara Maclean and Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys.
Also being handed out during Credit Union Music PEI Week will be an additional 8 Board Awards as selected by the Music PEI Board of Directors. Those awards include Educator of the Year, Industry Person of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Volunteer of the Year, Rooted to the Island, Live Music Production Professional of the year, Community Contributor of the Year & Musician of the Year.
Membership voting for Album of the Year, Rock, Pop, Roots Contemporary/Country and Roots Traditional Recording of the Year will open December 6th and will close December 15th. All other awards are determined by juries of industry professionals.
Following is a list of the categories and nominees. For additional information, voting and ticket sales for Credit Union Music PEI Week go to www.musicpei.com. Festivities will kick off February 5th and run until the 9th with the awards party and closing concert. The full schedule for the 18th annual Credit Union Music PEI Week including performers will be announced the week of December 16th. Join the festivities for PEI’s largest annual celebration of Island music.
The 2020 Music PEI Award nominees are:
Achievement in Classical or Jazz Music Award
Atlantic String Machine
Dan Rowswell
Winterjazz Quartet
Credit Union Album of the Year
Atlantic String Machine – The Bayfield Sessions
Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys – Dreamland
Irish Mythen – Little Bones
Paper Lions – Stay Together
Sorrey – In Full Bloom
Digital Achievement of the Year
Andrew Waite
Hailey MacIsaac
KINLEY
Paper Lions
Sorrey
Electronic Single Recording of the Year
Lee Rosevere – Lunar Descent
The Trip with DJ AllyCaT – Should Probably Do Something
Vince The Messenger – Photosynthesis
Entertainer of the Year
Andrew Waite
Atlantic String Machine
Cory Gallant
David Woodside
Dylan Menzie
Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys
Inn Echo
Irish Mythen
Little Cities
Paper Lions
Rachel Beck
Richard Wood
Tara MacLean
Event of the Year
Atlantic Blue
Cloggeroo – the Island Folk Festival
Island Jazz
Rock the Boat Music Festival
Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival
Francophone Artist of the Year
Fayo
Sirène & Matelot
Vishtèn
Group Recording of the Year
Atlantic String Machine – The Bayfield Sessions
Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys – Dreamland
Paper Lions – Stay Together
Sirène & Matelot – Sirène & Matelot
Sorrey – In Full Bloom
Live Music Programmer of the Year
Dan Rowswell
Darren Biggar
Grace Gormley
New Artist of the Year
Brad Milligan Band
Cory Gallant
David Woodside
Inn Echo
Maureen Trainor
Pop Recording of the Year
Hailey MacIsaac – In a Dark Room
Paper Lions – Stay Together
Sorrey – In Full Bloom
Producer of the Year
Colin Buchanan
Dennis Ellsworth
Jon Matthews
Rock Recording of the Year
Brad Milligan Band – Destination
David Woodside – The Long and The Short
Dennis Ellsworth – Common Senseless
Soul Filter – A Minor Conspiracy
Towerwood – Towerwood
Roots Contemporary/Country Recording of the Year
Cory Gallant – Welcome to My World
Greg Bungay – A Radical Departure
Irish Mythen – Little Bones
Maureen Trainor – Nothing But The Stars
Tara MacLean – Deeper
Roots Traditional Recording of the Year
Blair Gaudet – Storytime
Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys – Dreamland
Inn Echo – Inn Echo
SOCAN Songwriter of the Year
Andrew Waite – “Cash It In”
Dennis Ellsworth – “Don’t Worry About It”
Irish Mythen – “Little Bones”
Rick Sparkes + The Enablers – “Love for Rainy Days”
Tara MacLean – “Ghosting Me”
Solo Recording of the Year
Cory Gallant – Welcome to My World
Dennis Ellsworth – Common Senseless
Hailey MacIsaac – In a Dark Room
Irish Mythen – Little Bones
Tara MacLean – Deeper
Song of the Year
Cory Gallant – “Where You Come From”
Irish Mythen – “Little Bones”
KINLEY – “Lightworkers”
Paper Lions – “Rhythm & Gold”
Sorrey – “Talking To Them”
Touring Artist of the Year
Atlantic String Machine
Irish Mythen
Rachel Beck
Richard Wood
Vishtèn
Venue of the Year
Celtic Performing Arts Centre at The College of Piping
Copper Bottom Brewing
The Guild
Video of the Year
Alicia Toner – “Dangerous Home” (Directed by Jordan Mah)
Andrew Waite – “Faith” (Directed by Brendan Henry)
Little Cities – “Safety First” (Directed by Ryan McCarvill)
Sorrey – “Signs” (Directed by Ben Rayner)
Vishtèn – “Elle Tempête” (Directed by Millefiore Clarkes)
Visual Artist of the Year
Ashley Anne Clark
Brendan Henry
Karen Graves
