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First-time winners dominate at Forest City London Music Awards

There's a first time for everything.

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There’s a first time for everything.

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That’s especially true if you were a nominee for a Forest City London Music Award this year. The virtual gala was held Saturday, live-streamed on the awards’ Facebook page.

The winners in all musical categories were first-time winners with no artist dominating on the night of celebration.

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“It’s been a year for new faces and first timers and not since our first awards show in 2002 have we seen so many first-time winners” founder and chair Mario Circelli said, with a laugh.

“We have seen a solid entrance of new talent, younger musicians who understand how to make technology work for them. Is it a changing of the guard? I don’t think so. It’s more of a bolstering of the ranks. It’s like adding bench strength. Let’s add to the party.”

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Saturday’s gala included several performances by some of the city’s best musical acts, including Leanne Mayer, Lost In Japan, King Cruff and Typo, Thunder Queens, James Patrick Clark and C.J. Lee.

There were surprises among the presenters including Brett Kissel, arguably Canada’s most popular country music star; rocker J.J. Wilde, this year’s winner of the Juno for rock album of the year, the first woman to win the award since Alanis Morrissette in 1996; and Global news anchor Jeff McArthur.

Circelli said the city’s musical community deserves the public’s support after suffering through the devastating pandemic that darkened all live performance stages. Many artists still thrived.

“Part of it has been the artist’s ability to focus on writing, recording, shooting music videos and just connecting with their audience through social media,” Circelli said.

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“The pandemic killed the live show but gave birth to tremendous creativity and output. The FCLMA saw it in the volume of submission and votes cast.”


AWARD WINNERS

Contributor: A tie between Adam Bain (fundraising) and Tyler Stewart (mental health awareness)

Pop: Justin Maki

Blues: Benoit Trio (Larry VanDeMaele)

Country: Justine Chantale

Folk/Roots: The Pairs

Contemporary singer songwriter: Deni Gauthier

Metal: Abandoned Souls

Punk: Moore Ave Underground

Rock: Basic White

Hip Hop: Strange Breed

Electronic: Overture

Fan favourite: Michael Trudgen

Ontario independent recording artist: Emm Gryner

Ontario major recording artist: Justin Bieber

Youth award (High School Battle of the Bands): Custie (Justin Heffernan) of Mother Teresa secondary school

Producer/engineer of the year (juried): Alex Emrich, for Sarina Haggarty’s Not Over You Yet

Music video of the year (juried): Darryl Lahteenmaa, director of Dayna Manning’s You You You

FCLMA Fantasy Band 2021: Shaun Sanders (vocals), Steve Clark (bass), Jeff Bialkowski (guitar), Ted Peacock (drums), Tracey Frank (horns), Shane Cook (strings), Chuckee Zehr (keyboard), Anne Moniz (utility player).

jbelanger@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/JoeBatLFPress

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