Earlier this week, the Western Canadian Music Alliance (WCMA) announced the outstanding artists and music industry professionals that have been nominated for 2021 Western Canadian Music Awards. The nominees were revealed through a livestream direct from Winnipeg, Manitoba, with two musical performances by Sebastian Gaskin and Mattmac, both nominees for Indigenous Artist of the Year, you can watch the stream here! The full list of nominees can be found below, with the winners in both the artistic and industry categories to be revealed in October (date to be confirmed) during a special livestreamed event.
Robyn Stewart, Executive Director of WCMA and BreakOut West, says:
“I could not be more excited to honour the talent and strength of western Canadian artists and industry. Congratulations to all who submitted for nominations and all who are nominated. Your drive and success in sharing your music with the world or supporting this music to be shared is integral to tough times like this. Your resilience is inspirational.”
Voting is now open to members of all western Provincial and Territorial Music Industry Associations. All members will be sent an email regarding login information to vote (beginning today – Tuesday, May 18).
If any members do not receive an email, please contact their Music Association. Voting will conclude at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time, on Tuesday, June 1. See the complete list of artistic nominees here, and the list of industry nominees here.
2021 Western Canadian Music Awards Artistic Nominees
Blues Artist of the Year
Blue Moon Marquee – BC
Debra Power – AB
Kat Danser – AB
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne – AB
Terminal Station – BC
BreakOut Artist of the Year
Ariel Posen – MB
Olivia Penalva – BC
Sam Lynch – BC
Sargeant X Comrade – AB
Tate McRae – AB
Children’s Artist of the Year
Claire Ness – YT
Garth Prince – AB
Peter Lenton – AB
Remy Rodden – YT
Seeka Sings – AB
Classical Artist or Ensemble of the Year Sponsored by Canadian Music Centre (CMC)
Christopher Tyler Nickel – BC
Land’s End Ensemble with Laura Hynes and Karl Hirzer – AB
PEP (Piano and Erhu Project) – BC
Véronique Mathieu – SK
Vetta Chamber Music – BC
Classical Composer of the Year
Edward Top – BC
Jeffrey Ryan – BC
Jocelyn Morlock – BC
Katerina Gimon – BC
T. Patrick Carrabre – BC
Country Artist of the Year
D’orjay The Singing Shaman – AB
Gord Bamford – AB
Hunter Brothers – SK
Jess Moskaluke – SK
Nice Horse – AB
Electronic & Dance Artist of the Year
Astrocolor – BC
Mat the Alien – BC
So Sus – BC
Takis – BC
Talltale – AB
Francophone Artist of the Year Sponsored by APCM (Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique)
éemi – SK
Jill Barber – BC
Kelly Bado – MB
Ponteix – SK
Sala – MB
Global Artist of the Year
Casimiro Nhussi – MB
Kelly Bado – MB
Notas de 4 – AB
Rubim de Toledo – AB
Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra – BC
Indigenous Artist of the Year
Don Amero – MB
Mattmac – MB
PIQSIQ – NT
Sebastian Gaskin – MB
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC
Instrumental Artist of the Year
Factor Eight – SK
Mohamed Assani – BC
Quin With One N – BC
Rubim de Toledo – AB
Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra – BC
Jazz Artist of the Year
BPM Trio – BC
David Restivo – BC
Jocelyn Gould – MB
Michael Kaeshammer – BC
Will Bonness – MB
Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year
Black Thunder – SK
Numenorean – AB
The Basement Paintings – SK
The Moon Runners – SK
Vagina Witchcraft – MB
Pop Artist of the Year
Begonia – MB
Olivia Penalva – BC
Sam the Astronaut – BC
Shawn Hook – BC
Tate McRae – AB
Producer of the Year
Aidan Knight – BC
Chris Duncombe, Aaron Grain, David Roberts, Gordie Sampson, Thomas Salter, Karen Kosowski – BC
deadmen – MB
Spencer Cheyne – AB
Steve Bays – BC
R&B Artist of the Year
IAMTHELIVING X Teon Gibbs – BC
Major Funk – YT
Sebastian Gaskin – MB
Slo-Fi – AB
XL The Band – BC
Rap & Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Boslen – BC
Junk – BC
Mouraine – AB
Sargeant X Comrade – AB
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC
Recording of the Year
Begonia – MB
Kelly Bado – MB
The Bros. Landreth – MB
The Washboard Union – BC
William Prince – MB
Rock Artist of the Year Sponsored by Torque Brewing
Miesha & The Spanks – AB
Mise en Scene – MB
Scenic Route to Alaska – AB
Shred Kelly – BC
The Pack a.d. – BC
Roots Solo Artist of the Year
Aerialists – BC
Emily Triggs – AB
Pharis and Jason Romero – BC
Slow Leaves – MB
William Prince – MB
Songwriter(s) of the Year Sponsored by The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN)
Aidan Knight – BC
Grant Davidson – MB
Michael Bernard Fitzgerald – AB
Stefanie Johnson and Jodi Dunlop – MB
William Prince – MB
Spiritual Artist of the Year
Allswell – BC
Caleb Delamont – AB
Jake Fretz – MB
Steve Bell – MB
Yvonne St Germaine – SK
Video Director of the Year Sponsored by Manitoba Film & Music
Alfonso Chin – Snotty Nose Rez Kids “Screaming Indian” – BC
Dylan Hryciuk – PONTEIX “Petite Fleur” – SK
Kyriel Roberts – Pimpton “Exit The Vessel” – SK
Martin LaFrenière & Philippe Bellefeuille – William Prince “Gospel First Nation” – MB
Stephano Barberis – The Washboard Union “Country Thunder” – BC
Visual Media Composer of the Year
Chroma Mixed Media – Naona – BC
Deanna Peters/Mutable Subject – Sound Migrations – BC
Factor Eight – Life Is But A Dream – SK
Jeffery Straker – Gravity – SK
Kevon Cronin – Hunter Hunter (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – MB
2021 Western Canadian Music Awards Industry Nominees
Audio Engineering Award
Ian Dillon – AB
Josh Gwilliam – AB
Nygel Asselin – BC
Ryan Worsley – BC
Sheldon Zaharko – BC
Community Excellence Award
Curbside Concerts – AB
National Music Centre – AB
Nunavut Black History Society – NV
Sakamoto Agency – BC
The Exchange – SK
Excellence in Visual Design
Alan Ngo – AB
Ashlin Kellough – AB
Bronwin Parks – BC
Christina Cooper – AB
Roberta Landreth – MB
Impact in Artist Development
Birthday Cake – MB
Curbside Concerts – AB
National Music Centre – AB
Sakamoto Agency – BC
The Starlite Sessions – AB
Impact in Live Music Sponsored by Canadian Live Music Association
Curbside Concerts – AB
National Music Centre – AB
The Starlite Room (Starlite Sessions) #SupportCanadianVenues – AB
Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club – MB
West End Cultural Centre – MB
Impact in Music Marketing
Birthday Cake – MB
Curbside Concerts – AB
The Starlite Sessions – AB
The Village Idiots – MB
West End Cultural Centre – MB
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