Local artists nominated for Canadian Folk Music Awards
Photo shoots, national award nominations, math class, homework — Wednesday was just a regular day in the lives of Nick Earle and Joe Coffin.
The duo, aged 17 and 16 respectively, was named as a nominee for this year’s Canadian Folk Music Award for Young Performer of the Year for their album, “Live at the Citadel House.”
“It’s a great feeling to know that we are supported on a national level and that our music is reaching beyond the overpass,” the teenage bluesmen told The Telegram via Facebook message.
Nick and Joe, who had both been playing the blues individually since they were in elementary school, first met three years ago. Along with Jacob Cherwick and Nick Bendzsa they formed Stompbox NL before branching out as a duo.
“Live at Citadel House,” recorded for fun just over a year ago in front of a packed room in Lewisporte then released as the pair’s debut CD, contains tracks like Muddy Waters’ “Can’t Be Satisfied,” and B.B. King’s “3 O’Clock Blues.”
The CD has also earned Nick and Joe a nomination for the upcoming MusicNL Awards, for Coast 101.1 Jazz/Blues Recording of the Year.
Guitarist Duane Andrews — who is nominated for the same MusicNL Award as well as four others — also made the list of Canadian Folk Music Award nominees, in the Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year category for his latest CD, “Conception Bay.”
Released last November, “Conception Bay” features a string quartet alongside Andrews’ exceptional guitar playing on tracks that range from original music to Django Reinhardt songs.
Andrews won a Canadian Folk Music Award last year as one-third of the Swinging Belles, taking home the trophy for Children’s Album of the Year.
The folk music awards gala will be held Dec. 3 from Toronto’s Isabel Bader Theatre, hosted by St. John’s musician Jean Hewson with Benoit Bourque of Quebec’s La Bottin Souriante.