CFMAs Are Handed Out In Vancouver
The Canadian Folk Music 2023 Awards were handed out over two nights in Vancouver last weekend (April 1 and 2).
By FYI Staff
The Canadian Folk Music 2023 Awards were handed out over two nights in Vancouver last weekend (April 1 and 2). Topping the list with two wins each were Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves, John Wort Hannam, and Sultans of String, for their album, Sanctuary.
The two evenings of celebrations were held this year at Mel Lehan Hall, at St James Community Square. The 18th edition of the event was hosted by Chelsey June of Twin Flames and Benoit Bourque, in bilingual events featuring performances by Geneviève & Alain, Angelique Francis, Kyle McKearney, Camie, Barney Bentall, Abigail Lapell, Wesli, Mama’s Broke, Digging Roots, and John Wort Hannam with T. Buckley.
On Saturday evening, the Slaight Music Unsung Hero Award was presented to Ghislaine Cormier for her many years working in the cultural sphere of the Francophone and Acadian communities of PEI. She has been the Executive Director of the Cultural Federation of PEI since 2009 and has created and managed several large-scale cultural and tourism projects. Cormier is also the co-owner of Kaneshii Vinyl Press, the only vinyl record manufacturer east of Toronto and the new crowdfunding platform RecordFund/DiskFunctional.
Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves took home trophies for Instrumental Group of the Year and Traditional Album of the Year for Hurricane Clarice, John Wort Hannam won for Solo Artist of the Year, and Contemporary Album of the Year (Long Haul), and The Sultans of String album, Sanctuary, garnered awards for Global Roots Album of the Year, and Producer of the Year for Chris McKhool & John 'Beetle' Bailey.
Other notable winners included The Slocan Ramblers, as Ensemble of the Year, The McDades, for Vocal Group of the Year, Kyle McKearney, as Contemporary Singer of the Year, Abigail Lapell for English Songwriter of the Year, and William Prince and Serena Ryder, for Single of the Year, for Sing Me A Song.
One special trophy awarded on Sunday was The Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries Award, given to Oktoécho.
The 2024 CFMA celebrations will be held in Newfoundland/Labrador.
For more information and a full list of winners, visit folkawards.ca
