2008 AWARDS NOMINEES AND WINNERS

BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR - RUSSELL SAWLER (The GrassKickers).
Also nominated: Darren Richard (Bluegrass Tradition) and Larry Rushton (Blue Horizon).
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR - VINCENT CORMIER (Bluegrass Diamonds)
Also nominated: Mary Haley (Blue Horizon) and Terry Mumford (Spinney Brothers).
MANDOLIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR - RICHARD BOURQUE (The GrassKickers)
Also nominated: Trevor Boutilier (Bluegrass Tradition) and Gary Dalrymple (Spinney Brothers).
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR – MATT BRUN (The GrassKickers) and ALLAN SPINNEY (Spinney Brothers).
Also nominated: Richard Bourque (The GrassKickers) and Adam Kavanagh (Bluegrass Tradition).
DOBRO PLAYER OF THE YEAR – JOE DOUCETTE (Blue Horizon)
Also nominated: Frank Doody (Acoustic Horizon) and Dan Fraser (Southbound).
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – CHRISTAL THIBAULT (New Ground)
Also nominated: Matt Hayes (Bluegrass Diamonds) and Megan Isenor (Megan Isenor & Connections).
MOST PROMISING BAND – NEW GROUND
Also nominated: Blue Horizon and The GrassKickers.
BAND OF THE YEAR - SPINNEY BROTHERS
Also nominated: Blue Horizon and New Ground.
RECORDING OF THE YEAR – SPINNEY BROTHERS
Also nominated: Bluegrass Diamonds and Blue Horizon.
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR – SPINNEY BROTHERS
Also nominated: Bluegrass Diamonds and Blue Horizon.
GOSPEL PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR - A NEW SHADE OF BLUE
Also nominated: Close To Home and Spinney Brothers.
RADIO/TV DJ OF THE YEAR - SERGE BERNARD (CFCY)
Also nominated: Wayne Dugas (CIFA) and Wilson Moore (CHMA).
COMPOSER OF THE YEAR - RYAN ROBERTS (Janet McGarry & Wildwood)
Also nominated: Warren Beeler (Grassworks) and Jessie Haley (Blue Horizon).
EMCEE OF THE YEAR – SERGE BERNARD
Also nominated: Wilson Moore and Bob Sharples.
INDIVIDUAL ENTERTAINER - ROGER GAUVIN (Bluegrass Diamonds)
Also nominated: Serge Bernard (Janet McGarry & Wildwood) and Jessie Haley (Blue Horizon).
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR - ROXEEN ROBERTS (Janet McGarry & Wildwood)
Also nominated: Jessie Haley (Blue Horizon) and Christal Thibault (New Ground).
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR – ALLAN SPINNEY (Spinney Brothers)
Also nominated: Robert Deveau (New Ground), Larry Rushton (Blue Horizon) and Dean Simm (A New Shade Of Blue).
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR – JERRY MURPHY
Also nominated: Darrell Frail and Anne-Marie & Maurice Melanson.
The winner of PROMOTER also received the CHRIS DRAPER MEMORIAL AWARD.

MASTER AWARDS for being five time winners in their categories were presented to VINCENT CORMIER for BASS PLAYER, SPINNEY BROTHERS for BAND and RECORDING and A NEW SHADE OF BLUE for GOSPEL PERFORMANCE.

The Participation Award went to the EASTERN SHORE BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION with 58.1%. The runners up being Clare Bluegrass Music Association, East Hants Bluegrass & Oldtime Music Association and the Truro & Area Bluegrass & Oldtime Music Association.

The FAN OF THE YEAR award went to RAYMOND AND EDITH SIMMS of the East Hants club.

There were two deserving persons to receive LIFETIME MEMBER this year. SHARON LEWIS member and director of the Truro & Area club and DAN FRASER of the East Hants and Truro clubs, presently Vice President of East Hants, President of Truro & Area and newly elected President of the Downeast Society. Both these folks have served a considerable amount of time on the Society Board.

CHARLIE HANSEN and SERGE BERNARD both of Charlottetown area were recognized with anniversary awards for 10 years as DJs of “Bluegrass Radio Program”, on CFCY in Charlottetown, PEI.

The Downeast Bluegrass & Oldtime Music Society, The Truro and Area Bluegrass & Oldtime Music Association and The East Hants Bluegrass & Oldtime Music Association each made monetary donations to the IWK Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Wish Foundation during the show.

The Downeast Bluegrass & Oldtime Music Society encourages all Bluegrass Association Members to make sure they get their ballots back to their respective clubs in time for tabulation and to those Fans who are not club members, the Society encourages you to join a Bluegrass Association and become active in voting for your favorite Bluegrass performers.