You could have knocked Dan Davidson over with a feather when he tuned into CityTV’s Breakfast Television and heard that Tupelo Honey was nominated for six Edmonton Music Awards.
“I had no idea it was coming down. But we’re really excited about it,” said Davidson, the band’s main vocalist. Papers had been filed eight months ago and then forgotten while the band focused on writing and performing.
The St. Albert rockers have been nominated in every category they were eligible for: Album of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Single of the Year, Group of the Year and Rock Album of the Year. In addition, the band is a heavy hitter in the popular People’s Choice.
This exciting annual award ceremony celebrates excellence and promotes artists by recognizing their local and national successes. It honours singer/songwriters and bands in 15 areas with an additional two online voting categories – Artist to Watch and People’s Choice.
“For me, one of the cool things about an event like this is that it shows that Edmonton still has a place for a variety of kinds of music,” Davidson said.
This year the Edmonton Music Awards has a fairly significant representation from St. Albert. White Lightning has scored four nominations and will compete with Tupelo Honey for Album of the Year, Single of The Year, Group of the Year and Rock Album of the Year. In addition, they will be going chin to chin with Tupelo Honey for People’s Choice.
Resident singer/songwriter Nathan Carroll is nominated for two awards as Male Artist of the Year and Roots/Folk Album of the Year.
St. Albert Catholic high and MacEwan University grad Doug Hoyer has also scooped two nominations for Male Artist of the Year and Pop Album of the Year.
And PlanIt Sound, founded by St. Albert’s R.J. Cui, is nominated for Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year. PlanIt Sound produced the über successful Change Starts Here video for the United Way 2011 fall campaign.
Danielle Lowe, a Futures Fest gold recipient and St. Albert Rainmaker Rodeo performer, received a nod for Country Album of the Year.
All Else Fails’ The Oracle: What Was, Is and Could Have Been, is tapped for Metal Album of the Year.
And finally, Dawn in the City is nominated as Artist to Watch, along with nine other competitors including Alice Kos, The Burning Streets, The Frolics and Shelbi.
In the last few years, Davidson has noticed pop, R&B and DJ dance music has surged in popularity much to the detriment of rock.
“Over the last couple of years radio stations are sticking to rock like Nickelback or they’re going in the other direction with bands like Mumford and Sons or Tokyo Police Club.”
“But this is a great event. It shows the Edmonton music community, they don’t just look at what’s cool, but also what’s good.”
The online voting for People’s Choice and Artist to Watch closes April 15 and winners will be announced at the Saturday, April 28 celebration at the Royal Alberta Museum. For online voting visit www.edmontonmusicawards.com.
