The East Coast Music Association announced the 2008 Music Award nominees today at the Cellar Pub & Grill on the UNB Campus in Fredericton (New Brunswick - Canada). Leading the list with seven ECMA nominations is the Joel Plaskett Emergency.

Following closely is Wintersleep with five nominations, and Chucky Danger, Nathan Wiley and Jimmy Rankin each picking up four nominations. With three nominations each are George Canyon, Classified, Jamie Sparks, and Two Hours Traffic.

An amazing 15 artists received two nomination nods apiece: Alert the Medic, Chelsea Nesbitt, Dave Gunning, Don Brownrigg, Ian Sherwood, Jenn Grant, J-Bru, Jill Barber, Julie Doiron, Rebekah Higgs, Rose Cousins, Shaye, Slowcoaster, The Rankin Family and Vishten.

The ECMA Music Awards Gala will take place on Sunday, February 10th, 2008, and will be hosted by Canadian comedian Mark Critch of This Hour has 22 Minutes.

« The 2008 East Coast Music Award nominees truly reflect the vibrant musical diversity among East Coast artists,” said Wade Pinhorn, chair of the East Coast Music Association. “They consist of not only well-established and popular bands and musicians, but also fresh new faces and sounds - the rising stars of East Coast music. The East Coast Music Awards continue to be a celebration of the region’s immense wealth of talent, once again bringing East Coast music into a national and international spotlight. »

Award nominees are chosen by juries of industry professionals from all five regions of the East Coast Music Association: New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Prince Edward Island, mainland Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island. Voting ballots will be sent to all eligible members of the East Coast Music Association, who will vote on the award winners.

The Entertainer of the Year award is the one East Coast Music Award that can be voted on by the public, in addition to members. This year’s nominees are George Canyon, Jill Barber, the Joel Plaskett Emergency, Ron Hynes, and the Trews. Voting details for the Entertainer of the Year award will be announced in early January. Stay tuned for more details.

The East Coast Music Awards, Festival & Conference is an annual event organized by the East Coast Music Association. The ECMA is a not-for-profit organization whose mandate it is to foster, promote and celebrate East Coast music locally and globally.