Gordie Sampson wins five awards at East Coast Music Awards in N.S.
SYDNEY, N.S. (CP) – Gordie Sampson walked away with so much pewter he could probably go heavy metal.
The Cape Breton singer-songwriter beat a steady path to the winner’s podium Sunday night, winning five East Coast Music Awards before an adoring home crowd at Sydney’s Centre 200.
“Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow,” Sampson exclaimed after taking the stage for the fifth and final time.
Sampson, of Big Pond, N.S., swept every category he was nominated in – including male artist of the year and album of the year for Sunburn.
The title song won both single of the year and pop recording of the year, and Sampson teamed up with Blair Daly and Troy Verges to take the SOCAN songwriter award for crafting it.
“This is the most important award for me,” he said after receiving the songwriting award. “The songs are the essence of what we do.”
Sampson, who performed Sunburn during a slick, performance-heavy show broadcast nationally by the CBC, said he’s concentrated in recent years on honing his craft.
It’s obviously worked. The songwriting award was his fifth in the last six years.
“There’s no Songwriting for Dummies book,” Sampson said. “What you have to do is write a lot and make it a living. You have to do it every day.”
George Canyon also had a big night. Besides hosting the show, the lantern-jawed country singer from New Glasgow, N.S., won three times, including the rising star award and the coveted entertainer of the year award – the only one voted on by fans.
“I feel like a million bucks,” a beaming Canyon said after his album, One Good Friend, won for top country recording.
“I’ve been fighting the flu since I landed here in Sydney, but right now I’m feeling nothing but the fuzzies.”
Canyon rose to prominence after finishing second at last year’s Nashville Star, a country talent search in the United States.
“I still can’t believe I get to do this. I can’t believe you guys are letting me do this,” he said, gesturing to a row of reporters throwing questions.
The Trews, a hard-rocking quartet from Antigonish, N.S., received five nominations but won just once – for group of the year.
“This is a big honour – we’ve never really won an award before,” singer Colin MacDonald told the crowd.
It’s been a breakthrough year for Sampson, who also produces records at his studio in Point Aconi, N.S., and whose songwriting prowess has attracted the attention of heavy hitters in Nashville.
Paris, a song from Sunburn, has been recorded by country superstar Faith Hill for potential inclusion on her next album.
“This is probably the busiest, most extensive music work year I’ve ever had,” Sampson said after winning his first award of the night.
“Just trying to juggle things has been an art in itself, but it’s alright now,” he said holding up his trophy, a stylized pewter treble clef, for male artist of the year.
Nathan Wiley, a wispy singer-songwriter from Summerside, P.E.I., was named alternative artist of the year for his second album High Low.
“This is the first award of the night and it’s going to P.E.I. – and that’s who I’m doing it for,” Wiley said seconds after leaving the stage in a segment of the show not broadcast.
The Cottars, The Joel Plaskett Emergency, Canyon, Wiley and The Trews were among the performers on the show, which included a touching tribute to Cape Breton’s Rita MacNeil.
Thirty years after she recorded her first album, MacNeil was recognized as one of Atlantic Canada’s most popular musical exports when she was given a lifetime achievement award.
Jimmy Rankin, Matt Minglewood, Shaye, the Men of the Deeps and Dutch Robinson sang songs written by the shy, soft-spoken singer from Big Pond.
MacNeil wiped tears from her eyes as she watched from the crowd before taking the stage to a standing ovation.
“You sure know how to ruin a girl’s makeup,” she said, before thanking everyone “for allowing me to live my dream.”
“I’m proof you can make it. Be true to what you do.”
Newfoundland’s Great Big Sea won for video of the year – a record 19th East Coast Award for the popular celtic rock band.
A capacity crowd of about 5,000 took in the show, including Tory MPs Peter MacKay and Belinda Stronach. Ottawa’s latest power couple sat together prominently in the front row.
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