Spirit of the West is now a hall of famer

At an awards gala held last night at Edmonton's Myer Horowitz Theatre, a total of 21 Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMA) were handed out in celebration of the diverse talent from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Yukon.

Honoured with International Achievement Awards were k.d. Lang, Feist and Nickelback, while both esteemed jazz bandleader Senator Tommy Banks and Vancouver's Spirit of the West were inducted into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

All part of the 2008 WCMA Conference, the weekend of events also included a host of music showcases, workshops and panels, and the SOCAN Songs and Stories session hosted by Spirit of the West's John Mann.

The following is a partial list of this year's WCMA winners.

For a complete list, please click here.

OUTSTANDING ABORIGINAL RECORDING
Tracy Bone ~ No Lies


OUTSTANDING BLUES RECORDING
Little Miss Higgins ~ Junction City

OUTSTANDING COUNTRY RECORDING
Paul Brandt - Risk

OUTSTANDING POP RECORDING
The Liptonians - The Liptonians

OUTSTANDING ROCK RECORDING
State of Shock - Life, Love & Lies

OUTSTANDING ROOTS RECORDING ~ DUO/GROUP 
Twilight Hotel - Highway Prayer

OUTSTANDING ROOTS RECORDING ~ SOLO
Corb Lund - Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier!

OUTSTANDING INDEPENDENT ALBUM AWARD
The Weakerthans - Reunion Tour

SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR
The Weakerthans - Reunion Tour

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
The Weakerthans ~ Civil Twilight
Directors: Caelum Vatnsdul & Simon Hughes

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