(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — The 2nd Annual Western Canadian Music Awards took place in Calgary, ALB from September 30-October 3 and included a multi-genre festival that showcased more than 80 of Western Canada’s up and coming bands over three days. Included in the line up were The Fates, Maren Ord, The Salteens, Burnt, Chad Van Galen, The Dudes, Nathan, The Harlots and many more. The festival has grown by 25% over last year due to the sheer number of high quality submissions.
The touring award winners were Paquin Entertainment (Agency of the Year), Terry McBride (Manager of the Year), Rick Fenton–Winnipeg Folk Festival (Talent Buyer of the Year) and West End Cultural Centre (Live Music Venue of the Year).
International delegates attended panel discussions at the Fairmont Palliser hotel and had the opportunity to debate the future of the Western Canadian music scene. McLean Mashingaidze-Greaves, current producer of CBC’s ZeDtv, gave this year’s WCMA Conference keynote address. The Industry Awards Dinner took place on October 2 and honored the outstanding performances of those working behind the scenes in Canadian music.
The WCMAs wrapped up with an Awards Show on October 3 at the EPCOR Centre’s Jack Singer Concert Hall, which was hosted by Bif Naked and featured performances by Joel Kroeker, Joel Fafard, The Wailin’ Jennies with CPO Players, Sweatshop Union, Hall of Fame Inductees – The Stampeders, Doc Walker and more.
“This year’s WCMA definitely lived up to it’s billing.” said WCMA executive director Thom Sparling. “The musicians rose to every occasion, and my only regret was that I didn’t have time to see all the performances I had been looking forward to catching.”
“The city of Calgary embraced us, the more than 700 musicians and music industry members in attendance left with a strong sense that the WCMAs have come into their own. We are looking forward to rocking Vancouver in October 2005."
Western Canadian Music Awards–Industry Award Winners
Agency of the Year:
Paquin Entertainment
Engineer of the Year:
Randy Staub
Independent Label/Distributor of the Year:
Stony Plain Records
Manager of the Year:
Terry McBride
Media Person of the Year:
Peter North
Recording Studio of the Year:
The Warehouse
Talent Buyer of the Year
Rick Fenton – Winnipeg Folk Festival
Live Music Venue of the Year:
West End Cultural Centre
Independent Publicist/Radio Promoter:
Aimee Hill
Musician of the Year:
Russell Broom
Heritage Award:
Garry McDonall
Industry Builder:
R. Harlan Smith
Best Album Design:
Mike Carroll, with illustrations by Marcel Dzama for the The Weakerthans – Reconstruction Site album
Western Canadian Music Awards–Artistic Award Winners:
Outstanding Classical Composition:
Robert Turner – Third Symphony: Canadian Composers Portraits
Songwriter of the Year:
John K. Samson/The Weakerthans – Reconstruction Site
Producer of the Year:
Jann Arden/Russell Broom – Love Is The Only Soldier
Video of the Year: (Both Artist & Director Won the Award)
Artist: Matthew Good – In a World called Catastrophe
Director: Kyle Davison
Outstanding Rock Recording:
Matthew Good – Avalanche
Outstanding Pop Recording:
Nelly Furtado – Folklore
Outstanding Francophone Recording:
Danielle Hébert – Aventuriere Accidentelle
Outstanding Roots Recording:
The Wailin’ Jennys – 40 Days
Outstanding Country Recording:
Doc Walker – Everyone Aboard
Outstanding Rap/Hip Hop Recording:
Swollen Members – Heavy
Outstanding Children’s Recording:
Lulu and the TomCat – 3, 2, 1 Kadooze
Outstanding Christian Recording:
Jill Paquette – Jill Paquette
Outstanding Classical Recording:
(TIE)
CBC Radio Orchestra – Jacques Hétu: Concertos
and Chor Leoni Men’s Choir – Yuletide Fires
Outstanding Instrumental Recording:
Great Uncles of the Revolution – Blow the House Down
Outstanding Aboriginal Recording:
Jill Paquette – Jill Paquette
Outstanding Jazz Recording:
Marilyn Lerner/Sonny Greenwich – Special Angel
Outstanding Blues Recording:
Big Dave McLean – Blues from the Middle
Outstanding Album/Independent Artist:
The Weakerthans – Reconstruction Site
Outstanding Album/Major Label Artist:
Nickelback
Hall of Fame:
The Stampeders
Entertainer of the Year:
Doc Walker
–Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
