The Canadian Folk Music Awards 2009 Nominee Showcase Concert is presented in partnership with the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals and features nominees for this year’s Canadian Folk Music Awards, plus the winners of the 2009 OCFF Songs from the Heart Awards. Concert Friday, November 20th 7:30pm, at the National Arts Centre Fourth Stage (the night before the CFMA awards gala). Tickets $20; $5 off with the purchase of a ticket to the CFMA Awards Gala. Complete ticket info here.
Showcase artists
Sultans of String, Kate Reid, Serre L’Écoute, Don Amero, Maria Dunn, Tony McManus, David Leask & Cindy Doire.
Toronto flamenco world jazz ensemble Sultans of String is among the most-nominated acts for this year’s CFMAs with three nominations in the Instrumental Group of the Year, Ensemble of the Year and Pushing the Boundaries categories. Vancouver’s Kate Reid is nominated for New/Emerging Artist of the Year for her groundbreaking and sometimes comedic album of queer-themed music. Don Amero, nominated in the Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year category, is a rising star in First Nations music who has also been nominated for two Aboriginal Peoples Choice Awards and a Canadian Aboriginal Music Award. Maria Dunn, nominated for Solo Artist of the Year, is a celebrated Scottish-born, Edmonton-based singer-songwriter whose new album features original songs inspired by Celtic music. Serre L’Ecoute is a Québec City trio nominated in the Vocal Group of the Year category for their inspired covers of traditional Québécois folk songs, and Tony McManus, a legendary Scottish performer and relatively new Canadian, is nominated in the Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year category for his album The Maker’s Mark.
In addition to these six CFMA nominees, audiences at the showcase will also get a chance to hear David Leask and Cindy Doire, this year’s winners of the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals Songs from the Heart Award. The awards highlight the talents of Ontario songwriters and are given to two artists each year, one English and one French. Leask earned the 2009 English award for his song “While I Still Breathe,” written with Bruce Madole. Doire received the French award for her song “Pêché de la mer,” co-written with Colin Linden.