B.C. duo Pharis and Jason Romero lead folk music awards with four nods

EDMONTON – Pharis and Jason Romero have captured four Canadian Folk Music Award nominations for their album “A Wanderer I’ll Stay.”

The pair from Horsefly, B.C., who are known for their duets and handmade banjos, were nominated for traditional album of the year, vocal group of the year, traditional singer of the year (Pharis Romero) and producer of the year (Pharis and Jason Romero with David Travers-Smith).

Amelia Curran and Fortunate Ones, both of St. John’s, N.L., Jenn Grant of Lake Echo, N.S., Whitehorse of Toronto and Catherine MacLellan of Charlottetown each received three nominations.

This year’s youngest nominee is nine. Vancouver Island’s Stella Swanson got the nod for the album “I’m Not a Bunny” in the children’s album of the year category. Inspired by her pet bunny Romeo, the album was produced by singer-songwriter and Juno winner Helen Austin of Comox, B.C. Austin, who previously won a Canadian Folk Music Award, is nominated this year with her group Big Little Lions.

In all, 73 artists and groups nominated in 19 categories were announced Wednesday. The nominees hail from nine provinces and three territories.

The 11th annual awards gala at Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre is being hosted Nov. 8 by Connie Kaldor and Benoit Bourque of La Bottine Souriante.

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Online: www.folkawards.ca