The Western Canadian Music Awards will take place in Brandon September 17-20.

A total of 146 nominees will compete for 31 artistic and industry awards with an International Achievement Award to be announced at a later date.

The Industry Awards will be presented Saturday, September 19 at a WCMA Awards Brunch at the Brandon Canad Inns.

One of Canada's premier recording artists, Loreena McKennitt, will be the keynote interview at the brunch.

McKennitt is a Juno award winner, producer, and label owner.

Brandon's Centennial Auditorium will play host to the gala Artistic Awards ceremony on Sunday evening, September 20 - the pinnacle of the four day festival.

The WCMA weekend kicks off Thursday, September 17 with the annual University of Brandon "Rock the Block" street party. On Friday and Saturday, 60 bands will perform at seven of Brandon's top venues.

At the same time, 400 music industry professionals and artists will attend the WCMA conference at Brandon's Canad Inns and Keystone Centre.

The event is organized by the Western Canadian Music Alliance, made up of five Industry Associations: Alberta Music, Manitoba Music, Music BC, Music Yukon and SaskMusic.

Here is a list of Artistic Award nominees:

Aboriginal Recording of the Year

  • Eagle and Hawk - Sirensong (MB)
  • Inez - Singsoulgirl (BC)
  • Team Rezofficial - The World (And Everything In It) (AB)
  • Tanya Tagaq - Auk (NWT)
  • Billy Joe Green - First Law of the Land - "If Broken Return To Maker" (MB)

Blues Recording of the Year

  • The Twisters - Come Out Swingin' (BC)
  • Big Dave McLean - Acoustic Blues-Got 'Em From the Bottom (MB)
  • John Lee Sanders - Bucket Full of Blues (BC)
  • Amos Garrett - Get Way Back - A Tribute to Percy Mayfield (AB)
  • Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir - Ten Thousand (AB)

Children's Recording of the Year

  • Bobs and Lolo - Action Packed (BC)
  • Will Stroet - My Backyard (BC)
  • Alphabet Soup - You're It! (MB)
  • LuLu et le Matou - Faites de la Musique! (MB)
  • LuLu and the TomCat - Fossil Rock (MB)

Christian Recording of the Year

  • Corey Doak - No Sudden Movements (BC)
  • Tripmeter - The End of Everything We Are (SK)
  • Sandon - Freedom's Last Lost Mile (SK)
  • Tuesday Bloom - Tuesday Bloom (MB)
  • Steve Bell - Devotion (MB)

Classical Composition of the Year

  • Sid Robinovitch -Rodas Recordada (MB)
  • T. Patrick Carrabre - A Hammer For Your Thoughts (MB)
  • Alain Perron - Northern Highlights I: Soir d'hiver (SK)
  • Gareth L. Cook - A Miner's Song (SK)
  • Piotr Grella-Mozejko - The Secret Garden String Quartet No 2 (AB)
  • Jeffrey Ryan - String Quartet No. 3 "sonata distorta" (BC)

Classical Recording of the Year

  • Stephen Chatman - Due East (BC)
  • Alexander Tselyakov - Sonata Album (MB)
  • Trio Accord - Goldberg Variations (BC)
  • Windrose Trio - Path Of Contact (AB)
  • Sarah Hagen - Glass House Dancing (BC)
  • Sid Robinovitch - Sefarad (MB)

Country Recording of the Year

  • Doc Walker - Beautiful Life (MB)
  • The Higgins - Real Thing (BC)
  • Aaron Pritchett - Thankful (BC)
  • The Road Hammers - The Road Hammers II (AB)
  • George Canyon - What I Do (BC+AB)

Francophone Recording of the Year

  • Daniel ROA - Le nombirl du monde (MB)
  • Saint-Pierre - 42 (BC)
  • Joel Lavoie - La r�colte (AB)
  • Allez Quest - Hybride (AB)
  • Francois Tremblay - Prophete de Malheur (SK)

Independent Album of the Year

  • The Waking Eyes - Holding On To Whatever It Is (MB)
  • Shout Out Out Out Out - Reintegration Time (AB)
  • Hot Panda - Volcano... Bloody Volcano (AB)
  • Library Voices - Hunting Ghosts (and other collected shorts) (SK)
  • The Sheepdogs - The Sheepdogs' Big Stand (SK)

Instrumental Recording of the Year

  • The Marc Atkinson Trio - The Marc Atkinson Trio IV (BC)
  • Steve Dawson - Telescope (BC)
  • Don Alder - Not A Planet (BC)
  • Joel Fafard - Three Hens Escape Oblivion (BC)
  • UCalgary String Quartet - Far Behind I Left My Country (AB)

Jazz Recording of the Year

  • Rubim de Toledo - The River (AB)
  • Jerrold Dubyk - The Maverick (AB)
  • The October Trio - Looks Like It's Going To Snow (BC)
  • Mark Dejong - The Unknown (SK)
  • The Brenan Brothers - The Throw Down (AB)
  • The Peggy Lee Band - New Code (BC)

