Abbotsford radio station CIVL-FM has announced the 42 acts nominated in 13 categories for the second annual Fraser Valley Music Awards.
The announcement ceremony was held at Townhall Public House in Abbotsford Nov. 14, hosted by decorated Fort Langley-raised writer and comedian Harry Doupe.
Abbotsford’s Kristin Witko and Mamarudegyal MTHC from Burnaby led the pack with nominations in four categories, while Abbotsford’s Jada Klein and Coquitlam resident TestTubeBaby were both nominated in three.
This year, submissions were adjudicated by CIVL music director Audrey MacDonald and host Rabia Kamboj, Wide Mouth Mason singer/songwriter Shaun Verreault, Pat Steward (The Odds, Bryan Adams, Matthew Good), and Polaris Prize Grand Juror/CHUO-FM Ottawa station manager Erin Flynn. Nashville based musician Steve Dawson also weighed in on this years’ submissions. Many will remember Dawson leading the Black Hen Houseband when Henhouse Studios was based in Vancouver just a couple years ago.
All in all, 20 nominees had an Abbotsford connection to the Fraser Valley, while six Langley nominees brought home nominations, along with four from Chilliwack, and three each went from Maple Ridge, Burnaby and Mission. Two nominees are Surrey based, and one each hail from Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Lake Errock. Only ten 2017 nominees were also nominated in 2016, and only two category winners (Saint Soldier, Hip Hop - Abbotsford and Harpdog Brown, Blues - Surrey) repeated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=25&v=a1OvJWpdJx8
Three Battle of the Bands dates to decide CIVL’s Dakota Leslie Memorial Live Performance of the Year Award and its accompanying $750 cash prize are taking place in Aldergrove, Chilliwack, and Mission.
The following are dates where crowd participation will be a factor in deciding which artists will move on for a chance to play in the finals at the Fraser Valley Music Awards, Nov. 25 on the Abbotsford Centre stage as part of Abbyfest:
• Thursday, Nov. 16 at The Vineyard in Chilliwack, 8-10 p.m., free, with Ben Cottrill (Abbotsford), Western Jaguar (Mission), Travis Murray (Abbotsford) and Dear Father (Langley);
• Thursday, Nov. 23 at Bob’s Steakhouse in Aldergrove, 8-10 p.m., free with Molten Blues Band (Abbotsford), Whiskeyjays (Langley), Corey Primus (Chilliwack) and Kenneth Kraylie (Abbotsford); and
• Friday, Nov. 24 at The Stage in Mission, 8 p.m., free, semi-final, winners to be announced.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=14&v=BuI_0DSxZwA