February 11, 2008

New Glasgow Evening News

Canyon blessed, Gunning surprised with ECMA wins

NEW GLASGOW – It turned out to be a good weekend for fans rooting for Pictou County musicians at the East Coast Music Awards.

George Canyon says he's blessed by his fans and their support, after taking home the coveted Entertainer of the Year award at the award gala, held Sunday in Fredericton, N.B.

While Halifax's Joel Plaskett and his band Emergency earned six awards for their 2007 album, Ashtray Rock, Canyon took home the fan-supported award for the fourth year in a row. "It is still hard to grasp the blessings that we have received over the past five years in my career," Canyon said in a statement yesterday.

He was unable to attend the ceremonies in Fredericton Sunday, but said "We are so very, very grateful for the support we continue to receive and certainly wished we could have been there to share in the celebration of ECMA 2008. East coast music is a strong part of, not just this country, but this continent's diverse musical culture and I am so honoured and proud to be a part of it."

"A big congrats to all the nominees and to my brother Dave Gunning and a big thanks to every member of our team."

Gunning, who won two awards, one for Male Solo Artist of the Year and Folk Recording of the Year, said he wasn't expecting to take home either. "I was surprised to get the folk award, and it was even a bigger surprise to get the male artist one," Gunning said from Fredericton Monday afternoon.

"I just didn't expect to win. I didn't expect to get any of them, let alone both of them."

"I know my record distributor up in Ontario is certainly excited about it – it gives them a shot for the distribution. We've been selling records all across Canada and things have been going really well, but it's just an extra little boost."
Gunning said he'd been in contact with Canyon Monday morning "We've been talking pretty much every day," he said. On Canyon's win, Gunning said. "That's great, I was really happy that he got that. Certainly not a surprise, he has a lot of support from the general public."

Wintersleep, whose roots also run in Pictou County, did not take home any awards this past weekend, but the group was nominated five times for their 2007 album, Welcome to the Night Sky.