The Weakerthans are (from left) Greg Smith, Jason Tait, John K. Samson and Stephen Carroll. (Canadian Press) The Weakerthans are (from left) Greg Smith, Jason Tait, John K. Samson and Stephen Carroll. (Canadian Press)

The Weakerthans, from Winnipeg, and Hey Rosetta, from St. John's, have won the inaugural Verge Music Awards, $25,000 prizes for Canadian artists sponsored by satellite radio company XM.

XM Canada created the fan-voted awards in association with their Verge station, which plays new and emerging indie and alternative Canadian music.

The Weakerthans, a punk-folk band also nominated for the Polaris Prize, were named artist of the year.

They've returned after a four-year recording hiatus with Reunion Tour, which is full of hockey and curling lyrics and references to Winnipeg.

Vocalist John K. Samson is the major songwriter of the group, which also includes bass player Greg Smith, drummer Jason Tait and guitarist Stephen Carroll.

Hey Rosetta won the album of the year award for Into Your Lungs.

Band members are vocalist Tim Baker, guitarist Adam Hogan, bass player Josh Ward, drummer Phil Maloney, violinist Kinley Dowling and cellist Romesh Thavanathan.

Nominees were drawn from the acts in "regular rotation" on Verge and 45,000 Canadians too part in online voting to decide the winners.

The $20,000 Polaris Prize, also an award for emerging musical talent, will be awarded next Monday.