News Article

Sunday afternoon, January 27th, many of Prince Edward Island’s music community gathered at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel to learn who would take home the 2019 Music PEI Awards at the Awards Party.

This was not a glitzy gala affair. A couple of years ago, Music PEI Executive Director Rob Oakie thought it would be more fun to create a party-like atmosphere. Galas in the music biz are becoming less popular and the Awards Party allows the nominees to relax, see old and new friends, have some fun and especially to celebrate each other. Of course, everyone still wants to win, but the music community on PEI is a pretty tight and supportive bunch. There were lots of high-fives all around.

Hosted by Tara MacLean, the awards were presented by many of the sponsors, funders, Music PEI Board members and some special guests. The artists with the most trips to the podium were Vishtèn and the East Pointers, two of PEI’s top internationally touring artists. Vishtèn took home Congrès Mondial Acadien 2019 Francophone Artist, Group Recording and PEI Tea Company Roots Traditional Recording Awards. The East Pointers won Bandzoogle Digital Achievement of the Year, HopYard Entertainer of the Year and Fly PEI Touring Artist of the Year.

Double award winners included Dennis Ellsworth, Meaghan Blanchard and Rachel Beck. Jon Matthews won Producer of the Year and his studio, The Sound Mill, won Studio of the Year. The SOCAN Songwriter of the Year Award was handed out earlier to Dennis Ellsworth on Thursday, January 24th at the SOCAN Songwriter of the Year Concert.

The following is a list of those who took home awards:

Achievement in Classical or Jazz Music Award – Atlantic String Machine
Credit Union Album of the Year – Meaghan Blanchard – The Great Escape
Country Recording of the Year – Lawrence Maxwell – Not Your Outlaw
Cover Band/Artist of the Year – Danny Drouin
Bandzoogle Digital Achievement of the Year – The East Pointers
Electronic Single Recording of the Year – Russell Louder – Showdown
HopYard Entertainer of the Year – The East Pointers
The Buzz Event of the Year – PEI Mutual Festival of Small Halls
Congrès Mondial Acadien 2019 Francophone Artist of the Year – Vishtèn
The Buzz Group Recording of the Year – Vishtèn – Horizons
Live Music Programmer of the Year – Pat Deighan
ArsenaultBestCameronEllis Musician of the Year – Evan McCosham
Holland College/Lloyd Doyle New Artist of the Year – Rachel Beck – Rachel Beck
Downtown Charlottetown Inc. Pop Recording of the Year – Rachel Beck – Rachel Beck
Producer of the Year – Jon Matthews
Long & McQuade Recording Studio of the Year – The Sound Mill Recording Studio
3rd Degree Training Rock/Loud Recording of the Year – Andrew Waite – Tremors
Roots Contemporary Recording of the Year – Meaghan Blanchard – The Great Escape
PEI Tea Co. Roots Traditional Recording of the Year – Vishtèn – Horizons
SOCAN Songwriter of the Year – Dennis Ellsworth – “She’s Never Wrong”
Solo Recording of the Year – Dylan Menzie – As the Clock Rewinds
HGS Song of the Year – Dennis Ellsworth – “She’s Never Wrong”
Fly PEI Touring Artist of the Year – The East Pointers
Urban Recording of the Year – Vince The Messenger – Self Sabotage
SOCAN Venue of the Year – Trailside Music Café & Inn
Video of the Year – Kinley – “Golden Days” (Director Jenna MacMillan)
Visual Artist of the Year – Brendan Henry

A number of Awards are annually given out by the Music PEI Board of Directors. This year the Board was very happy to award the following recipients:

Community Contributor of the Year – Phase II
Maritime Electric Educator of the Year – Christine Blanchard
Industry Person of the Year – Debbie Atkinson
Live Music Production Professional of the Year – Chris Knox
Lifetime Achievement – Paul Bernard
Deep Roots Distillery Rooted to the Island – Tracy Cantin
Volunteer of the Year – Mary Lee Little

Music PEI would like to extend our gratitude thanks to all the funders, sponsors and partners who helped to make Credit Union Music PEI Week 2019 a great success and huge congratulations to all the nominees and award winners.

Music PEI is the music industry association for the province of Prince Edward Island and our mandate is to assist PEI artists and industry professionals to develop sustainable careers. For further information contact Rob Oakie.