Nova Scotia singer-songwriter turned Canadian indie sensation Joel Plaskett leads the nominations for the 2010 East Coast Music Awards, which were announced at a Wednesday (December 2) press conference in Sydney, NS.
Plaskett, who released Three, his aptly named third solo album on his newly formed New Scotland Records label last March, was nominated for eight awards, including those for entertainer of the year, male solo recording of the year and songwriter of the year. He's even featured on the single "One Track Mind" from the album Self-Explanatory by Classified, who himself came second in terms of nominations, with six in total. Classified is tied with alt-rockers In-Flight Safety.
Overall, it's been a strong year for Plaskett, who was nominated for four - and won two - Canadian Folk Music Awards last month. Three was also shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize and the Verge Award for album of the year. His Emergency band-mate Dave Marsh also got some ECMA love, being nominated for both rock recording of the year and male solo recording of the year.
Classified joins the Dartmouth, NS-based Plaskett in the nominations for entertainer of the year, alongside Dave Carroll, Davide Myles, Gysophilia, In-Flight Safety and the Divorcees.
Nova Scotia musicians dominated the nominee list for the music awards this year, nearly tripling the number of unique nominees from New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador, and jumping miles ahead of Prince Edward Island.
Newfoundland's Amelia Curran and Chris Kirby earned four nominations each, as did the Nova Scotia group Caledonia. Jenn Grant and Dave Gunning received three nominations. The Motorleague, from New Brunswick, and Catherine MacLellan, from PEI, the most-nominated musicians from their respective provinces, also received three nominations each.
The 2010 ECMAs will take place in Sydney, NS from March 4 to 7, with the awards gala taking place the final evening.
Plaskett, who released Three, his aptly named third solo album on his newly formed New Scotland Records label last March, was nominated for eight awards, including those for entertainer of the year, male solo recording of the year and songwriter of the year. He's even featured on the single "One Track Mind" from the album Self-Explanatory by Classified, who himself came second in terms of nominations, with six in total. Classified is tied with alt-rockers In-Flight Safety.
Overall, it's been a strong year for Plaskett, who was nominated for four - and won two - Canadian Folk Music Awards last month. Three was also shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize and the Verge Award for album of the year. His Emergency band-mate Dave Marsh also got some ECMA love, being nominated for both rock recording of the year and male solo recording of the year.
Classified joins the Dartmouth, NS-based Plaskett in the nominations for entertainer of the year, alongside Dave Carroll, Davide Myles, Gysophilia, In-Flight Safety and the Divorcees.
Nova Scotia musicians dominated the nominee list for the music awards this year, nearly tripling the number of unique nominees from New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador, and jumping miles ahead of Prince Edward Island.
Newfoundland's Amelia Curran and Chris Kirby earned four nominations each, as did the Nova Scotia group Caledonia. Jenn Grant and Dave Gunning received three nominations. The Motorleague, from New Brunswick, and Catherine MacLellan, from PEI, the most-nominated musicians from their respective provinces, also received three nominations each.
The 2010 ECMAs will take place in Sydney, NS from March 4 to 7, with the awards gala taking place the final evening.