Nova Scotia artists dominate first night of 2024 ECMAs in Charlottetown

Nova Scotians, including three from Cape Breton, capture eight of the 12 awards handed out Thursday

Maggie Andrew, an artist from Nova Scotia, won her first East Coast Music Association award for African Canadian artist of the year during the award nights at the Delta Prince Edward Convention Centre on May 3 in Charlottetown. She said getting nominated was a huge recognition of her craft and winning the category meant a lot to her. - Vivian Ulinwa/SaltWire

https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/news/musicians-take-home-awards-during-first-night-of-ecmas-in-charlottetown-100962139/

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Nova Scotians ruled night one of the 36th East Coast Music Awards in Charlottetown, capturing eight of the 12 honours.

Five of the winners who received honours at the Delta Confederation Ballroom in Charlottetown on Thursday hail from the province’s mainland with the remaining three coming out of Cape Breton.

The first group of 2024 winners include:

African Canadian Artist of the Year: Maggie Andrew (N.S.)
Album of the Year: Neon Dreams - Love Child Baby Dolphin (N.S.)
Director’s Special Achievement Award: Bruce Guthro (Cape Breton)
Francophone Recording of the Year: Julie Aubé - Contentement (N.B.)
TD Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year: Derina Harvey Band (N.L.)
TD Fans’ Choice Video of the Year: 2nd Generation - “Kina’mu”, Directed by Matthew Ingraham (Cape Breton)
Group Recording of the Year: The East Pointers - Safe in Sound (P.E.I.)
Indigenous Artist of the Year: Morgan Toney (Cape Breton)
R&B/Soul Recording of the Year: KAYO - Trip (N.S.)
Rock Recording of the Year: Good Dear Good - Arrival (N.S.)
Solo Recording of the Year: Tim Baker - The Festival (N.L.)
Songwriter of the Year: Jenn Grant (P.E.I./N.S.)

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Six of the winners — The East Pointers, Baker, KAYO, Andrew, Grant and Toney — performed at the show, along with Newfoundland's Rum Ragged, P.E.I.'s Tara MacLean, Émilie Landry and Lennie Gallant.

Tim Chaisson and Jake Charron, of the East Pointers, were awarded the Group Recording of the Year award during the ECMA award ceremony held on May 3 at the Delta Prince Edward Convention Centre in Charlottetown. The award was presented to them by the premier of P.E.I., Dennis King. Charron told SaltWire how special the award is to them, and how winning this category in their hometown is a big deal. - Vivian Ulinwa/SaltWire

The event was hosted by singer-songwriter Rose Cousins and CBC music host Damhnait Doyle.

Three classical awards will be handed out during a showcase event on Saturday at St. Paul’s Church and the remaining 25 music, industry and honorary awards will be presented on Sunday, May 5, starting at 11 a.m.

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The P.E.I. show will be livestreamed online.

In between, the ECMA features several dozen smaller concerts and musical showcases, details for which can be found on the event website.