Wheat Dust & Hot Nuts
The drive was hot and straight, the wheat dust left a low laying fog as harvest time is upon us. The geese flew north confused with the Indian summer. The weather left all the delegates and performers confused Nic Harcourt from Los Angeles brought his winter parka hearing terrible rumors of the frigid weather in the prairies of Canada. No one seemed to remember their swimming trunks but it didn't really matter too much as there are no lakes in around Brandon.
The shuttle dropped us off 1st stop: City Centre Hotel:
Where every night is friday night!
Beer is cheap and the bar patrons are fashioned in plaid, most of the patrons were of the local variety, we seemed to stick out like sore thumbs here.
An ongoing theme from bar to bar in downtown Brandon, hot nuts & pool tables available at every bar downtown. Along with a lot of bands I was already familiar with, so planning a schedule was fairly easy. But checking out the new unfamiliar music is the exciting part. My top 2 pics were Ali Milner and Dan Mangan.
Blown away by Ali Milner... a darling so sweet...lyrics dripping with hopeless romance, you can't not adore this red headed scarlet lipped sweetheart.
Ali Milner
http://www.myspace.com/alimilner
Dan Mangan packed the house singing about robots. Dan Mangan's stage presence is undeniable attractive. This musician has the ability to compel strangers of his music to sing along about robots. That is a skill within its own.
Dan Mangan
http://www.myspace.com/danmangan
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ WMCA 2009 WINNERS:
Aboriginal Recording of the Year : Eagle & Hawk – Sirensong
Blues Recording of the Year: Big Dave McLean - Acoustic Blues - Got 'em from the bottom
Children's Recording of the Year: Bobs & Lolo - Action Packed
Contemporary Christian/Gospel Recording of the Year:
Steve Bell - Devotion
Classical Composition of the Year:
T. Patrick Carrabré - A Hammer For Your Thoughts
Classical Recording of the Year: Windrose Trio - Path Of Contact
Country Recording of the Year: Doc Walker - Beautiful Life
Album francophone de l'année/ Francophone Recording of the Year:
Daniel ROA - Le nombril du monde
Independent Album of the Year: The Waking Eyes - Holding On To Whatever It Is
Instrumental Recording of the Year: Steve Dawson - Telescope
Jazz Recording of the Year: Jerrold Dubyk - The Maverick
Pop Recording of the Year: Marianas Trench - Masterpiece Theatre
Rap/Hip Hop Recording of the Year: Grand Analog - Touch Your Toes
Rock Recording of the Year: Theory of a Deadman - Scars and Souvenirs
Roots Duo/Group Recording of the Year: The Deep Dark Woods - Winter Hours
Roots Solo Recording of the Year: Romi Mayes - Achin In Yer Bones
Songwriter of the Year : Romi Mayes - Achin In Yer Bones
Urban Recording of the Year: Krystle Dos Santos - Krystle Dos Santos
World Recording of the Year: Delhi 2 Dublin - Delhi 2 Dublin
Hall of Fame Award: Loreena McKennitt
International Achievement Award: Micheal Bublé, James Ehnes
Agency of the Year: Paquin Entertainment Group
Album Design of the Year: Derek Bachman - One More Night with You Live by Skavenjah
Engineer of the Year: Shawn Pierce
Independent Record Label of the Year: Mint Records
Live Music Venue of the Year: The Commodore Ballroom
Manager of the Year: Terry McBride
Multi Media Award: Mitch Barany - City of Noise – The Summerland
Producer of the Year: Steve Dawson
Talent Buyer of the Year: Harvey Cohen - The Union Ltd.
Heritage Award: Robert Turner
Industry Builder Award: Gilles Paquin - Paquin Entertainment Group
