Celebrating the best artistic talent in western Canada, the Western Canadian Music Alliance also awarded Best Pop Album of the Year to Winnipeg songwriter and Canada’s bad ass answer to Adele, Begonia. Tarun Nayer’s Modern Biology proved that all the squeaks and wobbles he’s been making by plugging synthesizers into live mushrooms in the wilderness was enough to earn Electronic & Dance Artist of the Year. And The Royal Foundry, of all the two-piece rock bands rockin the Rocky Mountains, were able to strike a chord loud enough to take home Rock Artist of the Year.

Other notable winners included Country Artist of the Year JoJo Mason, Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year, KEN mode, and Roots Artist of the Year, William Prince. 

The winners were announced this evening during the BreakOut West Opening Reception, held at Metro Hub in the heart of the Cultural District in Downtown Kelowna, where BOW 2023 officially kicked off. See below for the full list of Artistic Award recipients, and watch the reveal video here.BreakOut West’s 21st annual event is now officially underway, with conference sessions running from October 11-15, and the three-night music festival taking place from Oct. 12 to 14. Full conference and festival schedules can be found at breakoutwest.ca

2023 WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC AWARDS ARTISTIC WINNERS

BreakOut Artist of the Year (Sponsored by FACTOR) – Katie Tupper (SK) 

Children’s Artist of the Year – Beppie (AB)

Classical Artist / Ensemble of the Year (Sponsored by Canadian Music Centre [CMC]) – musica intima (BC)

Classical Composer of the Year – Vincent Ho – Sandman’s Castle, R1ddler (AB)

Country Artist of the Year – JoJo Mason (BC)

Electronic & Dance Artist of the Year – Modern Biology (BC)

Francophone Artist of the Year (sponsored by APCM (Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique) – Sala (MB)             

Global Artist of the Year – Ruby Singh (BC)                     

Indigenous Artist of the Year – Blue Moon Marquee (BC)     

Instrumental Artist of the Year – Jasmine Jazz (BC)     

Jazz Artist of the Year – Melody Diachun (BC)

Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year – KEN mode (MB)

Pop Artist of the Year – Begonia (MB)               

R&B Artist of the Year – Jérémie & The Delicious Hounds (MB)

Rap & Hip Hop Artist of the Year – Snotty Nose Rez Kids (BC)   

Recording of the Year – Snotty Nose Rez Kids (BC)  

Rock Artist of the Year – The Royal Foundry (AB)     

Roots Artist of the Year – William Prince (MB)      

Songwriter(s) of the Year (Sponsored by The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada [SOCAN]) – Young D, Yung Trybez – Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Hot Planet (BC)

Spiritual Artist of the Year – Stirling John (AB)                     

Video Director of the Year (Sponsored by Manitoba Film & Music) – Mayumi Yoshida – Different Than Before (BC)