Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys at a performance in Kelowna. (Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys/Facebook)

By Derek Craddock

SASK. MUSIC AWARDS

Northwest musicians win big at Sask. Music Awards

Dec 12, 2022 | 3:00 PM

It was a night to celebrate the best in Saskatchewan Music and some artists from the northwest were named the best of the best.

The biggest prize of the awards, Album of The Year, went to Cut Knife musician and bluegrass artist Jake Vaadeland for Everybody But Me.

Vaadeland also won for Folk/Alternative Artist of the Year.

“We’re so very excited,” he said, “It’s very fulfilling. We don’t do what we do to win awards but it’s always nice to win awards.”

He added he and his accompanying band The Sturgeon River Boys, had finished a show in Kelowna and were en route to Golden, B.C. when they saw the results from the awards.

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Vaadeland said the community support has also been great.

“They’ve been so good to us, and we appreciate them all,” he said. “We look forward to growing and continuing on to give our music to them.”

Another northwest musician that claimed a big award was Brian MacDonald from Onion Lake Cree Nation.

The longtime educator was one of two recipients of this year’s Indigenous Achievement Award. Saskatoon’s John Arcand was the other winner.

MacDonald is an advocate for Cree language education in the school system and released the Cree Songbook 40 years ago. It has since been used in nehiyawewin kiskinohamâkosiwin (Cree education) from elementary schools to university classes, across the country.

Other big winners from the SMAs include country star Jess Moskaluke, pop musician Megan Nash, and Berk Jodoin who claimed Indigenous Artist of the Year.

FULL LIST

Album of the Year: Jake Vaadeland, Everybody but Me, Cut Knife

Alternative Artist of the Year: The Garrys, Saskatoon

Country Artist of the Year: Hunter Brothers, Shaunavon

Electronic Artist of the Year: Factor Eight, Saskatoon

Experimental or Contemporary Artist of the Year: TOVA, Regina

Hip Hop Artist of the Year: Coleman Williams & Yohan Yemba, Regina

Indigenous Artist of the Year: Berk Jodoin, Leader

Industry Achievement: CAMP – Community Arts Mentorship Program, Asquith

Instrumental Artist of the Year: Nige B, Saskatoon

Metal/Loud Artist of the Year: Flash Back, Regina

Music Company of the Year: Dingwall Guitars, Saskatoon

Music Professional of the Year: Brent Ghiglione, Regina

Music Video of the Year: Dylan Hryciuk – Versa Films for Repent, Halocene, Saskatoon

Producer of the Year: Bart McKay, Saskatoon

R&B Artist of the Year: People of the Sun, Regina

Rock/Pop Artist of the Year: Megan Nash, Moose Jaw

Roots/Folk Artist of the Year: Jake Vaadeland, Cut Knife

Single of the Year: Jess Moskaluke, Knock Off, Langenburg

Venue or Festival of the Year: The Exchange, Regina

Indigenous Music Achievement: John Arcand, Saskatoon

Indigenous Music Achievement: Brian MacDonald, Onion Lake Cree Nation

—

derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock