Manitoba shines at Western Canadian Music Awards

Del Barber (sonicbids.com)

The 2011 Western Canadian Music Award winners were announced Sunday October 23, in Whitehorse. Manitoban artists shone, taking home 16 awards out of the 30 categories.

Winnipeg singer-songwriter Del Barber was the top winner at the award show, taking home the hardware for Roots Solo Recording and Independent Album, for his Juno Award-nominated album, Love Songs for the Last Twenty.  Wailin' Jennys also took first place for Roots Duo/Group Recording.  The album, Bright Morning Stars, is also up for three Canadian Folk Music Awards.  

First time nominees  Trio Bembe won for World Recording of the Year for the Latin grooves of Oh My Soul. Don Amero landed the top spot for Aboriginal Recording of the year. Imaginary Cities, recently back from a successful European tour, won for best Pop Recording.  B.C. transplant Ridley Bent nabbed Country Recording of the year.  And alt-country songstress Romi Mayes was dubbed Songwriter of the Year.

That's not all.In the industry categories Manitoba dominated, winning  8 out of 10 categories

Paquin was recoginzed as Agency of the Year and Gilles Paquin also took home Manager of the Year. Arun Chaturvedi stepped out from behind the board to accept Producer of the Year.

Local record company, Head In The Sand, helmed by Mike Falk, was granted Independent Record Label of the Year. Mike had his hand in two awards, as he just stepped down last week from his position of artistic director of Winnipeg's West End Cultural Centre ,  The venue was voted Live Music Venue of the Year.  And Winnipeg Folk Festival's artistic director, Chris Frayer, was named Talent Buyer of the Year.

The 2011 Western Canadian Music Awards was held in Whitehorse, Yukon, this year.  It recognizes musicians from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon, and Manitoba.  The gala awards show was held in Whitehorse October 23 and streamed live across the country. 

2011 WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC AWARDS - MANITOBA WINNERS

Artistic Awards

ABORIGINAL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Don Amero - The Long Way Home

COUNTRY RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Ridley Bent - Rabbit On My Wheel

POP RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Imaginary Cities - Temporary Resident

ROOTS DUO/GROUP RECORDING OF THE YEAR
The Wailin' Jennys - Bright Morning Stars

ROOTS SOLO RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Del Barber - Love Songs For The Last Twenty

WORLD RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Trio Bembe - Oh My Soul

INDEPENDENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Del Barber - Love Songs For The Last Twenty

SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR
Romi Mayes - "Ball and Chain"

Industry Awards

AGENCY OF THE YEAR
Paquin Entertainment Group

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Arun Chaturvedi

ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Cameron Loeppky

MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Gilles Paquin - Paquin Entertainment Group

TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR
Chris Frayer - Winnipeg Folk Festival

LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR
West End Cultural Centre

INDEPENDENT RECORD LABEL
Head In The Sand

MULTI-MEDIA AWARD
Christine Fellows - Reliquary/Reliquaire