Canadian Folk Music Awards
The Canadian Folk Music Awards are an annual music awards ceremony presenting awards in a variety of categories for achievements in both traditional and contemporary folk music, and other roots music genres, by Canadian musicians.[1] The awards program was created in 2005 by a group of independent label representatives, folk music presenters, artists, and enthusiasts to celebrate and promote Canadian folk music.[2]
| Canadian Folk Music Awards | |
|---|---|
| Current: 15th Canadian Folk Music Awards | |
| Awarded for | Outstanding achievements in folk music and roots music |
| Country | Canada |
| First awarded | 2005 |
| Website | http://folkawards.ca  |
Awards ceremonies
The following is a listing of all Canadian Folk Music Awards ceremonies.
Awards
Classic Canadian Album
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Gordon Lightfoot | Lightfoot! |
Traditional Album of the Year
This award recognizes solo artists, groups or duos. Instrumental or vocal traditional folk music are eligible. Prior to 2008, this award was known as Best Album - Traditional.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Le Vent du Nord | Les Amants du Saint-Laurent |
| 2006 | Nicolas Boulerice et Olivier Demers | Un peu d'ci, Un peu d'ça |
| 2007 | La Part du Quêteux | Paye la Traite |
| 2008 | Genticorum | La Bibournoise |
| 2009 | James Hill & Anne Davison | True Love Don't Weep |
| 2010 | The Once | The Once |
| 2011 | Genticorum | Nagez Rameurs |
| 2012 | Metis Fiddler Quartet | Northwest Voyage Nord Ouest |
| 2013 | Mary Jane Lamond and Wendy MacIsaac | Seinn |
| 2014 | Còig | Five |
| 2015 | Matthew Byrne | Hearts and Heroes |
| 2016 | Yann Falquet and Pascal Gemme | Princes et habitants |
| 2017 | Cassie and Maggie | The Willow Collection |
| 2018 | Matthew Byrne | Horizon Lines |
| 2019 | The Slocan Ramblers | Queen City Jubilee |
Contemporary Album of the Year
This award recognizes solo artists, groups or duos. Instrumental or vocal contemporary folk music is eligible. Prior to 2008, this award was known as Best Album - Contemporary.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Nathan | Jimson Weed |
| 2006 | Penny Lang | Stone & Sand & Sea & Sky |
| 2007 | The Duhks | Migrations |
| 2008 | Luke Doucet and the White Falcon | Blood's Too Rich |
| 2009 | Joel Plaskett | Three |
| 2010 | John Wort Hannam | Queen's Hotel |
| 2011 | Bruce Cockburn | Small Source of Comfort |
| 2012 | The Deep Dark Woods | The Place I Left Behind |
| 2013 | Justin Rutledge | Valleyheart |
| 2014 | The Strumbellas | We Still Move On Dance Floors |
| 2015 | Catherine MacLellan | The Raven's Sun |
| 2016 | David Francey | Empty Train |
| 2017 | Abigail Lapell | Hide Nor Hair |
| 2018 | Donovan Woods | Both Ways |
| 2019 | The Small Glories | Assiniboine & the Red |
Children's Album of the Year
This award recognizes solo artists, groups or duos with a repertoire that is obviously directed towards youth. This award was first awarded in 2006 and prior to 2008 was known as Best Children's Album.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Ken Whiteley | Join the Band |
| 2007 | Pied Pumpkin | Pumkids: Tuneful Tales for Kids & Kin |
| 2008 | The Kerplunks | The Kerplunks |
| 2009 | Chris McKhool | FiddleFire! |
| 2010 | Andrew Queen | Too Tall |
| 2011 | Benoît Archambault | Les pourquoi |
