The 2021 Music Nova Scotia Award Nominees Are…
Keonté Beals Receives eight Music Nova Scotia Award Nominations;
Aquakultre, Dave Sampson, Hillsburn, Kim Harris, and Neon Dreams follow with five.
(September 7th, 2021 - Halifax, NS) Keonté Beals leads the way with eight Music Nova Scotia award nominations, receiving nominations in major categories such as Entertainer of the Year and Recording of the Year. Aquakultre, Dave Sampson, Hillsburn, Kim Harris, and Neon Dreams are all close behind with five nominations each. The Music Nova Scotia Industry and Music Awards will be presented on Sunday, November 7th in Truro as part of Nova Scotia Music Week (NSMW) 2021.
All Music Nova Scotia members in good standing are eligible to vote for this year’s Music and Industry Awards. Voting will take place online through the Music Nova Scotia website.
Voting is now open and will close on Friday, September 24th at 11:59 PM. Music Nova Scotia members log into their MNS profile to vote here.
The general public are able to vote for Entertainer of the Year here.
The public is able to vote once daily, per email address provided.
Music Nova Scotia is pleased to announce that this year, the Music Nova Scotia Awards will be given out over an elevated brunch, brought to you by our partners Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards. Enjoy live music while celebrating all nominees and winners with a signature mimosa on Sunday, November 7th at the Inn on Prince in Truro at 11:00AM. More information on tickets will be announced soon.
See below for a complete list of award nominees.
Festival Wristbands and Delegate Passes on sale now
To purchase wristbands or passes, click HERE. Tickets can also be purchased by phone at 1-888-311-9090.
The 2021 Music Nova Scotia Music Awards nominees are:
Music Award Nominees
Acadian/Francophone Artist of the Year
Maxim Cormier
Michelle Deveau
Sylvie Marie
Isabella Samson
Sluice
African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year
Keonté Beals
Kye Clayton
Owen O’Sound Lee
YFILLA
YoungMillieRock
Alternative Recording of the Year
Aquakultre - Legacy
Kestrels - Dream or Don’t Dream
Owen Meany’s Batting Stance - Feather Weights
POSTDATA - Twin Flames
Sluice - Le Succès par le Travail
Americana/Bluegrass Recording of the Year
Leona Burkey - Sitting Tight
Maxim and Gervais Cormier - Live at the Fortress of Louisbourg
The Gilberts - Tell Me
Mike McKenna Jr. - At the Edge of the World
Terra Spencer - Chasing Rabbits
Blues Recording of the Year
Angela Lanetti - Full Circle
Campbell & Johnston - Campbell & Johnstons Black Market Band
Jesse Patrick - Old Soul New Vibe
Roxy & the Underground Soul Sound - Stand Up
Wayne Nicholson and John Campbelljohn - Elmore’s Blues
Children’s Artist of the Year
Cheryl and Vlad
Matt the Music Man
Razzmatazz for Kids
Sue McBride
Classical Recording of the Year
Charke-Cormier Duo - Derek Charke: Bathymetric Terrains
Halifax Camerata Singers - Music of the Spheres
Jennifer King - Twilight Hour: Collected Stories for Piano
Maureen Batt - Aunt Helen
Maxim Cormier - The Subjective Nothing
Country Recording of the Year
Brooklyn Blackmore - Get a Little Crazy
Dave Sampson - All Types of Ways
Gabriel Minnikin - Sweet Nothings
Norma MacDonald - Old Future
Pretty Archie - Running for Cover
Digital Artist of the Year
Adam Baldwin
Dave Sampson
Hillsburn
Jenn Grant
The Town Heroes
DJ of the Year
Cloverdale
DJ IV
DJ Tranzishen
O Cinnedi
Pineo & Loeb
Electronic Artist of the Year
Cloverdale
O Cinnedi
Pineo & Loeb
Scientists of Sound
Smaller Hearts
Entertainer of the Year
Aquakultre
Beòlach
Dave Sampson
Jenn Grant
Keonté Beals
Measha Brueggergosman
Neon Dreams
Rich Aucoin
T. Thomason
The Town Heroes
Folk Recording of the Year
Brad Reid - New Scotland
Corey Isenor - Absinthe & Smoke
Kristen Martell - Coming Home
Michael S. Ryan - From the Bottoms of Our Murky Hearts
Terra Spencer - Chasing Rabbits
Group Recording of the Year
Aquakultre - Legacy
Beòlach - All Hands
Hillsburn - Slipping Away
Neon Dreams - The Happiness of Tomorrow
The Town Heroes - Again
Hip Hop Recording of the Year
Aquakultre x DJ Uncle Fester - Bleeding Gums Murphy
Kye Clayton - Sandbox
LXVNDR - Warmth
Mitchell Bailey - 23
SHiFT FROM THA 902 - Young Gemini
Indigenous Artist of the Year
DeeDee Auston
K.U.$.H
Michael Diabo
Morgan Toney
SHiFT from THA 902
Inspirational Recording of the Year