Pop Recording of the Year

  • Marianas Trench - Masterpiece Theatre (BC)
  • Hey Ocean - It's Easier to be Somebody Else (BC)
  • The Awkward Stage - Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights (BC)
  • JP Hoe -The Dear John Letters (MB)
  • Carly Rae Jepsen - Tug Of War (BC)
  • Record of the Week Club - Record of the Week Club (MB)

Rap and Hip Hop Album

  • Moka Only - Carrots and Eggs (BC)
  • Grand Analog - Touch Your Toes (MB)
  • Sweatshop Union - Water Street (BC)
  • Dragon Fli Empire - Redefine (AB)
  • The Mavericks Team - Election Year (AB)

Rock Recording of the Year

  • The Waking Eyes - Holding On To Whatever It Is (MB)
  • Theory of a Deadman - Scars and Souvenirs (BC)
  • Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane (AB)
  • 54-40 - Northern Soul (BC)
  • The Pack A.D. - Funeral Mix Tape (BC)

Roots Duo/Group Recording of the Year

  • Chic Gamine - Chic Gamine (MB)
  • The Deep Dark Woods - Winter Hours (SK)
  • The Duhks - Fast Paced world (MB)
  • Scott Nolan - Receiver/Reflector (MB)
  • Oh My Darling - Oh My Darling (MB)

Roots Solo Recording of the Year

  • Steve Dawson - Waiting For The Lights To Come Up (BC)
  • Dan Mangan - Roboteering (BC)
  • Romi Mayes - Achin In Yer Bones (MB)
  • Geoff Berner - Klezmer Mongrels (BC)
  • Ndidi Onukwulu - The Contradictor (BC)

Songwriter of the Year

  • Romi Mayes - Achin In Yer Bones (MB)
  • The Duhks - Fast Paced World (MB)
  • Scott Nolan - Receiver/Reflector (MB)
  • Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane (AB)
  • JP Hoe - The Dear John Letters (MB)

Urban Recording of the Year

  • Krystle Dos Santos - Krystle Dos Santos (AB)
  • Souls In Rhythm - Funklore (AB)
  • Skavenjah - One More Night With You (SK)
  • Ishq Bector - DAKKU DADDY (MB)
  • Paramedic - Love, Doubt and Soul (AB)

World Recording of the Year

  • Delhi 2 Dublin - Delhi 2 Dublin (BC)
  • Fito Garcia - Mi bajo Rumbero (BC)
  • eclecTrip - ...a musical journey (AB)
  • Kalabai - Hopaks and Baniaks (AB)
  • Tanya Tagaq - Auk (NWT)

Here is a list of Industry Award nominees:

Agency of the Year

  • Magnum Opus Management
  • Paquin Entertainment Group
  • PM Gigs Inc.
  • S.L. Feldman and Associates

Best Album Design

  • Derek Bachman for "One More Night with You Live" by Skavenjah
  • Jared Robinson for "Freedom's Last Lost Mile" by Sandon
  • Laura Prpich for "A Field Guide to..." by the Lazy MKs
  • Mark Dutton for "Yellowhead to Yellowstone and Other Love Stories" by Ian Tyson
  • Michael Sanders for "Paperboy" by TRU-SERVA

Engineer of the Year

  • Barry Allen
  • Mike Petkau
  • Rob Smith
  • Shawn Pierce
  • Sheldon Zaharko

Independent Record Label of the Year

  • Arbor Records Ltd.
  • Black Hen Music
  • Chronograph Records Ltd.
  • Mint Records
  • Stony Plain Records

Live Music Venue of The Year

  • Amigos Cantina
  • Casino Regina Show Lounge
  • Horowitz Theatre
  • The Starlite Room
  • The Commodore Ballroom

Manager of the Year

  • Bruce Allen
  • Gilles Paquin
  • Glen Willows
  • Jason Smith
  • Terry McBride

Multi Media

  • Chad VanGaalen video: Molten Light
  • Fresh IE and Jayson Lapeyre video: Crystal PSA
  • Jolene Higgins video: In the Middle of Nowhere
  • Mitch Barany video: City of Noise
  • Gilles Paquin DVD: A Multi-Media Life; Buffy Sainte-Marie

Producer of the Year

  • Dave Genn and Neil Osborne
  • JJ Voss
  • Shawn Pierce, Chris Gestrin, Coco Love Alcorn
  • Steve Dawson
  • Vince Ditrich

Talent Buyer of the Year

  • Nhaelan McMillan - The Union Ltd.
  • Brent Oliver - Brent Oliver Presents and Keystone Entertainment
  • Harvey Cohen - The Union Ltd.
  • Chris Frayer - The Winnipeg Folk Festival
  • Terry Wickham - The Edmonton Folk Music Festival

Hall of Fame

  • Loreena McKennitt

Heritage Award

  • TBA

Industry Builder Award

  • Gilles Paquin - Paquin Entertainment Group

International Achievement

  • TBA