First of East Coast Music Awards handed out in P.E.I.

Events are underway in Prince Edward Island for the 36th annual East Coast Music Awards.

A dozen awards were presented in Charlottetown Thursday night at the first of three ceremonies.

Among Nova Scotia’s winners were Neon Dreams, Maggie Andrew, Morgan Toney, and Good Dear Good.

The Director’s Special Achievement Award went to Cape Breton’s Bruce Guthro, who died last year.

The ECMA festival and conference ends Sunday.

Here are the 2024 ECMA Award winners so far:

African Canadian Artist of the Year / Artiste afro-canadienne ou afro-canadien de l’année
Presented by the African Nova Scotia Music Association (ANSMA)
Maggie Andrew
Region: NS

Album of the Year / Album de l’année
Presented by Rogers
Neon Dreams – Love Child Baby Dolphin
Region: NS

Director’s Special Achievement Award
Bruce Guthro
Region: CB

Enregistrement francophone de l’année / Francophone Recording of the Year
Presented by l’Alliance nationale de l’industrie musicale (ANIM)
Julie Aubé – Contentement
Region: NB

TD Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year / Artiste de l’année – Choix du public
Derina Harvey Band
Region: NL

TD Fans’ Choice Video of the Year / Vidéoclip de l’année – Choix du public 
2nd Generation – “Kina’mu” (Director: Matthew Ingraham)
Region: CB

Group Recording of the Year / Enregistrement de l’année – groupe 
Presented by the Government of Prince Edward Island
The East Pointers – Safe in Sound
Region: PE

Indigenous Artist of the Year / Artiste autochtone de l’année
Presented by Abegweit First Nation
Morgan Toney
Region: CB

R&B/Soul Recording of the Year / Enregistrement R&B/soul de l’année
Presented by Atlantic Lottery
KAYO – Trip
Region: NS

Rock Recording of the Year / Enregistrement rock de l’année
Presented by the City of Charlottetown 
​​Good Dear Good – Arrival
Region: NS

Solo Recording of the Year / Enregistrement de l’année – artiste solo 
Presented by the Dairy Farmers of Prince Edward Island
Tim Baker – The Festival
Region: NL

Songwriter of the Year / Compositrice ou compositeur de l’année 
Presented by SOCAN
Jenn Grant
Region: PE/NS

Three classical awards will be unveiled at the Classical Showcase on Saturday.

On Sunday, the remaining 25 awards will be handed out at the East Coast Music Awards Part ll: Music & Industry Awards beginning at 11 a.m.

The show will be streamed live on ECMA.com.