Established Artist, Arts Innovation and Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, selected by a jury, will each receive:
- $2,500
- Arts Awards bronze commemorative medal designed by artist Dora de Pédery-Hunt
- Civic and media recognition
Emerging Artist Award recipients, selected by the Established Artist winner in each category, will receive:
- $1,000
- Certificate of Recognition
- Civic and media recognition
Established Artist: Andre Bisson
This multi-talented vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist is a force to be reckoned with on the Canadian Blues/R&B scene. With the influences of Motown, Stax, and Blues, Bisson has recorded seven albums with orchestrations of up to 20 pieces. The success of these award-winning albums led to several international tours and sold-out concerts.
Emerging Artist: Vince Tarlton
Established Artist: Benjamin Hackett
Benjamin Hackett is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. Working with his wife Mia in the duo Azalea, they have released five albums and tour extensively. Azalea’s song ‘I See The Church’ was nominated for a 2018 International Acoustic Music Award. Benjamin is also lead vocalist and guitarist for the band Radio Merchant.
Emerging Artist: Jennifer Budd
Established Artist: Harrison Kennedy
HARRISON “SWEETTASTE” KENNEDY is a founding member of the million selling Detroit Group “THE CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD” appeared on Soul Train, American Bandstand, and the Tonight Show. His awards include a JUNO in 2016 for ‘Blues Album of the Year’, Socan’s ‘Maple Blues Song Writer of the Year’ in 2018, and the 39th Blues Music Awards Memphis Tennessee 2018.
Emerging Artist: Jason Hachey
Established Artist: Amy King
Amy has been a leading Music Producer and Recording Engineer at the legendary Grant Avenue Studio since 2002. She has proven to be an essential key, not only to the success of the many artists who use her skills exclusively but also to the continued success of Grant Avenue Studio.
Emerging Artist: Andrew MacPhail
Established Artist: Bill Majoros
Bill Majoros fell deeply in love with music at a very young age. As a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, teacher, author and performer he’s recorded and toured the world with many legendary artists. 2018 has seen the release of his critically acclaimed 31 song, 3LP vinyl set under the name The Foreign Films.
Emerging Artist: Justin Ross
Established Artist: Mike McCurlie
Mike McCurlie grew up in Ancaster, playing and writing songs since high school. He spent several years on the road with Daniel Lanois in the 1970s, and then worked at Grant Avenue Studio in the 1980s. Since then, he’s headed up his own Hamilton audio & video production house, MJM Media.
Emerging Artist: Travis Stoddart
Established Artist: Terra Lightfoot
Terra Lightfoot is an acclaimed singer, guitarist and songwriter who has been active professionally since 2008, releasing four albums in the last decade. The only female artist yet to be awarded CIMA Road Gold status, Terra has toured four continents in support of her latest album, the JUNO-nominated ‘New Mistakes’.
Emerging Artist: Gillian Nicola
Established Artist: Max Schramp
Max Schramp is a musician from Hamilton, Ontario who has been experimenting with electronic music, jazz, and classical in various forms throughout the past 6 years under the alias of SLEEPYCATT. He hopes to revitalize the electronic music scene of the city with fresh, futuristic sounds.
Emerging Artist: Ryan Moore
Established Artist: Pip
Born in the mid-Atlantic, Pip rode a Carl Orff music raft to safety before even going to regular school. Although well-trained, he was part of the 70s First Wave. Subsequently he has led many bands in different genres and various countries performing Pip’s prolific and ever-more-nuanced musical output.
Emerging Artist: Olivia Brown
