Manitoba Country Music Awards Announce 2023 Winners

The Manitoba Country Music Association celebrated the hard work and talent of Manitoba’s country music community again this month. The annual Manitoba Country Music Awards gala handed out the hardware at The Club Regent Event Centre on November 4.

Emma Peterson was the big winner this year, picking up wins in three categories: Female Artist of the Year, Interactive Artist of the Year, and Music Video of the Year. Jade Turner was a double winner with Song of the Year and Single of the Year for “Deadweight”.

Hosted by Canadian country music star Aaron Pritchett, the event handed out the hardware and featured performances by Peterson and Turner as well as Emerging Artist Award winner Catie St.Germain, Desiree Dorion, Don Amero, Male Artist of the Year winner Jason Kirkness, Album of the Year winner Kendra Kay, Mitchell Makoons, Roots Artist of the Year winner Nelson Little, and The Sean Taylor Band.

MCMA partnered with Indigenous Music and MusicWorks to host a roundtable for artists on what country music radio wants to hear on November 3 featuring Pritchett, Dorion, David McLeod of NCI FM & Indigenous Music Countdown, 730 CKDM’s Alex DeVries, Naomi Kay from Now Country 104.7 & NCI FM, and moderator Shaneen Robison-Desjarlais of Indigenous Music / Manitoba Music.

The MCMA is a non-profit organization, dedicated to the promotion, development, and enhancement of all aspects of Manitoba country music at the local, national, and international level. The MCMA endeavors to create venues for the promotion of Manitoba country artists through sponsorship of its own events and involvement in other organizations’ events.

Check out this year’s winners…

2023 MANITOBA COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD NOMINEES

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Emma Peterson

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Kirkness

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Petric

NCI FM INDIGENOUS COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD
Brandi Vezina

FAY WALKER SONG OF THE YEAR (SONGWRITERS)
“Deadweight” – Jade Turner (Writers: Jade Turner, Crystal Shawanda)

ROOTS ARTIST, DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Nelson Little

EMERGING ARTIST AWARD
Catie St. Germain

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“Got It Back” – Emma Peterson

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“Deadweight” – Jade Turner

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Homegrown Heart – Kendra Kay

INTERACTIVE ARTIST, DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Emma Peterson

FANS’ CHOICE
Quinton Blair

COVER/TRIBUTE ARTIST, DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
The InClines – Sweet Dreams of Patsy Cline

ALL STAR BAND OF THE YEAR – GUITAR
Lachlan McLean

ALL STAR BAND OF THE YEAR – BASS
Jon Mushaluk

ALL STAR BAND OF THE YEAR – DRUMS
Josh Ayers

ALL STAR BAND OF THE YEAR – SPECIALTY (BANJO, FIDDLE, MANDOLIN, KEYS, STEEL)
Michael Audette

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
730 CKDM AM (Dauphin)

RADIO ON-AIR PERSONALITY OR TEAM OF THE YEAR
Brian Cook

DAUPHIN’S COUNTRYFEST FESTIVAL OR EVENT OF THE YEAR
Manitoba Stampede & Exhibition

VENUE OF THE YEAR
The Royal George Hotel

(Source: www.manitobamusic.com)