Ndidi O, performing next week at Kay Meek Arts Centre as part of Steve Dawson’s Tom Petty Full Moon Fever tribute shows, has been named Blues Artist of the Year at the 2019 Western Canadian Music Artistic Awards.
Ndidi O released her fifth album, These Days, in 2018 with the material featuring a mix of R&B, pop and country, heavily influenced by her affection for early blues music.
Shortly after the album came out she performed a track off the album, “Baby Please,” live during a CKUA fundraiser in Alberta with Steve Dawson and Steve Marriner accompanying her on guitars.
Winners of this year’s Western Canadian Music Artistic Awards were announced on Thursday, Oct. 3 at the WCMAwards reception held at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse, YT, during BreakOut West.
Over 50 of Western Canada’s best emerging and established artists, from all genres, will showcase at multiple venues throughout Whitehorse this weekend.
2019 Western Canadian Music Artistic Awards winners:
Blues Artist of the Year
Ndidi O – BC
BreakOut Artist of the Year
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC
Children’s Artist of the Year
Raffi – BC
Classical Artist / Ensemble of the Year (Sponsored by Canadian Music Centre [CMC])
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra – MB
Classical Composer of the Year
Carmen Braden – NT
Country Artist of the Year
Brett Kissel – AB
Electronic / Dance Artist of the Year
I M U R – BC
Francophone Artist of the Year (Sponsored by Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique [APCM])
Rayannah – MB
Indigenous Artist of the Year (Sponsored by APTN)
Northern Haze – NV
Instrumental Artist of the Year
Five Alarm Funk – BC
Jazz Artist of the Year
Jodi Proznick – BC
Metal / Hard Music Artist of the Year
Striker – AB
Pop Artist of the Year
Begonia – MB
Rap / Hip Hop Artist of the Year (Sponsored by Northern Touch Music Festival)
Vials – BC
Rock Artist of the Year
Dan Mangan – BC
Roots Duo / Group of the Year
Rosie & the Riveters – SK
Roots Solo Artist of the Year
Mariel Buckley – AB
Songwriter(s) of the Year (Sponsored by The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada [SOCAN])
Dan Mangan, Cold In The Summer – BC
Spiritual Artist of the Year
Warren Dean Flandez – BC
Urban Artist of the Year
LOA – SK
Visual Media Composer of the Year
Jeffery Straker, The Storm Orchestral – SK
World Artist of the Year
Buckman Coe – BC
For more information on BreakOut West visit breakoutwest.ca.
