World music powerhouse vocalist and Juno award recipient Kiran Ahluwalia secured World Solo Artist Of The Year for her work on “aam zameen: common ground” and Turkish-influenced group Minor Empire received World Group Artist Of The Year for their unique blend of traditional Turkish music with psychedelic rock, electronica and jazz on “Second Nature.”
Contemporary and traditional world music power trio Genticorum took the Traditional Album of the Year and
Ensemble of the Year, awards for their energetic album Nagez Rameurs.
Both seasoned artist Bruce Cockburn and Nova Scotia’s emerging talent Dave Gunning were up for four awards each for their latest offerings “Small Source of Comfort” and “A tribute to John Allan Cameron” respectively. Both took home two awards – Cockburn honored for Contemporary Album Of The Year and Solo Artist Of The Year and Gunning grabbed Traditional Singer Of The Year and New/Emerging Artist Of The Year.
Toronto’s Good Lovelies received Vocal Group Of The Year for their harmonies on “Let The Rain Fall” while Producer Of The Year went to Mark Howard and David Travers-Smith for “Bright Morning Stars” from Western Canada’s harmony sweethearts, The Wailin’ Jennys.
With a roster of excellent fiddlers, banjo players and guitarists in the running for Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year, it was a close race, but the award went to Jayme Stone for his innovative, folk dance-inspired album “Room of Wonders.” Old-time, bluegrass band The Creaking Tree String Quartet’s album “Sundogs” got them the Instrumental Group Of The Year award and Molly Thomason’s “Beauty Queen” helped her clinch the Young Performer Of The Year award.
Honored with the Aboriginal Songwriter Of The Year is Eagle & Hawk band founder and member Vince Fontaine for “Songs For Turtle Island.” French Songwriter of the Year went to the traditional Quebecois folk singer
Alexandre Poulin for “Une lumière allumée” and English Songwriter Of The Year went to Lynn Miles for her stunning new album “Fall for Beauty.”
Geoff Berner’s openness to experimentation, spirited Eastern European klezmer influences and punk rock attitude made for a shoo-in for his “Victory Party” album to take the Pushing The Boundaries award while
francophone fave Benoit Archambault’s CD “Les pourquoi” was named Children’s Album Of The Year.
This year’s CFMAs saw Toronto publicist Jane Harbury accept the inaugural Unsung Hero Award. She is the first recipient of this prestigious annual award, for her exceptional contribution in promoting, preserving and presenting Canadian folk, roots and world music. Her involvement with the music industry began in the late 1960s and some of her clients over the years include Lhasa, Ian Tyson, Penny Lang, Tom Rush, the Chieftains, Ken Whiteley and David Francey. In addition to her work with established
artists, she is committed to assisting emerging artists in the development of their careers and is a teacher of publicity at the Harris Institute.
2011 Canadian Folk Music Awards
Traditional Album Of The Year
Genticorum – Nagez Rameurs
Contemporary Album Of The Year
Bruce Cockburn – Small Source of Comfort
Children’s Album Of The Year
Benoît Archambault – Les pourquoi
Traditional Singer Of The Year
Dave Gunning – a tribute to John Allan Cameron
Contemporary Singer Of The Year
Suzie Vinnick – Me ‘n’ Mabel
Instrumental Solo Artist Of The Year
Jayme Stone – Room of Wonders
Instrumental Group Of The Year
The Creaking Tree String Quartet – Sundogs
Vocal Group Of The Year
Good Lovelies – Let The Rain Fall
Ensemble Of The Year
Genticorum – Nagez Rameurs
Solo Artist Of The Year
Bruce Cockburn – Small Source of Comfort
English Songwriter Of The Year
Lynn Miles – Fall for Beauty
French Songwriter Of The Year
Alexandre Poulin – Une lumière allumée
Aboriginal Songwriter Of The Year
Vince Fontaine – Songs For Turtle Island
World Artist Of The Year – Solo
Kiran Ahluwalia – aam zameen : common ground
World Artist Of The Year – Group
Minor Empire – Second Nature
New/Emerging Artist Of The Year
Dave Gunning – a tribute to John Allan Cameron
Producer Of The Year
Mark Howard, David Travers-Smith – Bright Morning Stars (The Wailin’ Jennys)
Pushing The Boundaries
Geoff Berner – Victory Party
Young Performer Of The Year
Molly Thomason – Beauty Queen
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