| 2012 | Henri Godon | Chansons pour toutes sortes d'enfants |
| 2013 | Helen Austin | Always Be a Unicorn |
| 2014 | Fred Penner | Where in the World |
| 2015 | The Swinging Belles | More Sheep, Less Sleep |
| 2016 | The Kerplunks | Pants & Mammals |
| 2017 | Fred Penner | Hear the Music |
| 2018 | Joseph Edgar, Lisa LeBlanc, Robin-Joël Cool, Wanabi Farmeur, Vishtèn, Caroline Savoie and Édith Butler | Grand tintamarre ! - Chansons et comptines acadiennes |
| 2019 | The Kerplunks | Lullabies for Big Eyes |
Traditional Singer of the Year
This award recognizes a traditional solo vocalist, or a specified vocalist within a group. Prior to 2008, this award was known as Best Singer - Traditional. This award was not awarded in 2006 and 2007.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Ian Robb | Jiig |
| 2008 | Enoch Kent | One More Round |
| 2009 | Colette Cheverie | Hours Before Dawn |
| 2010 | Yves Lambert | Bal à l'Huile |
| 2011 | Dave Gunning | ...a tribute to John Allan Cameron |
| 2012 | Lenka Lichtenberg | Songs for the Breathing Walls |
| 2013 | Pharis Romero | Long Gone Out West Blues |
| 2014 | Mélisande Gélinas-Fauteux | Les métamorphoses |
| 2015 | Michael Jerome Browne | Sliding Delta |
| 2016 | Chaim Tannenbaum | Chaim Tannenbaum |
| 2017 | Hannah Shira Naiman | Know the Mountain |
| 2018 | Pharis Romero | Sweet Old Religion |
| 2019 | Rachel Davis | Ashlar |
Contemporary Singer of the Year
This award recognizes a contemporary solo vocalist, or a specified vocalist within a group. Prior to 2008, this award was known as Best Singer - Contemporary.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Lynn Miles | Love Sweet Love |
| 2006 | Jim Byrnes | House of Refuge |
| 2007 | David Francey | Right of Passage |
| 2008 | Tannis Slimmon | Lucky Blue |
| 2009 | Jim Byrnes | My Walking Stick |
| 2010 | Rose Cousins | The Send Off |
| 2011 | Suzie Vinnick | Me 'n' Mabel |
| 2012 | Rose Cousins | We Have Made A Spark |
| 2013 | Ian Sherwood | Live at the Hive |
| 2014 | Matt Andersen | Weightless |
| 2015 | Amelia Curran | They Promised You Mercy |
| 2016 | Jadea Kelly | Love & Lust |
| 2017 | Stephen Fearing | Every Soul's a Sailor |
| 2018 | Rob Lutes | Walk in the Dark |
| 2019 | Matt Andersen | Halfway Home by Morning |
Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year
This award recognizes a solo artist. The majority of the recording must be instrumental. Instrumental music from all folk genres, traditional and contemporary, is eligible. This award was known as Best Instrumental Solo in 2005 and as Best Instrumentalist - Solo in 2006 and 2007.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | J. P. Cormier | X8: A Mandolin Collection |
| 2006 | Bruce Cockburn | Speechless |
| 2007 | Anne Lindsay | News From Up the Street |
| 2008 | Oliver Schroer | Hymns and Hers |
| 2009 | Tony McManus | The Maker's Mark |
| 2010 | Wendell Ferguson | Ménage à Moi |
| 2011 | Jayme Stone | Room of Wonders |
| 2012 | Trent Freeman | Rock Paper Scissors |
| 2013 | Chrissy Crowley | Last Night's Fun |
| 2014 | Jayme Stone | The Other Side of the Air |
| 2015 | Adrianna Ciccone | The Back of Winter |
| 2016 | Duane Andrews | Conception Bay |
| 2017 | André Brunet | La grosse maison rouge |
| 2018 | Jean-François Bélanger | Les entrailles de la montagne |
| 2019 | Sabin Jacques | Grandes rencontres |
Instrumental Group of the Year
