by WGO staff
Originally scheduled for the first weekend of May in St. John’s, NL, the East Coast Music Association handed out their awards this past weekend. Actually, the 2020 East Coast Music Awards were more announced than handed out, in a combination of livestream ceremonies, features on weekend radio programs, and a regionally-broadcast event hosted by Mary Walsh.
On Friday afternoon, the ECMA pre-show livestream presented awards in music and industry categories. Winners included Halifax-based Cape Breton singer-songwriter Dave Sampson who won awards in two categories: Country Recording of the Year and Rising Star Recording of the Year for his EP All Types of Ways, produced by fellow Cape Bretoner Gordie Sampson in Nashville, Tennessee. On the industry side of things, Celtic Colours International Festival won Event of the Year, Soundpark Studios was recognized as Studio of the Year, and CBC Radio’s Weekend Mornings and East Coast Music Hour host Bill Roach, who grew up all over Cape Breton Island, was named Media Person of the Year.
On Saturday morning, CBC’s Weekend Mornings and CBC’s Weekend AM announced the winners of this year’s Stompin’ Tom Awards – honourary awards that celebrate individuals and groups from each of the ECMA’s five regions (Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Mainland Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Cape Breton) who have made a long-term contribution to the Atlantic Canadian music industry.
Representing Cape Breton this year are Kinnon and Betty Beaton, a well-known and highly-respected fiddle and piano duo from Inverness County. Born and raised in two incredibly musical households, they have played at local concerts and dances for more than 50 years. Besides passing down the melodies of his ancestors, Kinnon has written hundreds of tunes, many of which are being played regularly in Cape Breton and beyond. Betty’s style, meanwhile, is greatly admired by the younger generations of pianists. Together, they’ve travelled throughout Canada, the US, UK, and Denmark to play festivals and share the music of their heritage. They’ve recorded several albums and were also featured on two recordings produced by the Smithsonian Institute.
The main event of the weekend was the 2020 East Coast Music Awards presented by TD which was broadcast live on CBC TV in Atlantic Canada and available online on CBC Gem. Among the winners announced during the show were Cape Bretoners Natalie MacMaster in the Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year category for her album Sketches, and Jimmy Rankin for Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year.
“Although our plans for a big celebration in St. John’s were put on hold this year, we were very proud to produce this special program to pay tribute to our hard-working and deserving East Coast artists and industry professionals,” says Andy McLean, CEO of the East Coast Music Association. “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those who participated in the preparation of this show, to all those who tuned-in and to the city of St. John’s and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador for their inimitable hospitality over the past year.”
The full list of 2020 ECMA winners is available HERE while the full 2020 East Coast Music Awards Show presented by TD is available to watch on demand via CBC Gem HERE.
