This year’s MusicNL awards were announced and handed out Saturday evening during the organization’s gala at Holy Heart Theatre in St. John’s.
Leading the way with three awards was Nico Paulo, a Portuguese/Canadian songwriter, performer and visual artist who moved to Canada in 2014, and later to this province.
She won for Pop Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and jointly accepted the award for Artist of the Year with Jing Xia, who was also named Solo Artist of the Year.
XIA – 3 and Jason Benoit also won two awards; XIA – 3 for Rising Star and Instrumental Artist of the Year, while Benoit was chosen the Fan Choice Entertainer of the Year and Indigenous Artist of the Year.
Here is the complete list of winners is available on our website at VOCM.com
Album of the Year – Presented by FACTOR
Nico Paulo – Nico Paulo
Jing Xia – The Numinous Journey
Alternative Artist of the Year
Youngtree and the Blooms
Celtic/Traditional Artist of the Year Presented by Colemans Group of Companies
The Navigators
Classical Artist of the Year Presented by MUN School of Music
Bill Brennan
Country Artist of the Year
Mallory Johnson
Electronic Artist of the Year
It Could Be Franky
Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year Presented by SaltWire
Jason Benoit
L’Artiste Francophone de L’Année Presented by Fédération des francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador
Port-Aux-Poutines
Folk/Roots Artist of the Year
Darcy Scott
Global Music Artist of the Year
Baraka
Group of the Year Presented by Yamaha
With Violet
Indigenous Artist of the Year
Jason Benoit
Instrumental Artist of the Year
XIA-3
Jazz Artist of the Year Presented by Coast 101.1
Duane Andrews and the Hot Club of Conception Bay
Loud Artist of the Year
Da Slyme
Music Video of the Year Presented by Up Sky Down
Rum Ragged – Let Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary’s
Directed by: Cecil Johnson
Pop Artist of the Year
Nico Paulo
Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year
Albert Dalton
Rising Star of the Year
XIA – 3
Rock Artist of the Year Presented by George Street Association
Fairgale
Side Musician of the Year
Clare Follett
Solo Artist of the Year
Jing Xia
Ron Hynes Songwriter of the Year Presented by SOCAN
Nico Paulo