This award recognizes a group or duo. Instrumental music from all folk genres, traditional and contemporary, is eligible. This award was known as Best Instrumental Group in 2005 and Best Instrumentalist - Group in 2006 and 2007.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Beyond the Pale | Consensus |
| 2006 | The McDades | Bloom |
| 2007 | Creaking Tree String Quartet | The Soundtrack |
| 2008 | Sagapool | Episode Trois |
| 2009 | Sultans of String | Yalla Yalla! |
| 2010 | Beyond the Pale | Postcards |
| 2011 | Creaking Tree String Quartet | Sundogs |
| 2012 | The Fretless | Waterbound |
| 2013 | Jaron Freeman-Fox & The Opposite of Everything | Jaron Freeman-Fox & The Opposite of Everything |
| 2014 | The Andrew Collins Trio | A Play On Words |
| 2015 | Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy | One |
| 2016 | The Andrew Collins Trio | And It Was Good |
| 2017 | Scott Macmillan and Colin Grant | good2go |
| 2018 | The Fretless | Live from the Art Farm |
| 2019 | Mairi Rankin and Eric Wright | The Cabin Sessions |
English Songwriter of the Year
This award recognizes the lyrical and melodic excellence of a recording of original songs written in English. In the case of collaborations, 50% of the songwriters involved must be Canadian. Prior to 2008, this award was known as Best Songwriter - English.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Lynn Miles | Love Sweet Love |
| 2006 | Stephen Fearing | Yellowjacket |
| 2007 | Suzie Ungerleider | Short Stories |
| 2008 | Corb Lund | Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier! |
| 2009 | Susan Crowe | Greytown |
| 2010 | Beyond the Pale | Postcards |
| 2011 | Lynn Miles | Fall for Beauty |
| 2012 | Catherine MacLellan | Silhouette |
| 2013 | David Francey | So Say We All |
| 2014 | Shari Ulrich | Everywhere I Go |
| 2015 | Amelia Curran | They Promised You Mercy |
| 2016 | Donovan Woods | Hard Settle, Ain't Troubled |
| 2017 | Ken Yates | Huntsville |
| 2018 | Lynne Hanson and Lynn Miles (The Lynnes) | Heartbreak Song for the Radio |
| 2019 | Abigail Lapell | Getaway |
French Songwriter of the Year
This award recognizes the lyrical and melodic excellence of a recording of original songs written in French. In the case of collaborations, 50% of the songwriters involved must be Canadian. This award was first awarded in 2007 where it was known as Best Songwriter - French.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Hugo Fleury of Polémil Bazar | Avale ta montre |
| 2008 | Tomas Jensen | Quelqu'un d'autre |
| 2009 | Catherine Durand | Coeurs Migratoires |
| 2010 | Francis d'Octobre | Ma bête fragile |
| 2011 | Alexandre Poulin | Une lumière allumée |
| 2012 | Mes Aïeux | À l'aube du printemps |
| 2013 | Dany Placard | Démon vert |
| 2014 | Les Hay Babies | Mon Homesick Heart |
| 2015 | Louis-Jean Cormier | Les grandes artères |
| 2016 | Les soeurs Boulay | 4499 de l'Amour |
| 2017 | Luc de Larochellière | Autre monde |
| 2018 | Anik Bérubé, Natalie Byrns, Christian Bernard and Frédéric Joyal (Ancolie) | Le soleil en bulle |
| 2019 | Bernard Adamus | C'qui nous reste de Texas |
Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year
