Record Staff
Led by Shane Philip of Courtenay, six acts from the Comox Valley are finalists for seven Vancouver Island Music Awards.
In nominations announced Thursday, Philip is up for Album of the Year (Life Love Music), Best Live Act and Long & McQuade Artist of the Year.
Helen Austin of Courtenay, named the Long and McQuade Artist of the Year at the awards ceremony last year at the Sid Williams Theatre in Courtenay, will defend the Female Songwriter of the Year Award she earned last year.
Luke Blue Guthrie of Courtenay is nominated as Male Songwriter of the Year and Des Larson of Courtenay is a finalist for Male Vocalist of the Year.
Two pairs of Comox Valley singer-songwriters are finalists for Song of the Year 鈥� Kent Fiddy and David Sinclair of Comox for A Little More Heart, and Morlove (Corwin Fox and Emily Brown) of Cumberland for Views From Potsdam.
Emily Spiller of Cumberland was named Female Vocalist of the Year last year, but is not one of the finalists this time chosen by 12 music industry professionals from 86 submissions.
The VIMA awards ceremony takes place April 21 at Fairfield United Church in Victoria.
Here is the complete list of nominees:
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Joby Baker, Baker Studios, Victoria
Christian Down, Infiniti Studios, Victoria
Richard Leighton, R & R Studios, Lantzville
George Millar and Rick Salt, Lois Lane Studios, Nanaimo
Adam Sutherland, Infiniti Studios,Victoria
YOUTH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Francesca Belcourt, Campbell River,
Tegan Johnston, Victoria
Kaya Martin, Victoria
Sophia, Victoria
Brooke Turner, Victoria
BEST LIVE ACT
Jessica Benini, Victoria
Handsome Distraction, Victoria
Carli and Julie Kennedy, Victoria,
Shane Philip, Courtenay
Maureen Washington, Victoria
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Through Hoops by Francesca Belcourt, Campbell River
The Country Where I Came From by Mike Edel, Victoria
Out of Your Head by JELL, Victoria
One Way by Ryan McMahon, Ladysmith
Drive Safe by Handsome Distraction, Victoria
Dusk by Versa, Victoria
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
All Good Stories - Ryan McMahon, Ladysmith
Life Love Music - Shane Philip, Courtenay
Light Up to Burn Out- River, Victoria
Beautiful to See - Strawberry Vale, Victoria
The Sweet Lowdown - The Sweet Lowdown, Victoria
The Waiting Room - Anne Schaefer, Victoria
MALE SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Adam Basterfield for Spaceport Union, Victoria
Mike Edel, Victoria
Luke Blu Guthrie, Courtenay
Ryan McMahon, Ladysmith
George Millar (The Irish Rovers), Nanoose Bay
Chasing Satellites, Nanaimo
FEMALE SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Helen Austin, Courtenay
Lindsay Bryan, Victoria
Carmen Hillary, Victoria
Auto Jansz, Victoria
Mae Moore, Saltspring Island
Lola Parks, Victoria
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Mike Edel, Victoria
Brian Hazelbower, Nanaimo
Des Larson, Courtenay
Ryan McMahon, Ladysmith
Chris Neale, Victoria
Michael Tension, Victoria
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Andrea June,Victoria
Georgia Murray, Victoria
Annie Nolan, Victoria
Erika Phillips, Nanaimo
Niska Napoleon for Rocky Mountain Rebel Music, Victoria
Caroline Spence for Spaceport Union, Victoria
SONG OF THE YEAR
A Little More Heart - Kent Fiddy & David Sinclair, Comox
The Drive - Danton Jay, Victoria
Fallen Angel - Beth Marie Anderson, Nanaimo
Gunfighter - Honeyloaf, Victoria
Love is a Con - The Ghostbirds, Victoria
Saturn Maybe - West My Friend, Victoria
Skyscraper - Lindsay Bryan, Victoria
Time Traveler - Rebecca Boux, Victoria
Trouble with Me - Lola Parks, Victoria
Views from Potsdam - Morlove, Cumberland
LONG & MCQUADE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lindsay Bryan, Victoria
Mike Edel, Victoria
Ryan McMahon, Ladysmith
Lola Parks, Victoria
Shane Philip, Courtenay
