PEI-born singer-songwriter Rose Cousins was a double winner Thursday on the first night of the East Coast Music Awards (ECMAs) in Halifax.
The 41-year-old Juno winner, who is based in Halifax, picked up the awards for both Album of the Year (Natural Conclusion) and Song of the Year (“Grace”). The album earned Cousins several nominations, including still-to-be-announced Solo Recording and Folk Recording of the Year.
“I feel so honoured to be part of this amazing community wherever I go,” Cousins said on stage. “My stuff is dark, but we all need a soundtrack to go through the hard times."
Rock band Sloan was on hand to receive the Directors’ Special Achievement Award and Joel Plaskett was named Songwriter of the Year.
KINLEY received Rising Star Recording of the Year for Letters Never Sent and Fans’ Choice Video of the Year for “Microphone.”
The Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year honour went to Matt Minglewood, who beat out acts like Rita Mae and Neon Dreams.
Pop Recording of the Year was Paradise by Jenn Grant and Carte Noire by Les Païens was named Group Recording of the Year.
ECMAs were also handed out for Francophone Recording of the Year (Le retour de Jacobus by Jacques Jacobus), Indigenous Artist of the Year (City Natives), and Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year (Celebrate the Struggle by Quake Matthews).
The show, hosted by Jonathan Torrens, featured live performances by acts like KINLEY, Neon Dreams, the Barra MacNeils, Port Cities, and Classified.
The rest of the ECMAs will be given out Sunday night.