The Western Canadian Music Alliance and BreakOut West have announced the nominees for the 2016 Western Canadian Music Awards. Victoria’s Aidan Knight leads all artists with three nominations. Other Victoria related nominees include David Vest, Michael Kaeshammer, Alpha Omega (Prevail of Swollen Members), Jon and Roy, Oliver Swain, and The New Groovement. Industry Award nominees from Victoria include Amelia Artists and Rifflandia. This year, the 14th annual WCMAs take place at Casino Regina in Regina Saskatchewan Thursday October 13, 2016.

BreakOut West: http://www.breakoutwest.ca

2016 Western Canadian Music Awards Nominees (Victoria artists in italics)
Aboriginal Artist of the Year
David Morin (BC)
Digawolf (NT)
Don Amero (MB)
Nadia Gaudet & Jason Burnstick (MB)
William Prince (MB)

Blues Artist of the Year
David Gogo (BC)
David Vest (BC)
Debra Power (AB)
Harpdog Brown & The Travelin’ Blues Show (BC)
Romi Mayes (MB)

BreakOut Artist of the Year
Aidan Knight (BC)
Brett Kissel (AB)
Michael Bernard Fitzgerald (AB)
The Bros. Landreth (MB)
We Are The City (BC)

Children’s Artist of the Year
Bobs & LoLo (BC)
Hilary Grist (BC)
Nadia Gaudet & Jason Burnstick (MB)
Raffi (BC)
The Kerplunks (BC)

Classical Artist/Ensemble of the Year
Couloir (AB)
Turning Point Ensemble and musica intima (BC)
Paolo Bortolussi (BC)
Roger Admiral (AB)
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (MB)

Classical Composition of the Year
Songs from the Rainshadow’s Edge – Benton Roark (BC)
Along the King’s Road – Jason Cullimore (SK)
Birds of Paradise Lost – John Oliver (BC)
15 for Piano – Howard Bashaw (AB)
Of Heart and Tide – Sid Robinovitch (MB)

Country Artist of the Year
Bobby Wills (AB)
Brett Kissel (AB)
George Canyon (AB)
Jess Moskaluke (SK)
Keith and Renee (MB)

Electronic/Dance Artist of the Year
Delhi 2 Dublin (BC)
DiRTY RADIO (BC)
Ghost Twin (MB)
Grey Saturn (BC)
Soulier (AB)

Francophone Artist of the Year
Arnaud Granoux (BC)
Jocelyne Baribeau (MB)
Justin Lacroix Band (MB)
Le Destin du Jazz-Club! (BC)
Nadia Gaudet & Jason Burnstick (MB)

Instrumental Artist of the Year
Daniel Koulack (MB)
Don Alder (BC)
Hutchinson Andrew Trio (AB)
Michael Kaeshammer (BC)
Pugs and Crows (BC)

Jazz Artist of the Year
Al Muirhead (AB)
Chris Gestrin & Bernie Arai (BC)
Curtis Nowosad Quintet (MB)
Jaclyn Guillou (BC)
Le Destin du Jazz-Club! (BC)

Metal/Hard Music Artist of the Year
KEN mode (MB)
Shooting Guns (SK)
Striker (AB)
Third Ion (SK)
Van Halst (AB)

Pop Artist of the Year
Bryan Finlay (AB)
Derrival (BC)
JP Hoe (MB)
Lexi Strate (AB)
We Are The City (BC)

Rap/Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Alpha Omega (BC)
Arlo Maverick (AB)
Evil Ebenezer (BC)
Snak The Ripper (BC)
SonReal (BC)

Recording of the Year
Aidan Knight – Each Other (BC)
Jordan Klassen – Javelin (BC)
Library Voices – Lovish (SK)
Pharis and Jason Romero – A Wanderer I’ll Stay (BC)
Yukon Blonde – On Blonde (BC)

Rock Artist of the Year
Aidan Knight (BC)
Rae Spoon (BC)
The Sheepdogs (SK)
The Wet Secrets (AB)
Yukon Blonde (BC)

Roots Duo/Group of the Year
Crooked Brother (MB)
Jon and Roy (BC)
Northern Beauties (AB)
Rosie & The Riveters (SK)
Sweet Alibi (MB)

Roots Solo Artist of the Year
Corb Lund (AB)
Frazey Ford (BC)
Matt Patershuk (AB)
Oliver Swain (BC)
William Prince (MB)

Producer of the Year
Brad Prosko / Brad Prosko Production – Poor Nameless Boy “Bravery,” Chris Henderson “Craves the Chaos,” Government Town “GTIII” (SK)
Dana “Rusty” Matyas – Federal Lights “Coeur De Lion” (MB)
Library Voices – Library Voices “Lovish” (SK)
Spencer Cheyne / The Mixing Station – Jocelyn Alice “Jackpot,” Maddison Krebs “Bullseye” (AB)
Colin Stewart / Hive Studios – Yukon Blonde “On Blonde” (BC)

