New Brunswick picks up 2 East Coast Music Awards
Bob Mersereau | CBC News | Posted: April 15, 2016 2:57 AM | Last Updated: April 15, 2016
City Natives take Aboriginal Artist of the Year as Joey Robin Haché wins Francophone Recording of the Year
New Brunswick musicians won two trophies at the East Coast Music Awards gala in Sydney, N.S., Thursday night.
Joey Robin Haché, originally of Nigadoo and now living in Shediac, took home the ECMA for Francophone Album of the Year, for his debut release, Repaver l'âme.
"I was trembling, trying to keep it together," was his description of walking up to the stage once his name was called.
Breakthrough week
It's a big breakthrough week for the singer-songwriter.
Previously he had won three Music NB awards, but this was his first ECMA nomination, and he's also playing his first showcase at East Coast Music Week.
Haché also had some nice news for his hometown of Nigadoo, a village northwest of Bathurst.
"I'm going to be moving back up there soon," he said.
Third year in a row
Hip-hop group City Natives, based in Halifax, took home Aboriginal Artist of the Year, the third year in a row they've won the Aboriginal award.
"Three-peat," shouted band member Shelby Sappier as he came backstage.
"Sometimes hard work doesn't get recognized so I'd like to thank the East Coast Music Association for recognizing us for three years in a row," said Blake Francis of Eel Ground, N.B.
First Nations dancers and drummers
The group also includes two members from Tobique First Nation, N.B., and one from Eskasoni, N.S.
It was the first time the group had appeared on the gala broadcast, and wanted to do something special for it.
"We wanted to include Mi'kmaq and Maliseet culture in the performance because that's what we have in the band," Sappier said.
"We brought dancers from Tobique and drummers from here in Membertou."
More awards to come
Not all the awards were handed out Thursday night. Several more will be presented throughout the rest of the music convention, at various showcases in theatres, ballroooms and bars in Sydney.
Several more New Brunswick performers are in the running, such as The Backyard Devils in the country category and the Saint John String Quartet in classical.
The awards week wraps up Sunday.