The 2010 Jack Richardson Music Awards
By Sophie Sheldrick
Published on Sunday, April 11th, 2010 on beatmagazine.ca
 As guests and presenters filed into the Music Hall, music from last year’s Jack Richardson Music Awards (JRMA) compilation CD
played in the background, setting the tone for an evening filled with exceptionally diverse local music.
After being welcomed by our two charming hosts, jazz singer Sonja Gustafson and multi-talented musician Doug Varty (both pictured to the left), the
evening started with a lively and spirited performance by the Amabile Choir, who were being inducted into the London Music Hall of
Fame. Kittie, a 4-piece metal all-female band who started out in London almost 15 years ago, were also inducted into
the Hall of Fame, saved their high-energy performance for the closing act.
The Dennis Brown Lifetime Achievement
Award was presented to drummer Graham Lear, who has played for a variety of big-name acts such as Carlos Santana, REO
Speedwagon and Paul Anka. He commented, as he accepted his award, “Tonight is a reminder of how deep my roots run
in this great city,” and reminisced about his favourite hot-spots “back in the day”.
The remainder
of the evening continued with the handing out of twenty three awards, including two fan favourite categories (original
and tribute/cover). Each award was given out by the category’s 2009 winner, as last year’s winners were ineligible to
be nominated for the same category this year. We were treated to incredibly diverse and entertaining performances by representatives
from various categories throughout the entire evening. The Blues Masters entertained the crowd with their
soulful sound while Allison Brown delighted spectators with a composition from her upcoming album. The Dixie Flyers got
everyone foot-tapping and hand-clapping with their infectious bluegrass performance, and Fraser charmed the crowd with
his honest, stripped down folk sound, harmonica and all. The audience also enjoyed performances by the jazz harmony
ensemble After Four, the energetic and colourful Lido Pimienta (pictured right), and local indie-rock favourite A Horse and His Boy, who all
delivered great performances to all in attendance.
Unfortunately for the performers and for the audience, almost
every performance was plagued with sound difficulties, from malfunctioning microphones and lengthy sessions of “check...one...two” to feedback noises. These difficulties
could also be felt during the award portion of the night, which did cause lots of unnecessary distraction, but also
managed to provide a bit of a chuckle when a particularly high pitched screech was heard while the metal prize was being
awarded, prompting the presenter to comment: “That’s metal!”
It truly was a fantastic evening, and
if technical difficulties hindered at all, the incredible talent and spirit of camaraderie that could be felt all
throughout the night certainly made up for it. We were treated to a taste of everything London has to offer, and it
confirmed to all in attendance that the local music scene in London is not only alive and well, but thriving and
bursting at the seams.
I have to make a special mention of the amazing sponsors and volunteers whose hard
work and support was apparent all throughout the evening. Thank you for giving Londoners the opportunity to discover,
recognize and enjoy local talent in a beautiful venue, free of charge.
The nominees and recipients of this
year’s awards are listed below, and I encourage you to make note of their names and keep an eye open for any of
their upcoming live performances. If Sunday night’s showcase of talent was any indication, you certainly won’t
regret it.
Blues/R&B
Bill Durst
The Blues Masters
Chris Murphy Band (winner, not present to accept)
Rick Taylor
Sam Hurrie
Teddy Leonard
Country
Chris Hart (winner)
Rev. Freddie
Sarah and Jeff
Slugfest
Stacey Zegers
The Strugglers
Bluegrass
James Cummins
Lonesome Wind
New Cumberland
The Dixie Flyers (winner)
Traditional Folk/Roots
Claire Danaher
Fraser
Lady o’Lakes
Leah Morise
Olenka and the Autumn Lovers (winner)
Simple Joy
World Music
The Alfredo Caxaj Latin Ensemble (winner)
Chasaya
Jennifer White
Light of East Ensemble
Rant Maggie Rant
Three Penny Piece
Contemporary Singer/Songwriter
Allison Brown (winner)
Andy Magoffin
Bob Reid - Bobnoxious
Chris Hart
Jason Hakin
Tom and Tara Dunphy
Punk
120 & the fighting 68’s
The Alcohollys (winner)
The Clydesdales
Disleksick
The Filthy Radicals
Johnny Terrien and the Bad Lieutenants
Electronic Artist
Flora
Gesumm
John Roman
Noise Level (winner, not present to accept)
Rishi le Roca
The Vaya Project
Club DJ
David Sternberg
DJ Hush
Incredible Melting Man (winner, not present to accept)
Jonathan Coe
BJ Shiloh
DJ Sugar Ray
Hip-Hop
Ngajuana
E-Mortal
MC Moore
Orlando Valencia (winner, not present to accept)
Paperchasers
Provizion
Jazz
After Four
Charles Rallo
Chris Norley
John Noubarian (winner, not present to accept)
Classical (Voice)
Anita Krause
John Tessier
Patricia Green
Sherry Steele
Sonja Gustafson (winner)
Classical (Instrumental)
John Hess
Joseph Lanza (winner, not present to accept)
Ralph Aldrich
Robert Riseling
Ron George
Thomas Wiebe
Classical (Choir/Choral)
Amabile Youth Singers - Brenda Zadorsky
Fanshawe Chorus London - Gerald Fagan
First St-Andrew’s United Church Choir - Paul Merritt
London Pro Musica - Ken Fleet (winner)
Thames Scholars - Gerald Neufeld
UWO Wingers - Victoria Meredith
Classical (Group)
Ffortissimo Clarinet Quartet
London Community Orchestra
London Youth Orchestra
Orchestra London (winner)
UWO Symphony Orchestra
UWO Wind Ensemble
Recording Studio
Charterhouse Studios
Dansanman Studios
EMAC (winner)
House of Miracles
Lofty Productions
Live Venue
Aeolian Hall (winner)
Call The Office
Maggie’s Supper & Jazz Club
Norma Jean’s
The Black Shire Pub
The Music Hall
Metal
Dark Adaptation
Desiccated Viscera
Heaven Ablaze (tie winner, not present to accept)
The Jettison Commitment (tie winner)
The Serpent & The Siren
Terrorhorse
Rock
A Horse and His Boy
Exit 2012
The Joys (winner, not present to accept)
Moondog Uproar
Raised by Swans
Violet Fuse
Contributors
Clark Bryan
Charlotte Cleland
Sandy MacKay
Andy Magoffin
Catherine McInnes (winner)
Brian Ohl
Greg Simpson
Fan Favourite (Original)
The Alcohollys
Ben G. (winner)
The Cool Mothers
Cordcalling
Dirty Love Band
Lido Pimienta
Olenka and the Autumn Lovers
Requiem
Fan Favourite (Cover/Tribute)
Black Belt Jones
The Black Holes
Doug Varty - “Bryan Adams Tribute” (winner)
The Geoff Masse Band
Leather Snake
Ribbed
The Rumblebees
Sweet Leaf Garrett
Youth Category
Tomorrow Depends, Banting S. S.
The Phusion, Catholic Central S.S.
Undying Promise, Central Elgin C.I. (tie winner)
Crossroads, Clarke Road S.S.
UTKF, H. B. Beal S.S.
Militant, John Paul II S.S. (tie winner)
The Wired, Oakridge S.S.
Matthew and the Birds, Parkside C.I.
Sophie Sheldrick is a preschool teacher, music lover and photographer whose work can be viewed at http://www.rawfootagephotos.com. She satisfies her love of writing by regularly contributing to the Beat’s online reviews and rambling on her blog.
|