Angela Lanetti - Full Circle
Jordan Musycsyn - Around the Fire
Keonté Beals - KING
Kristen Martell - Coming Home
Morgan Toney - First Flight
Jazz Recording of the Year
Angela Lanetti - Full Circle
Anteater - Anteater
Jerry Granelli - The Jerry Granelli Trio Plays Vince Guaraldi and Mose Allison
Measha Brueggergosman - Measha Jazz
Morgan Zwicker Jazz Project - Phase Shift
Loud Recording of the Year
Cluttered - Accidents
Electric Spoonful - Caravan Fire
Feathers & Anvils - Sunshine
Hemineglect - Is Obsolete
Rootabagga - Abby Normal
Music Video of the Year
Dave Sampson - All My Friends (Directed by: RYKER TITUS)
Keonté Beals - KING (Directed by: Keke Beatz & Keonté Beals)
Kim Harris - Once You Were Wondrous (Directed by: Mirror Image Media)
Neon Dreams - Sick of Feeling Useless (Directed by: Frank Kadillac & Adrian Morris)
Rich Aucoin - Walls (Directed by: Jason Levangie)
Musician of the Year
Anna Ludlow
Maxim Cormier
Matty Grace
Siobhan Martin
Tori Cameron
New Artist Recording of the Year
Brooklyn Blackmore - Get a Little Crazy
Keeper E. - The Sparrows All Find Food
Kids Losing Sleep - LOVES
Kye Clayton - Sandbox
SHiFT FROM THA 902 - Young Gemini
Pop Recording of the Year
Keeper E - The Sparrows All Find Food
Kim Harris - Heirloom
Neon Dreams - Happiness of Tomorrow
Gabrielle Papillon - Shout
T. Thomason - T. Thomason
R&B/Soul Recording of the Year
Alfie - HMB EP
Aquakultre & Uncle Fester - Bleeding Gums Murphy
Keonté Beals - KING
Roxy & the Underground Soul Sound - Stand Up
Recording of the Year
Keonté Beals - KING
Kim Harris - Heirloom
Hillsburn - Slipping Away
Neon Dreams - The Happiness of Tomorrow
T. Thomason - T. Thomason
Rock Recording of the Year
Beauts - Dalliance
Hillsburn - Slipping Away
Kids Losing Sleep - LOVES
Like a Motorcycle - Dead Broke
No, It’s Fine - (It’s nice to pretend) We Wrote These Songs
Solo Recording of the Year
Keonté Beals - KING
Kim Harris - Heirloom
Joel Plaskett - 44
Rich Aucoin - United States
T. Thomason - T. Thomason
Songwriter of the Year
Breagh Isabel - Girlfriends (written by: Breagh MacKinnon, Corey LeRue, Simon Wilcox)
Dave Sampson - Gets Me Through the Night (written by: Dave Sampson, Dylan Guthro, Sam Ellis)
Hillsburn - Husha (written by: Paul Aarntzen)
Joel Plaskett - Head Over Heels Into Heaven (written by: Joel Plasket, Mo Kenney)
Keonté Beals - KING (written by: Keonté Beals)
Kim Harris - Once You Were Wondrous (written by: Kim Harris)
Traditional/Roots Recording of the Year
Anna Ludlow - Wherever You Go
Beòlach - All Hands
Brad Reid - New Scotland
The Gilberts - Tell Me
Morgan Toney - First Flight
Industry Award Nominees
Community Presenter of the Year
Inverness County Centre for the Arts
La Fédération culturelle acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse (FéCANE)
Music in Communities
Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia
Company of the Year
Black Buffalo Records
Leaf Music
Sonic Entertainment
VOX Management Agency
Educator of the Year
Craig Mercer
Hayley Ryerson
Nick Pettipas
Vladimir Sitnikov
Event of the Year
Evergreen Festival
Rankin’s Winter Warmers
ReJigged Festival
The Revival Initiative
Industry Professional of the Year
Dena Williams
Eirinn Fraser
Laura Simpson
Stephanie Purcell
Manager of the Year
Adrienne Butcher
Matthew Sampson
Sonic Entertainment Group
Tamar Brown
Media Professional of the Year
Caroline Levesque
Kyah Sparks
Martin Hickey
Paul Brothers
Tara Thorne
Producer of the Year
Corey LeRue
Dylan Guthro
Erin Costelo
Keke Beatz
Waants
Publicist of the Year
Brendan MaGee
Eirinn Fraser
Sarah Atkinson
Trevor Murphy
Radio Program of the Year
The Off Kilter Show (CKDU 88.1FM)
The Outer Edge (CKDU 88.1FM)
We Out Here (101.3 Virgin Radio)
Sounds Atlantic (989 XFM)
Radio Station of the Year
989 XFM Antigonish
CIOE 97.5FM
CKDU 88.1 FM
Seaside FM
Recording Studio of the Year
Centre Line Studio
The Golden Palm
Ocean Floor Recording
The Sonic Temple
Studio Engineer of the Year
Chris Lannetti
Francisco A. Lopes II
John Mullane
Palmer Jamieson
Visual Artist of the Year
Abracazebra Productions (Megan Green)
Izra Fitch
Midnight Oil Print & Design (Alex MacAskill)
Sacha Stephan
All Music Nova Scotia members in good standing are eligible to vote for this year’s Music and Industry Awards. Voting will take place online through the Music Nova Scotia website. Voting is now open and will close on Friday, September 24th at 11:59 PM.
