Credit Union Music PEI Week 2014 comes to a close
Charlottetown, P.E.I. – February 1, 2014 –
The 13th Annual Music PEI Awards Gala presented by Ticketpro was held Saturday Feb 1st at the new PEI Convention Centre located on the beautiful Charlottetown waterfront. The Awards Gala was the exciting conclusion to the nine day province-wide celebration of the achievements of Island musicians. Hosted by Island comedian Patrick Ledwell, the Gala show featured 11 award presentations and 13 performances by some of the top Music PEI nominees including Paper Lions, Dennis Ellsworth, Meaghan Blanchard, Tim Chaisson, Fiona MacCorquodale, Colour Code, Teresa Doyle, Chas Guay, Ashley Condon, Dylan Menzie, Singing Strings Orchestra, Death Valley Driver and Old Stone Station.
It was an eclectic show that included performances of the Singing Strings and metal band Death Valley Driver on stage together as well as Teresa Doyle singing accapella accompanied by a modern dance troupe from the Holland College School of Performing Arts. Newcomer Dylan Menzie rocked the house while veteran Chas Guay grooved with his band of seasoned pros. International touring artists Paper Lions opened the show and were followed by fiddler Fiona MacCorquodale.
Paper Lions dominated the show winning 5 awards. They included Album of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, Group Recording of the Year, Pop Recording of the Year and Video of the Year.
New Artist of the Year went to Colour Code as they accepted the award in front of a delighted crowd. Venue of the Year went to Trailside Cafe & Inn while the Producer of the Year was Jon Matthews. Another award handed out Saturday evening at the PEI Convention Centre was for Event of the Year and went to Charlottetown Pop.
The coveted Lifetime Achievement Award was handed out to Gordon Belsher while the Lynn Grishko Bursary went to Andrea MacDonald.
Winners from the previous week were Wild Cat for the Hunter’s Ale House Rock Recording of the Year, UPEI Wind Symphony for Achievement in Classical Music and Barry O’Brien for Bell Aliant Weekend Warrior.
Other awards included Meaghan Blanchard for Country Recording of the Year and Female Solo Recording of the Year, Alan Dowling for Educator of the Year, Pat Deighan for Industry Person of the Year and Todd MacLean for Media Person of the Year.
Gordie Mackeeman & His Rhythm Boys won the award for Roots Traditional Recording of the Year while Tim Chaisson won the award for Spincount Touring Artist of the Year.
PixbyLorne accepted the award for Visual Artist of the Year and Paper Lions won for SOCAN Songwriter of the Year.
Dennis Ellsworth took home two awards this year including Roots Contemporary Recording of the Year and Male Solo Recording of the Year.
Island native Dan Ledwell, brother of this year’s host, Patrick Ledwell won the award for Rooted to the Island.
The Awards Gala was streamed live on Community One’s website and will be rebroadcast on the cable channel along with other highlights from Credit Union Music PEI Week 2014.
Award Winners Alphabetically
Educator of the Year……………………………Alan Dowling
Lynn Grishko Bursary………………………….Andrea MacDonald
Bell Aliant Weekend Warrior………………….Barry O’Brien
Event of the Year………………………………..Charlottetown Pop
New Artist of the Year ………………………….Colour Code
Rooted to the Island…………………………….Dan Ledwell
Roots Contemporary Recording of the Year..Dennis Ellsworth
Male Solo Recording of the Year……………..Dennis Ellsworth
Roots Traditional Recording of the Year…….Gordie Mackeeman & His Rhythm Boys
Lifetime Achievement Award………………….Gordon Belsher
Producer of the Year……………………………Jon Matthews
Country Recording of the Year………………..Meaghan Blanchard
Female Solo Recording of the Year………….Meaghan Blanchard
SOCAN Songwriter of the Year………………Paper Lions
Album of the Year………………………………..Paper Lions
Entertainer of the Year…………………;………Paper Lions
Group Recording of the Year…………………..Paper Lions
Pop Recording of the Year……………………..Paper Lions
Video of the Year…………………………………Paper Lions
Industry Person of the Year……………………Pat Deighan
Visual Artist of the Year………………………..Pixbylorne
Spincount Touring Artist of the Year…………Tim Chaisson
Media Person of the Year………………………Todd MacLean
Venue of the Year………………………………..Trailside Cafe & Inn
Achievement in Classical Music………………UPEI Wind Symphony
Hunter’s Ale House Rock Recording of the Year… Wildcat
