CMT offers viewers the opportunity to experience the incredible showmanship and musical talent of Atlantic Canada at this year’s exceptional East Coast Music Awards 2003 Gala Show (taped live in Halifax, Nova Scotia) from Friday, February 21 through to Thursday, February 27.
Rick Mercer, comedian and star of CBC Television’s Made In Canada, hosts this year’s awards. The spectacular opening number sees the return of Ashley MacIsaac with all new music – America We Go – sung by Mary Jane Lamond and backed by Les Muses from Moncton, Celtic harp duo Ardyth and Jennifer, string players from the Nova Scotia Symphony, and members of MIR.
Slainte Mhath play their electrifying original Celtic Rock song Annie, followed by hip-hop artists Universal Soul with Laugh’n @ Ya. Damhnait Doyle performs her first single – Another California Song – from her forthcoming album. Alternative Artist/Group of the Year award recipient, Nathan Wiley, performs his poignant song Home. Lennie Gallant, double ECMA winner in 2003, performs his French song Laisse Aller. The young Celtic group, The Cottars, capture the New Artist/Group of the Year award and perform a heartfelt emotional version of Tom Waits’ The Briar and The Rose. Cape Breton sweetheart Aselin Debison sings Moonlight Shadow with a 10 member band and string section.
This display of diversity in Atlantic Canadian musical talent continues with a playful performance of My Buick by Mark Bragg and The Black Wedding Band, followed by a performance by opera sopranos, Jane Archibald and Sung Ha Shin-Bouey interpreting an Aria from the Opera Lakme. Classical Recording Artist of the Year, Denise Djokic plays Chopin’s Polonaise Brillante on cello with pianist Peter Allen. Kaleb Simmonds, a young rising urban music artist opens ears with his incredible vocal tricks, while Buck 65, Urban Recording of the Year winner, performs Roses and Bluejays.
Kim Mitchell presents fellow Canadian rock icon, Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, with the Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award. A highlight is the powerful tribute to Myles Goodwyn featuring Crush, Julian Austin, Tara MacLean, Ennis Sisters and Charlie A’Court performing April Wine’s hit songs Oowatanite, Cum Here the Band, Roller, I Wouldn’t Want to Lose Your Love, I Like to Rock, Tonight is a Wonderful Time to Fall in Love and You Could Have Been a Lady.
The ECMA 2003 Gala Show was held on February 16 at the Halifax Metro Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was broadcast live nationally on CBC Television and CBC Radio Two. Country Music Television (CMT) is Canada’s only 24-hour network dedicated to Country, Folk, Celtic and Roots music. CMT was launched in 1995 and is now seen in over 8 million Canadian homes.
East Coast Music Awards air dates on CMT: Friday February 21, 10:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 AT / 11:30 NF; Saturday February 22, 9:00 a.m. ET / 10:00 AT / 10:30 NF; Sunday February 23, 5:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 AT / 6:30 NF; Thursday February 27, 9:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 AT / 10:30 NF
