Four 91原创 artists earned recognition at the fourth annual Fraser Valley Music Awards (FVMA), which took place Thursday, Nov. 21, at Corky鈥檚 in Chilliwack.
Awards were handed out in sixteen categories including achievements in punk, metal, jazz, folk, country, blues, and First Nations music.
尝补苍驳濒别测鈥檚 won best Blues musician of the evening, an unexpected victory that he felt was vindication for years spent being 鈥渁 nobody musician.鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of people like me who are completed nobodies,鈥� Sawatzky explained.鈥� Now that I am retiring from I鈥檒l have time to play more gigs and I think this will be a significant help to me 鈥� it鈥檚 a super thrill.鈥�
Sawatzky told the 91原创 Advance Times he picked up the guitar when he was 17 and couldn鈥檛 put it down. Though he ultimately chose a more stable career path, he found himself writing tunes in his spare time, which more often than not, came out with a bluesy sound.
After recording the guitar tracks in his own home on a week off of her, Sawatzky鈥檚 songs took shape. The musician 鈥減icked away at it over time鈥� until releasing the blues album in the fall of 2018 on various streaming sites.
鈥淚 had heard about the music awards last year but missed the cutoff date,鈥� Sawatzky said. 鈥淚鈥檓 rather impressed with the organizers, there鈥檚 such a rich array of diversity. A conscience effort to have all genres covered 鈥� it was really well done.鈥�
The trio , comprised of 91原创 Fine Arts School graduates Jeff Poynter and Alex Rempel, along with third band member Eden Oliver, took home best Folk group.
Despite being based out of Victoria, two out of the three members of West My Friend are from 91原创 and routinely perform in the area, most recently, at 91原创 Community Music School.
took best Rock Group/Act, the final award of the night. 尝补苍驳濒别测鈥檚 Patrick McWilliams accepted the award, one half of the Canadian/American band who was also nominated in the same category for his work under the name The Cut Losses.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 looked to kindly upon in 91原创 Fine Arts School 鈥� because I listened to and wanted to play rock, I was sort of used as an example of what not do to,鈥� McWilliams said.
After getting in contact with musician friends, McWilliams has divided his team between 91原创 and L.A., performing at various festivals including as a headliner for the immensely popular Emo Night concert.
McWilliams said two recent diagnoses of mental and physical health problems have hindered his ability to perform continuously, but the award win served as encouragement.
鈥淚鈥檓 a lot younger than a lot of the other musicians here and Brian Smith, who won the lifetime achievement award, is also from 91原创 鈥� so it felt like everything was just coming full circle,鈥� McWilliams said.
Brian Smith, guitarist for the iconic rock band Trooper is also a 91原创 resident; he took home the first ever FVMA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Smith attended with his wife and daughter and Trooper band mate Ra McGuire and was treated to a congratulatory video featuring some of Canada鈥檚 top musicians including Bill Henderson of Chilliwack, Mike Reno of Loverboy, Kim Mitchell, Bryan Adams鈥� guitarist Keith Scott, Tom Cochrane, Darby Mills of the Headpins, a Barenaked Ladies singer Steven Page.
Hosted by local producer and comic Harry Doupe, FVMA鈥檚 are an undertaking of CIVL Radio under the direction of station manager Aaron Levy.
Chilliwack mayor Ken Popove gave a greeting while presenters ranged from Lori Paul, Manager of Music Programs for CreativeBC Brenda Grunau, Chilliwack councilor Jason Lum, and Misfit, member of the multi-Juno winning Hip Hop group Rascalz.
Full Fraser Valley Music Award Winners 2019
Blues 鈥� Dale Sawatzky (91原创)
Country 鈥� David Ivan Neil (Abbotsford)
Electronic 鈥� Stephen Carl O鈥橲hea (Abbotsford)
Experimental 鈥� Kristin Witko (Abbotsford)
Folk 鈥� West My Friend (91原创)
Hip Hop/Urban 鈥� Hooper Turnt Sanger (Surrey)
Jazz 鈥� Natalia Pardalis (Surrey)
Metal 鈥� Eric 鈥淭he Lightning鈥� Taylor (Abbotsford)
Pop 鈥� Kristin Witko (Abbotsford)
Punk 鈥� Joanie Loves Chachi (Chilliwack)
Rock 鈥� Gone Sugar Die (91原创)
Achievement by a Female Artist 鈥� Lori Paul (Chilliwack)
Achievement by a First Nations/Indigenous Artist 鈥� Alexis Lynn (Surrey)
Achievement by an LGBTQ2+ Artist 鈥� Mackenzie Widdows (Mission)
Dakota Leslie Award for Fan Vote 鈥� Western Jaguar (Maple Ridge)
Lifetime Achievement 鈥� Brian Smith (91原创)
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