The East Coast Music Association Music Gala took place on Sunday February 10th, 2008, at the Aitken Centre in Fredericton, New Brunswick (Canada).

Joel Plaskett Emergency was the big winner tonight, with six 2008 East Coast Music Awards at the ECMA Music Gala as part of the 20th Anniversary Celebrations; with Dave Gunning, The Rankin Family and Jamie Sparks winning two each.

The 2008 East Coast Music Award winners

Entertainer of the Year
George Canyon

Factor Recording of the Year
Ashtray Rock (Joel Plaskett Emergency)

Female Solo Recording of the Year
If You Were For Me (Rose Cousins)

Group Recording of the Year
Ashtray Rock (Joel Plaskett Emergency)

Male Solo Recording of the Year
House For Sale (Dave Gunning)

CBC Galaxie Rising Star Recording of the Year
Brand New Skin (Stephanie Hardy)

Vibe Creative Group Single of the Year
« Fashionable People » (Joel Plaskett Emergency)

Socan Songwriter of the Year
Joel Plaskett for « Fashionable People » (performed by Joel Plaskett Emergency)

Video of the Year
« Fashionable People » directed by Randall Thorne (Joel Plaskett Emergency)

DVD of the Year
Back Stage Pass (The Rankin Family)

African-Canadian Recording of the Year
It’s The Music (Jamie Sparks)

Alternative Recording of the Year
The City Destroyed Me (Nathan Wiley)

Bluegrass Recording of the Year
Saddle River String Band (Saddle River String Band)

Blues Recording of the Year
Into The Dirt (Thom Swift)

Classical Recording of the Year
Forbidden City Tour (New Brunswick Youth Orchestra)

Country Recording of the Year
You Ain’t Gettin’ My Country (The Divorcees)

Francophone Recording of the Year
11 :11 (Vishten)

Folk Recording of the Year
House For Sale (Dave Gunning)

Gospel Recording of the Year
New Beginnings (Chelsea Nisbett)

Instrumental Recording of the Year
Live From the Music Room (Troy MacGillvray)

Jazz Recording of the Year
For The Record (Bill Stevenson & Tom Easley)

Pop Recording of the Year
Little Jabs (Two Hours Traffic)

Rap/Hip-Hop Single Track Recording of the Year
Hard To Be Hip Hop (Classified)

Rock Recording of the Year
Ashtray Rock (Joel Plaskett Emergency)

Roots/Traditional Group Recording of the Year
Reunion (The Rankin Family)

Roots/Traditional Solo Recording of the Year
Falling On New Ground (Kimberly Fraser)

Urban Single Track Recording of the Year
If You Were (Jamie Sparks)

In addition, the Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to New Brunswick group 1755. The group was essential for the promotion of Acadian music here in Atlantic Canada and has paved the way for many francophone artists over the last 25 years. 1755 was together from 1977 to 1984, having toured successfully in Canada, the United States and France. They disbanded in 1984 and ex-members Pierre Robichaud, Roland Gauvin, Ronald Dupuis, Donald Boudreau and Kenneth Saulnier were successful in solo careers or in new bands.