Folk musicians honour their own
Canadian Folk Music Awards were doled out in Ottawa over the weekend, recognizing the achievements of veteran performers like Fred Penner and Danny Michel alongside lesser-known talents such as Ken Yates.
The awards were handed out over two nights during an event that highlighted live performances by nominees, in addition to revealing 10 winners each night.
“Instead of an awards show with music, we decided togo with a concert with some awards ,” said CF MA founder Grit Laskin in describing the new vision for the 13th annual edition of the awards.
Beloved children’s performer Penner surprised no one by winning the best children’s music award on Saturday. Despite more than 40 years in the business, he said playing music never gets old.
“I never tire of this because I really understand the value of music in the lives of not just children but families and humanity,” Penn er said .“As we go through this insane world, this insane life that we have, a couple of things: Never underestimate the ability to make a difference in the life of a human, a child, a family. Celebrate each other. Celebrate the love, celebrate the diversity, celebrate our strength as human sin this incredible world, this incredible country of ours.”
It was a weekend to not only celebrate the power of music, but also to discover new artists.
Yates, for example, an Ontario singer-songwriter and Berklee grad, emerged as one of the weekend’s big winners when his second full-length album, Huntsville, earned two awards. He won best new/emerging songwriter on Sunday, while his Jim Brysonproduced album took the English songwriter of the year award during Saturday’s ceremony.