Joel Plaskett leads the pack in folk music award nominations
Patrick Langston, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Thursday, October 08, 2009

Halifax's Joel Plaskett is the heavyweight among this year's Canadian Folk Music Awards nominees announced Wednesday in Ottawa. The indie roots rocker and Polaris Prize finalist garnered nominations in four categories: contemporary album, solo artist, producer and pushing the boundaries. The fifth annual awards gala pulls into the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau Nov. 21.

Nipping at Plaskett's heels is Montreal's Middle Eastern ensemble, OktoEcho. The group is up for ensemble, world group and instrumental group. OktoEcho's competitors in the ensemble and instrumental categories include Toronto's Sultans of String, whose flamenco world jazz fusion has also earned it a pushing- the-boundaries nomination.

The 90-plus nominations in 18 categories include National Capital Region artists Lynne Hanson (new/emerging artist), Cantarra (vocal group) and William Hawkins (English songwriter). Ottawa-born Maggie G is on board for children's album.