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The Canadian Folk Music Awards will make their way to Cape Breton, N.S., next year.
The four-day event will recognize folk artists from across the country and feature performances. It will be held in Sydney from April 8-11, 2027.
Lucy and Boyd MacNeil of The Barra MacNeils sang a few songs to a packed crowd Wednesday morning at Breton Crafthouse in Sydney, where the official announcement was made.
Lucy MacNeil said she welcomes any chance to celebrate local musicians.
“It’s wonderful,” she said. “I think it’s the most fitting pairing — a folk music award show and Cape Breton … it just makes sense.”
The awards were created in 2005 to celebrate and promote Canadian folk music.
While the event has been hosted in cities across the country, including in the Atlantic region, next year will be its first time in Nova Scotia.
Graham Lindsey of the Canadian Folk Music Awards says next year’s edition will feature the ‘very best’ in folk music. The announcement of the festival was met with applause and cheers Wednesday. (Anna Rak / CBC)
“What you are going to be hearing is the very best in folk music, for next year,” said Graham Lindsey, with the Canadian Folk Music Awards.
Terry Smith, CEO of Destination Cape Breton, said the event will bring millions of dollars to the Island.
“For a few days in April, which is typically a slower time of year, our hotels are going to be full,” said Smith.
“Our restaurants are going to be bustling, and a lot of our musicians are going to get work as a result of this.”
Marc Botte, president of the Cape Breton Music Industry Cooperative, said all of the musicians, including those from the Island, will get the chance to interact with festival owners and buyers from across the country and beyond.
He said the award show is the “gift that keeps on giving” for Cape Breton artists.
This year’s awards were held in Calgary.
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