Several northern Saskatchewan artists are nominated for Saskatchewan Music Awards (Submitted Photos/Facebook)

By Derek Craddock

BEST IN SASK. MUSIC

Northern Sask. well represented as Sask. Music Award nominees are announced

Oct 27, 2023 | 3:00 PM

The nominations are in, and northern Saskatchewan is ready to show the rest of the province that they belong on the big stage.

The nominees for the 2023 Saskatchewan Music Awards were unveiled on Thursday with the ceremony set to hit the Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon on Dec. 2.

Several artists from north central and central Saskatchewan made the cut this year including Jake Vaadeland, Cupid’s Heart, Nige B, Cyndi Aarrestead, Patrick Moon Bird, and Jackie Kroczynski.

Vaadeland, who is originally from the Cut Knife area is up for Roots/Folk Artist of the Year and Album of the Year. Last year, Vaadeland took home Album of the Year honours as well as Folk/Alternative Artist of the Year.

Posting on Facebook after the announcement, Vaadeland said he’s privileged to be nominated with many fantastic artists.

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“Very nice and cool and healthy and strong indeed,” he said. “There’s a lot of very special things that come from the middle of nowhere and I could not be any more proud of everyone involved.

Joining Vaadeland in the Album of the Year category is Patrick Moon Bird of Prince Albert who said it’s always great to be recognized.

“It means I’m almost like a role model for younger musicians that you can make it out there.”

Moon Bird is also nominated for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year along with Prince Albert musical duo Cupid’s Heart.

The pair of Stacey Dunn and Emma Jean have only been performing for a couple of years and said it was a surprise to hear they were nominated.

“To receive this kind of acknowledgement for the efforts that we put in together has been humbling and we’re really excited about it,” said Jean who grew up in the Foam Lake area but has called Prince Albert home for the last 10 years.

Dunn also said it was special to be recognized as an Indigeous artist and as a couple, they also represent the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

“It’s important for youth to be able to see that people out there are doing this sort of thing.”

“We’re all a part of each other’s stories and these stories are growing by the day and it’s awesome to have opportunities like this to celebrate each other,” added Jean, talking about the other nominees in the category which include Teagan Littlechief, Falynn Baptiste, and Nige B.

Nige B, from the Air Ronge area, is also up for Album of the Year and Hip Hop Artist of the Year.

Nige B is a member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, who in 2022, won his first Saskatchewan Music Award for Instrumental Artist of the Year.

Meanwhile, two artists with connections to the Battlefords are also nominated for big awards. Cyndi Aarrestad is up for Inspiration Artist of the Year while Jackie Krocynzki is nominated for Music Professional of the Year.

“I’ve been doing music for years just kind of on my own in my home and it’s nice to be able to know that people are enjoying the music,” said Aarrestad. “Kind of caught me off guard.”

Aarrestad who now calls Debden home has written Christian and Worship music for years. She had three releases last year including Offerings and The Name.

Kroczynki, a musician originally from the Battlefords was also taken aback by her nomination and gave praise to the others in her category.

“There’s lots of great people in the music industry in Saskatchewan…lots of wonderful people here and I’m just really pleased to be here alongside them.”

In March of this year, Kroczynki released an album titled, She’s A Story in recognition of International Women’s Day.

Many of the awards including Album of the Year will be decided by public vote with the link to cast ballots online now..

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com