Music New Brunswick's gala awards show got off to a rousing start with a fiddle and guitar instrumental from Dominique Dupuis and Danny Boudreau, a great example of the mix of traditional and emerging music coming out of the province these days. Dupuis, one of the leading members of the group exporting Acadian and Celtic music to Europe in the last couple of years, went on to grab two awards over the night, for Female Recording, and Instrumental Recording.

Great performances continued through the evening, in between the trophy hunt. Peter Hicks, from the Fredericton group Sleepy Driver, did a special acoustic performance of that group's recent single, Mile Marker, one of the songs nominated for SOCAN Song of the Year. The group took home the award for Rock Recording of the Year, for their new In A Low Dark Light album.

The big winners of the night were Moncton's The Divorcees, who took home four awards. The band won for Anglophone Recording of the Year, Group Recording, and Country Recording for their album Four Chapters, as well as SOCAN Song of the Year (Anglophone) for The Crows. That song was also provided a live highlight, as the band teamed up for a first time performance with The Saint John String Quartet, earlier winners of the Classical Recording of the Year.

Also a multiple winner was Kevin McIntyre, who picked up three awards: Francophone Recording of the Year and Male Recording for Dragon Mecanique, and SOCAN Song of the Year (Francophone) for Cerveau de bois.

One of the biggest cheers of the night wasn't planned, and didn't go to a performer or trophy-winner. The audience jumped to their feet with no prompting to salute the work of Music NB Executive Director Jean Surette. His leadership in the position has been widely acknowledged as saving the association, and making it bigger and better than ever. Under his leadership, the awards were created; now in their third year, there's no doubt they have been a success.

The Complete List of Winners:

Recording Of The Year (anglophone): The Divorcees - Four Chapters
Recording Of The Year (francophone): Kevin McIntyre - Dragon Mecanique
Group Recording: The Divorcees - Four Chapters
Male Recording: Kevin McIntyre - Dragon Mecanique
Female Recording: Dominique Dupuis - Dominique Dupuis
Instrumental Recording: Dominique Dupuis - Dominique Dupuis
Emerging Artists: Les Hotesses d'Hilaire
SOCAN Song of the Year (francophone): Kevin McIntyre - Cerveau de bois
SOCAN Song of the Year (anglophone): The Divorcees - The Crows
Bell Aliant Fan Choice: Robin Anne Ettles
Choix du public Bell Aliant: Les Hotesses d'Hilaire

Genre Specific Categories:

Blues Recording: The Terry Whelan Band - A Work In Progress
Spiritual Recording: Stephanie Mainville - Old Man Winter
Rock Recording: Sleepy Driver - In A Low Dark Light
Roots/Folk Recording: Brent Mason - Old New Borrowed Blue
Pop Recording: Monique Poirier - Parler de paradis
Classical Recording: Saint John String Quartet & Jacques Dupries
Country Recording: The Divorcees - Four Chapters
Children's Recording: Scotty and the Stars - Making Music
Electronic or Urban Recording: In Dreams - Crazy Enough

Special Categories:

Musician of the Year: Robin Anne Ettles
Classical Artist of the Year - Katherine Moller
Visual Artist: Jocelyne Vautour - Jocelyne Vautour Photography and Design
Venue/Festival: Plan b Bar & Lounge
Video/DVD: The Motorleague - Let It Go
Music Business: Malkin Music/Cyber PR
Music Industry Professional: Marc Chouinard
Educator of the Year: Brock Gallant