Songwriter(s) of the Year
Corb Lund – “S Lazy H” from Corb Lund Things That Can’t Be Undone (AB)
George Canyon, Terry McBride, Brice Long – “Lifetime” from George Canyon I Got This (AB)
Kacy Anderson and Clayton Linthicum – “Brunswick Stew” from Kacy & Clayton Strange Country (SK)
Megan Nash – “Deer Head” from Megan Nash Song Harvest: Volume One (SK)
Pharis Romero – “A Wanderer I’ll Stay” from Pharis & Jason Romero A Wanderer I’ll Stay (BC)

Spiritual Artist of the Year
Marika (BC)
Mike R Schuster (AB)
Samanvaya Kirtan (SK)
Tim Neufeld (BC)
Yvonne St. Germaine (SK)

Urban Artist of the Year
Coco Jafro (BC)
David Morin (BC)
Ghost (BC)
Kristie McCracken (BC)
The New Groovement (BC)

Video Director of the Year
Ft. Langley – Aidan Knight “All Clear” (BC)
Wade Tompkins – Arlo Maverick “More” (AB)
Stephano Barberis / The Field – Chad Brownlee “Hearts On Fire” (BC)
David Tenniswood / Scopitone Films – Jess Moskaluke “Kiss Me Quiet” (SK)
Steve Bays – Limblifter “Hotel Knife” (SK)

Visual Media Composer of the Year
Alec Harrison – 2014 FIFA World Cup Open (ESPN) (AB)
Factor Eight (SK)
Graham Epp – FM Youth (MB)
Mike Twining and Andrew Twining – Gigantique Music Boutique (BC)
Russell Broom – Sitting on the Edge of Marlene, Whatever Happened To, Makeover Wish, Canada Heritage Minutes, Alberta Primetime, A&E Biography, Celebrity Style Storie (AB)

World Artist of the Year
Buckman Coe (BC)
Mazacote (BC)
Tasman Jude (AB)
Locarno (BC)
Young Medicine (AB)

2016 Western Canadian Music Awards Industry Nominees:
Audio Engineering Award
Bart McKay – Brett Kissel “Airwaves” (SK)
Ben Kaplan – Daniel Wesley, Faceplants, Head of the Herd, Jon Bryant, Blades of Steel (BC)
Nygel Asselin – Jon Bryant “Twenty Something” (BC)
Russell Broom – Ryan Gartner, JP Maurice & The Wisers, Trinity Bradshaw, Amber Haydey (AB)
Ryan Worsley – P’aris, Dear Rouge, The Tourist Company, Bed Of Stars, Emilie and Ogden, Basia Bulat (BC)

Community Excellence Award
Brent Oliver (AB)
Creative City Centre Inc. (SK)
Rifflandia Festival (BC)
The Broadway Theatre (SK)
The West End Cultural Centre (MB)

Excellence in Visual Design
Bronwin Parls / Feisty Creative – Twin Kennedy, Blake Reid, Sky Wyatt, Karen Lee Batten, Tanya Ryan (BC)
Jared Robinson – Pimpton, Scott Benson Band, LunarTheory, Sharon Gudereit, Samatha Pichard, Katie Miller, Acadence, Alexandra Barabe, Unkle Adams, Above the Crown, Awaken Aries, Highwind (SK)
Lee Froese – Sc Mira, The Noble Thiefs (BC)
Roberta Hansen – The Small Glories (MB)
Ultimate Power Duo, Casper Konefal, Jordyn Bochon, Tyler Jenkins, Scott Kowalchuk, Elaine Will, Owen Gieni, Tom Bagley, Riley Rossmo, Nathan Wahl, Donny Sparrow, Cate Francis, Ken Davis – Ultimate Power Duo (SK)

Impact in Artist Development
Amelia Artists (BC)
Invictus Entertainment Group (BC)
Todd Jordan (MB)
The Feldman Agency (BC)
Tonic/Boompa Records (BC)

Impact in Live Music
Adam Oppenheim – Stampede Entertainment Inc. (AB)
Commodore Ballroom (BC)
Rawk Entertainment Group (SK)
The West End Cultural Centre (MB)
Winnipeg Folk Festival (MB)

Impact in Music Marketing
Jacqueline Conway – Saskatchewan Jazz Festival (SK)
Live Nation Canada (BC)
MainStage Management (AB)
Susan Busse (SK)
Taron Cochrane Entertainment (SK)

2016 Heritage Award Recipient
John Arcand

2016 Kevin Walters Industry Builder Recipient
Derek Bachman (posthumously)