The First Round of CFMA recipients was announced during Saturday Night Awards Concert in Vancouver, BC
The first round of Canadian Folk Music Awards were presented during the opening night of celebrations held this year at the Mel Lehan Hall, St James Community Square, in Vancouver, British Columbia. The 2023 edition of the event was hosted by Chelsey June, of Twin Flames and Benoit Bourque, during a bilingual evening filled with fun and music. The Awards concert included performances by 2023 CFMA nominees Geneviève & Alain, Angelique Francis, Kyle McKearney, Camie, and Barney Bentall. Ten awards were handed out throughout the evening, including the Slaight Music Unsung Hero Award.
Awards Presented:
Nanaimo fiddlers, Fiddelium, took the award for Young Performer of the Year / Jeune artiste de l’année with their eponymous album, Fiddelium.
Waymzy, led by multi-instrumentalist (and Canadian Step Dancing Champion) Kyle Waymouth (of Stratford, Ontario), won Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year / Instrumentiste solo de l’année with his debut album, Inchoate.
William Prince and Serena Ryder’s duet, Sing Me a Song, was awarded Single of the Year / Monoplage de l’année. Their latest collaboration pairs two of Canadian music’s most recognisable and emotionally expressive voices producing tender vocals and gorgeous harmonies on this award winning single.
Gatineau/jOttawa duo Geneviève Roberge-Bouchard & Alain Barbeau were awarded French Songwriter of the Year / Auteur compositeur francophone de l’année for their third album, J’attends encore .
The award for English Songwriter of the Year / Auteur compositeur anglophone de l’année went to Abigail Lapell for her album, Stolen Time. The Toronto artist has been previously recognized with prior awards for English Songwriter of the Year (2020) and Contemporary Album of the Year (2017).
The Slaight Music Unsung Hero Award / Prix du travailleur de l’ombre – Slaight Music was presented to Ghislaine Cormier. The award recognizes the contributions of people working behind the scenes, often without recognition or adequate recompense, to foster, promote, and encourage Canada’s music and cultural scenes. Ghislaine Cormier was recognized for her many years working in the cultural sphere of the Francophone and Acadian communities of Prince Edward Island.
Producing gritty, accessible Americana music on her latest album, The Spaces in Between, Métis/Anishinaabe singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume is this year’s recipient of the Indigenous Songwriter of the Year / Auteur compositeur autochtone de l’année.
Contemporary Singer of the Year / Chanteur contemporain de l’année was awarded to BC-born Country artist Kyle McKearney. His latest album, Down-Home, has garnered praise and fans across North America.
The award for Contemporary Album of the Year / Album contemporain de l’année went to Lethbridge AB singer-songwriter John Wort Hannam for his album Long Haul.
The award for Instrumental Group of the Year / Groupe instrumental de l’année was presented to Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves. Their string band music can be heard on their album, Hurricane Clarice.