The Eastern Canada Bluegrass Music Awards were born in 1985 when a bluegrass magazine from Ontario decided this would be a great way to celebrate Bluegrass Music. At that time all the folks who voted were subscribers of the magazine. The Downeast Bluegrass & Oldtime Music Society was contacted to arrange a show consisting of 10 of the Maritime’s top bands. The magazine looked after the awards and presentations.
However after 3 or 4 years the magazine advised the Downeast Bluegrass & Oldtime Music Society their plans of discontinuing the magazine and it looked like the awards would no longer happen. This came up at a board of Directors meeting of the Society and the board decided to form a committee to operate the awards made up of a representative from each of the Maritime Bluegrass Associations. These Bluegrass Associations were all formed to promote and preserve Bluegrass music in the areas they cover and we believe they are all doing a great job. There were 2 in New Brunswick, 1 in PEI and 5 plus the Main Body in Nova Scotia, and the Main Body is made up of members of all the Associations in Nova Scotia plus a few members that choose to belong only to the main body.The paid up members of all these associations would become the ones to receive the ballots.
In 2010 there were over 1200 ballots sent out by the associations to their members.
These members must be paid up members of the curent year prior to August 1st of that year in order to qualify for a ballot
The ballots are tabulated by the Board of Directors and the top three vote receivers in each category are considered nominees in that category and are announced prior to the show. The top one in each category becomes the winner and will be announced during the awards show when they are presented with their award. The Society believes this to be a fair system and it is designed so regular association members who support the associations and the music all year are the ones who get the ballots and actually pick the nominees and winners.
A large Participation Award is presented to the Bluegrass association with the highest percentage of returns; this was initiated to increase the percentage of ballot returns.
The ballots consist of 18 categories which are;
Banjo Player of the Year
Bass Player of the Year
Mandolin Player of the Year
Guitar Player of the Year
Dobro Player of the Year
Fiddle Player of the Year
Most Promising Band
Band of the Year
Recording Of the Year
Vocal Group of the Year
Gospel Performance of the Year
Radio/TV DJ of the Year
Composer of the Year
Emcee of the Year
Individual Entertainer of the Year
Female Vocalist of the Year
Male Vocalist of the Year
Promoter of the Year
The Eastern Canada Bluegrass Music Awards Show is held at the CEC in Truro on the third Saturday of October each year and starts at 7 PM.
Master Awards are given when winners in any category have won 5 times, they then become no longer eligible for that particular award.
The Downeast Society presents a Fan of the Year award each year which is chosen by a committee appointed by the Society from submissions received from various Bluegrass Associations.
The Society adopts at least one Lifetime Member each year, also chosen by a committee appointed by the Society for outstanding contribution to the Society, their home Association and Bluegrass in general.
The Society recognizes Radio and TV Bluegrass DJ’s with a certificate on their 5th anniversary and every 5 years thereafter.
There is time allotted during the show where various Bluegrass Associations may present cheques to representatives of the Children’s Wish Foundation and IWK Children’s Telethon, which are the chosen charities of the Society.
After the show the fans have a chance to meet and congratulate the Award Winners and nominees during a free Awards Reception right at the Cobequid Education Centre. To make reservations at the local hotels please call and tell them you are going for the Bluegrass Awards for a special price - for the Super 8 - (902)895-8884 - $99.00 plus tax, for the Comfort Inn - (902)893-0330 - $99.00 plus tax and for the Holiday Inn - (902)895-1651 or 1-888-895-1651- $119.00 plus tax for 2 people and an extra $10.00 plus HST for each additional person.