Many of P.E.I.’s music community gathered at The Rodd Charlottetown Hotel on Sunday afternoon to learn who would take home the 2020 Music P.E.I. awards.
The Music P.E.I. Awards Party, as it has become known, is an invitation only event with guests including the nominees, sponsors and special guests and has become a nominee favourite event. They get a chance to have fun while celebrating each other’s success.
The P.E.I. music community is tight and a win for one really is a win for all. It is still competitive, but in the best way, says Music P.E.I.’s executive director Rob Oakie.
“Each year we see our artists continuing to gain new fans, recognition, tour the world playing bigger venues and larger festivals with the likes of Irish Mythen, The East Pointers and Vishtèn. We have been very fortunate to see new artists like Sorrey, The Atlantic String Machine, Cory Gallant and many more continue that development. P.E.I. is without a doubt, a very special place musically.”
Gallant was thrilled to pick up two awards —Holland College Lloyd Doyle New Artist of the Year and Photosynthesis Entertainer of the Year — but it was the latter that held the greatest meaning. “It was voted on by the fans so it means that we must be doing something right,” says the Woodstock, P.E.I. musician who was a first-time delegate/performer at Credit Union Music P.E.I. Week.
Colin Buchanan, a member of The Paper Lions, was also appreciative of his band winning Upstreet Song of the Year and Group Recording of the year for Stay Together.
“It’s a nice honour. As much as we’ve toured and enjoyed the accolades from the rest of the world, it’s fun to get the recognition at home," Buchanan said.
Hosted by Music P.E.I. president and Juno winning singer-songwriter, Catherine MacLellan the awards were presented by sponsors, funders, Music P.E.I. board members and special guests.
The artist who took home the most glass trophies, created by Canoe Cove Studios, was Sorrey. The five-piece dream pop band from Charlottetown took home three awards; Credit Union Album of the Year, Downtown Charlottetown Inc. Pop Recording of the Year and video of the year.
Double award winners also included Tara MacLean and Irish Mythen. The SOCAN Songwriter of the Year award was handed out on Thursday, Feb. 6 at the SOCAN Songwriter of the Year Concert. It was a tie between Andrew Waite for the song Cash It In and Tara MacLean for Ghosting Me.
Credit Union Music P.E.I. Week kicked off Wednesday with an opening reception and an informal and fun open mic take-over with included some pop-up performances by an incognito Irish Mythen, one of P.E.I.’s top internationally touring artists. It continued on with the SOCAN Songwriter of the Year Concert Thursday and performances Friday and Saturday evenings at various concerts featuring all nominees of this year’s awards.
The following is the list of those who took home awards:
Achievement in Classical Music Award - Atlantic String Machine
Credit Union Album of the Year - Sorrey
Digital Achievement of the Year - KINLEY
Electronic Single Recording of the Year - Vince The Messenger
Photosynthesis Entertainer of the Year - Cory Gallant
Event of the Year - Cloggeroo - The Island Folk Festival
Francophone Artist of the Year - Vishtèn
Group Recording of the Year - Paper Lions
Live Music Programmer of the Year - Dan Rowswell
Holland College Lloyd Doyle New Artist of the Year - Cory Gallant
Downtown Charlottetown Inc. Pop Recording of the Year - Sorrey
Producer of the Year - Jon Matthews
Rock Recording of the Year - Dennis Ellsworth
Roots Contemporary Recording of the Year - Irish Mythen
Cavendish Beach Music Festival by Bell Roots Traditional Recording of the Year - Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys
SOCAN Songwriter of the Year - Tara MacLean & Andrew Waite
Beltone Hearing Care Centre Solo Recording of the Year - Tara MacLean
Upstreet Song of the Year - Paper Lions
Fly P.E.I. Touring Artist of the Year - Irish Mythen
SOCAN Venue of the Year - The Guild
Video of the Year - Sorrey
Visual Artist of the Year - Ashley Anne Clark
Lifetime Achievement Award - Alan Dowling
Live Music Production Professional of the Year - Peter Gallant
Volunteer of the Year - Leo Cheverie
Industry Person of the Year - John MacPhee
Maritime Electric Educator of the Year - Donnie Fraser
Deep Roots Distillery Rooted to the Island Award - Mitch Jay
ABCE Musician of the Year - Natalie Williams Calhoun
Community Contributor of the Year - Gary Chipman
Music P.E.I. would like to extend its gratitude to all the funders, sponsors and partners who helped to make Credit Union Music P.E.I. Week 2020 a great success and huge congratulations to all the nominees and award winners.
Music P.E.I. is the music industry association for the province of Prince Edward Island and our mandate is to assist P.E.I. artists and industry professionals to develop sustainable careers. For further information contact Rob Oakie [email protected].