This award recognizes the lyrical and melodic excellence of a recording of original songs written in an aboriginal language or by an aboriginal artist writing in English, French or an aboriginal language. In the case of collaborations, 50% of the songwriters involved must be Canadian. This award was first awarded in 2006 where it was known as Best Songwriter - Aboriginal until 2007, and was not awarded in 2008 and 2012.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Wayne Lavallee | Green Dress |
| 2007 | Sandy Scofield | Nikawiy Askiy |
| 2009 | Don Amero | Deepening |
| 2010 | Asani | Listen |
| 2011 | Vince Fontaine | Songs for Turtle Island |
| 2013 | Nancy Mike | Nunavuttitut |
| 2014 | Amanda Rheaume and John MacDonald | Keep a Fire |
| 2015 | Digging Roots (Raven Kanatakta and ShoShona Kish) | For the Light |
| 2016 | Twin Flames (Jaaji Uppik and Chelsey June) | Jaaji and Chelsey June |
| 2017 | Twin Flames (Jaaji Uppik and Chelsey June) | Signal Fire |
| 2018 | Shauit | Apu peikussiakᵘ |
| 2019 | Diyet van Lieshout | Diyet & the Love Soldiers |
Vocal Group of the Year
This award recognizes a group or duo which focuses on ensemble singing. Music from all folk genres, traditional and contemporary, is eligible. The majority of the tracks must be vocal numbers. Prior to 2008, this award was known as Best Vocal Group.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Nathan | Jimson Weed |
| 2006 | Madrigaia | Pléiades |
| 2007 | Tanglefoot | Dance Like Flames |
| 2008 | Sisters of Sheynville | Sheynville Express |
| 2009 | Madison Violet | No Fool For Trying |
| 2010 | Dala | Girls from the North Country |
| 2011 | The Good Lovelies | Let The Rain Fall |
| 2012 | The Once | Row Upon Row of The People They Know |
| 2013 | The Good Lovelies | Live at Revolution |
| 2014 | The High Bar Gang | Lost and Undone: A Gospel Bluegrass Companion |
| 2015 | Fortunate Ones | The Bliss |
| 2016 | Musique à bouches | Jusqu'aux oreilles |
| 2017 | Coco Méliès | The Riddles |
| 2018 | Pharis and Jason Romero | Sweet Old Religion |
| 2019 | The Small Glories | Assiniboine & the Red |
Ensemble of the Year
This award recognizes a group or duo which can be instrumental or instrumental/vocal. Music from all folk genres, traditional and contemporary, is eligible. Prior to 2008, this award was known as Best Ensemble.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Mauvais Sort | Koru |
| 2007 | Les Charbonniers de l'Enfer | À la grâce de Dieu |
| 2008 | Yves Lambert et Le Bébert Orchestra | Le Monde à Lambert |
| 2009 | The Deep Dark Woods | Winter Hours |
| 2010 | Le Vent du Nord | La Part du Feu |
| 2011 | Genticorum | Nagez Rameurs |
| 2012 | The Fretless | Waterbound |
| 2013 | The Good Lovelies | Live at Revolution |
| 2014 | The Fretless | The Fretless |
| 2015 | Big Little Lions | A Little Frayed, a Little Torn |
| 2016 | The East Pointers | Secret Victory |
| 2017 | Mama's Broke | Count the Wicked |
| 2018 | The Lynnes | Heartbreak Song for the Radio |
| 2019 | The Small Glories | Assiniboine & the Red |
Solo Artist of the Year
This award recognizes a solo artist. Instrumental or vocal music from all folk genres, traditional and contemporary, is eligible. Prior to 2008, this award was known as Best Solo Artist.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Harry Manx | West Eats Meet |
| 2006 | Penny Lang | Stone & Sand & Sea & Sky |
| 2007 | Sarah Noni Metzner | Daybreak Mourning |
| 2008 | Michael Jerome Browne | Double |
| 2009 | Catherine MacLellan | Water in the Ground |
| 2010 | Amelia Curran | Hunter, Hunter |
