The LYNNeS, Jack Pine and the Fire, Kristine St. Pierre and Jeremy Fisher are among the singer-songwriters from Ottawa nominated for this year’s batch of Canadian Folk Music Awards.
As the LYNNeS, Lynne Hanson and Lynn Miles are up for five awards, tied with the legendary Buffy Sainte-Marie for the most nominations. The collaborative effort from Hanson and Miles, Heartbreak Song for the Radio, puts them in the running for the year’s best contemporary album, vocal group, ensemble, English-language songwriter and producer.
Jack Pine and the Fire’s latest, Left To Our Own Devices, earns Gareth Auden-Hole (a.k.a. Jack Pine) and his band a shot at the title for new/emerging artist of the year, while St. Pierre is up for the French-language songwriting award for her song, La promesse.
Also nominated is Jeremy Fisher, whose children’s album, Highway to Spell, is competing in the children’s album of the year category.
Other nominees with roots in the Ottawa area include folk legend Bruce Cockburn and innovative violinist Chris McKhool.
Cockburn is up for two awards, English songwriter and solo artist of the year, while McKhool and co-producer John “Beetle” Bailey land in the best-producer category for the production work on the festive entry, Christmas Caravan, by McKhool’s Toronto-based band, Sultans of String.
Cockburn’s competition in the solo artist category includes another music veteran with a connection to the Ottawa Valley. Lanark-area resident David Francey is nominated for his album, The Broken Heart of Everything.
In all, the 14th annual edition of the awards includes 96 nominees, representing all the regions of Canada, in 19 categories.
The awards will be handed out Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at a two-night concert/awards show at the Gateway in Calgary. For information on the nominees and tickets to the gala, go to folkawards.ca.