Kootenay Music Awards spotlight local talent
By Nelson Daily Staff
Dawson Rutledge of Cranbrook came away with the prestigious Artist of the Year award at the 2018 Kootenay Music Awards Friday at the Bloom Nightclub in Nelson.
Rutledge, who combines soft rock, pop, jazz and folk elements into a unique laid-back sound, was one of many artists honoured during the annual Award ceremony.
"The Kootenay Music Awards and Kootenay Co-op Radio want to congratulate and thank all of our nominees and winners for their involvement in this year's event," a KMA spokesperson said.
"We are so honoured to be able to promote local talent from around the Kootenays.
The Kootenay Music Awards could not continue without support from the community including sponsors, performers, attendants, voters, and lover of Kootenay music far and wide. This event is well on its way to becoming a career bench march for musicians in the area.
Judged poured over more than 170 submissions from 36 distinct areas throughout Kootenays.
Every art ist nominated was eligible to win Artist of the Year, which was decided by over 2000 votes f rom the community in a People’s Choice vote. Lifetime Achievement Award winners were chosen by members of the community for their ongoing dedication to the local music industry.
The winners included:
- Best Electronic Song – Dekker from Nelson
- Best Blues Song – The Burn Ins from Elkford
- Best Pop Song – Emma Kade (featuring Terrance Richmond) from Creston
- Best Reggae Song – The Hillties from Nelson
- Best Roots Song – Ella and Talel from Nelson
- Best Rock Song – Rainboard from Salmo
- Best Cover Band – Heavy Airship from Nelson
- Best Music Video – Sexton Blake from Rossland
- Best Music Venue – Spiritbar at The Hume Hotel
- Lifetime Achievement – The Pride: Mike (Hoola ) Paine & Sara Spicer Paine
KMA said winners will be receiving a variety of prizes which may include recording and mixing time at Tw isted CableStudios or Becoming Sound Studio, a professional photo shoot with Louis Bockner Photography, exposure of their winning music video at the Civic Theatre and Vogue Theatre, ad time on Kootenay Co-op Radio, instrument rental from Mountain Fruit Folklore Centre or passes to the Calgary Folk Festival.
Big Thanks to the major sponsors of this year’s event: CBT, The Nelson Daily, Juice FM, The Twisted Cable, The FlyingSteam shovel, The Goat, Shambhala Music Fest, Speedpro Signs, Savoy Hotel, The Kootenay Coop, Nelson Star, Nelson District Credit Union, Kootenay Savings Credit Union, All 7 Tech Solutions, Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism, Creative BC, Baldface, Music BC, Let’s Hear It Juno Host Committee.
To listen to this year’s winners and nominees, please head to the KMA website.