| 2011 | Bruce Cockburn | Small Source of Comfort |
| 2012 | Michael Jerome Browne | The Road Is Dark |
| 2013 | Lynn Miles | Downpour |
| 2014 | Lennie Gallant | Live Acoustic at the Carleton |
| 2015 | Catherine MacLellan | The Raven's Sun |
| 2016 | David Francey | Empty Train |
| 2017 | Leeroy Stagger | Love Versus |
| 2018 | Bruce Cockburn | Bone on Bone |
| 2019 | Irish Mythen | Little Bones |
World Solo Artist of the Year
This award recognizes a solo artist. Instrumental or vocal world music is eligible. This award was known as Best World Artist Solo in 2005, as Best World Solo in 2007, as World Artist of the Year - Solo in 2010, and not awarded in 2006 and 2012.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Alpha Yaya Diallo | Djama |
| 2007 | Rita Chiarelli | Cuore : The Italian Sessions |
| 2008 | Celso Machado | Jogo da Vida |
| 2009 | Karim Saada | La Danse de l'exilé |
| 2010 | Dominic Mancuso | Comfortably Mine |
| 2011 | Kiran Ahluwalia | aam zameen : common ground |
| 2013 | Jorge Miguel | Guitarra Flamenca/Flamenco Guitar |
| 2014 | Quique Escamilla | 500 Years of Night |
| 2015 | Kiran Ahluwalia | Sanata: Stillness |
| 2016 | Willy Rios | Para ti |
| 2017 | Louis Simão | A Luz (The Light) |
| 2018 | Eliana Cuevas | Golpes y Flores |
| 2019 | Wesli | Rapadou Kreyol |
World Group of the Year
This award recognizes a group or duo. Instrumental or vocal world music is eligible. This award was known as Best Group - World Music in 2006, as Best World Group in 2007, as World Artist of the Year - Group in 2010, and not awarded in 2005.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The McDades | Bloom |
| 2007 | Mighty Popo | Muhazi |
| 2008 | David Buchbinder's Odessa/Havana | Odessa/Havana |
| 2009 | Jayme Stone & Mansa Sissoko | Africa to Appalachia |
| 2010 | Sokoun Trio | Zanneh |
| 2011 | Minor Empire | Second Nature |
| 2012 | Sultans of String | MOVE |
| 2013 | Jaffa Road | Where the Light Gets In |
| 2014 | Moustafa Kouyaté & Romain Malagnoux | Les frontières imaginaires |
| 2015 | Lemon Bucket Orkestra | Moorka |
| 2016 | Sultans of String | Subcontinental Drift |
| 2017 | Kobo Town | Where the Galleon Sank |
| 2018 | Autorickshaw | Meter |
| 2019 | Ayrad | Zoubida |
New/Emerging Artist of the Year
This award recognizes an up-and-coming artist, duo or group. Instrumental or vocal music from all folk genres, traditional and contemporary, is eligible. Prior to 2008, this award was known as Best New/Emerging Artist.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Karla Anderson | The Embassy Sessions |
| 2006 | T. Nile | At My Table |
| 2007 | Brigitte Saint-Aubin | Être |
| 2008 | Chloe Albert | Dedicated State |
| 2009 | The Good Lovelies | Good Lovelies |
| 2010 | The Once | The Once |
| 2011 | Dave Gunning | ...a tribute to John Allan Cameron |
| 2012 | Pharis and Jason Romero | A Passing Glimpse |
| 2013 | Mo Kenney | Mo Kenney |
| 2014 | The Bros. Landreth | Let it Lie |
| 2015 | The Young Novelists | made us strangers |
| 2016 | Hillsburn | In the Battle Years |
| 2017 | Ken Yates | Huntsville |
| 2018 | Raine Hamilton | Night Sky |
| 2019 | Geneviève Racette | No Water, No Flowers |
Producer of the Year
This award recognizes excellence in craft through acknowledgment of the individual(s) who produce recordings. In case of collaborations, 50% of the team must be Canadian. International releases are permitted.
