ECMA announces special broadcast of 2020 East Coast Music Awards ...watch it live on July 11 via CBC TV and CBC Gem The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) is thrilled to announce a special pre-recorded broadcast of the 2020 East Coast Music Awards presented by TD. Taking place on Saturday, July 11, the celebratory two-hour special airs at 9 p.m. AT / 9:30 NT on CBC TV in Atlantic Canada and on CBC Gem across the country. The show will also be available on demand on CBC Gem following the broadcast.

Set against the scenic backdrop of the city of St. John’s, the 2020 East Coast Music Awards are hosted by Canadian icon Mary Walsh and features uniquely captured performances by Tim Baker, Rose Cousins, Wintersleep, Damnhait Doyle, Matt Mays, Neon Dreams, Motherhood, Eastern Owl, Zamani, Jacobus, and Shanneyganock. The show also features a tribute to the legendary Ron Hynes in celebration of his induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame with support from the SOCAN Foundation & Peer Music. The tribute brings together longtime members of his backing band and acclaimed artists such as Shaye, Joel Hynes, and Lennie Gallant.

From start to finish, the 2020 East Coast Music Awards showcases the vibrant Atlantic Canadian music community and finds a creative, alternative way of honouring the 2020 nominees and winners following the cancellation of the 32nd ECMAs, which were scheduled to take place from April 29-May 03, due to COVID-19.

We were devastated to cancel our week of events in St. John’s this Spring in the wake of the pandemic, including our much anticipated Awards Show at Mile One Stadium, says Andy McLean, CEO of the ECMA. However, we knew from that moment we wanted to find a unique way to celebrate our local talent and the well-deserving winners of this year’s East Coast Music Awards. Over the past several weeks, our team has worked hard to tape incredible performances and put together a wonderful show so that - across the Atlantic provinces and now across the whole country - we can come together to champion the vibrancy and resiliency of the East Coast music community, and tip our hats to the beautiful city of St. John’s.

Nine East Coast Music Awards will be given away over the course of the broadcast: Album of the Year, the Bucky Adams Memorial Award, Francophone Recording of the Year, Indigenous Artist of the Year, Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year, Solo Recording of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year, and Fans’ Choice Video of the Year. The Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award - an Honourary Award that recognizes artists who have had a profound and lasting effect on the Atlantic Canadian Music Industry - will also be presented.

The remaining award winners will be announced the day before, on Friday, June 10, via ECMA’s social media channels.

To see a full list of ECMA 2020 nominees, go to the above posted website.