Int’l Folk Music Awards Names First 2019 Winners: Buffy Sainte-Marie, More
Folk Alliance, the organizers for the International Folk Music Awards (IFMAs) announced the details for the 2019 edition of the event, as well as an early slate of award recipients for the event. Musician and broadcaster Tom Powers has been announced as the host for the 2019 return of the awards show.
Honorees for the event next year include Canadian folk music legend Buffy Sainte-Marie, who will receive the People’s Voice Award. The award, which is presented to an individual who y embraces social and political commentary in their creative work and public careers, has previously gone to Bruce Cockburn (2017) and this year, to Bonnie Raitt.
The Hillside Festival will be presented with the Clearwater Award, which recognizes a festival for its commitment to ecologically sustainable event production. The Hillside Festival will join previous recipients of the award which include the Clearwater Festival (2017) and the Winnipeg Folk Festival (2018).
Spirit of Folk Award Recipients for 2019 include Sunfest organizer Alfredo Caxaj, Musician, director and producer Ellen Hamilton, union rights advocate Gilles Garand, folk presenter Matt Smith, graphic designer Michael Wrycraft, Folk Music Canada President and musician ShoShona Kish, Radio personality Sonny Ochs and musician Sophia Rei.
Folk DJ Hall of Fame inductees for 2018 include “Whispering” Bob Harris, Matt Watroba, and Wanda Fischer.
The awards gala will take place on Wednesday, February 13th in the main ballroom of the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montréal, Canada, with Musician and broadcaster Tom Powers serving as the host.
The awards show is part of the annual Folk Alliance International conference.