| Year | Recipient(s) | Artist(s) | Album(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Steve Dawson | Jenny Whiteley | Hopetown |
| Jordy Sharp | Harry Manx | West Eats Meet | |
| 2006 | Steve Dawson | Jim Byrnes | House of Refuge |
| Mike Roth | Dala | Angels & Thieves | |
| 2007 | Anne Lindsay and Oliver Schroer | Anne Lindsay | News From Up the Street |
| 2008 | Mathieu Dandurand | David Jalbert | Des Histoires |
| 2009 | Joel Plaskett | Joel Plaskett | Three |
| 2010 | Steve Dawson | Various | Things About Comin' My Way |
| 2011 | Mark Howard & David Travers-Smith | The Wailin' Jennys | Bright Morning Stars |
| 2012 | Rob Szabo | Steve Strongman | A Natural Fact |
| 2013 | David Travers-Smith | Ruth Moody | These Wilder Things |
| Jaron Freeman-Fox and The Opposite of Everything | Jaron Freeman-Fox and The Opposite of Everything | ||
| 2014 | Tom Terrell and Karl Falkenham | The Modern Grass | City Ghosts |
| 2015 | Daniel Ledwell | Jenn Grant | Compostela |
| 2016 | David Gillis | Corin Raymond | Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams |
| 2017 | Danny Michel and Rob Carli | Danny Michel | Khlebnikov |
| 2018 | Steve Dawson | Matt Patershuk | Same As I Ever Have Been |
| 2019 | Daniel Ledwell | Lennie Gallant | Time Travel |
Pushing the Boundaries
This award recognizes a solo artist or group that takes creative risks by creating music with folk roots that is innovative, original and imaginative.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Creaking Tree String Quartet | Side Two |
| 2006 | Andrew Collins | Little Widgets |
| 2007 | Creaking Tree String Quartet | The Soundtrack |
| 2008 | Oliver Schroer | Hymns and Hers |
| 2009 | Steve Dawson | Telescope |
| 2010 | Beyond the Pale | Postcards |
| 2011 | Geoff Berner | Victory Party |
| 2012 | Sagapool | Sagapool |
| 2013 | Jaron Freeman-Fox & The Opposite of Everything | Jaron Freeman-Fox & The Opposite of Everything |
| 2014 | Tanya Tagaq | Animism |
| 2015 | Kevin Breit | Ernesto and Delilah |
| 2016 | Kaia Kater | Nine Pin |
| 2017 | Danny Michel | Khlebnikov |
| 2018 | Beatrice Deer | My All to You |
| 2019 | Elisapie | The Ballad of the Runaway Girl |
Young Performer of the Year
This award recognizes a young (19 and under) solo artist or group. Music from all folk genres is eligible.
| Year | Recipient | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Sarah Burnell | Sarah'ndipity |
| 2007 | Kyrie Kristmanson | The Kyrie K Groove |
| 2008 | Emma Beaton | Pretty Fair Maid |
| 2009 | Ariana Gillis | To Make It Make Sense |
| 2010 | Alexandre Boivin-Caron | La Tradition |
| 2011 | Molly Thomason | Beauty Queen |
| 2012 | Lucas Chaisson | Growing Pains |
| 2013 | Kierah | Stonemason's Daughter |
| 2014 | Kacy & Clayton | The Day Is Past & Gone |
| 2015 | Rebecca Lappa | Tattered Rose |
| 2016 | Earle and Coffin | Live at the Citadel House |
| 2017 | Moscow Apartment | Demo |
| 2018 | Earle and Coffin | A Day in July |
| 2019 | Joshua Haulli | Aqqut |
References
- "Folk music award nominations released". CBC News, October 6, 2010.
- "Top Canadian Folk Music Awards announced". Toronto Star, November 21, 2010.
- http://folkawards.ca/past-years/results-2005/
- http://folkawards.ca/past-years/results-2006/
- http://folkawards.ca/past-years/results-2007/
- http://folkawards.ca/past-years/results-2008/
- http://folkawards.ca/past-years/results-2009/
- http://folkawards.ca/past-years/results-2010/
- http://folkawards.ca/past-years/results-2011/
- http://folkawards.ca/past-years/results-2012/
- http://folkawards.ca/past-years/results-2013/
- http://folkawards.ca/past-years/results-2014