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Francophone folk duo Jenna Maloney and Axel Belgarde, known as Port-Aux-Poutines, and solo artist Rachel Cousins have an armful of nominations each heading into 2026 MusicNL Week’s awards gala.
Port-Aux-Poutines has nominations in five categories for the main gala, including: Group of the Year; International Touring Artist of the Year; Ron Hynes Songwriter of the Year; Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year, for Oui B’y.
Off stage, the St. John’s-based French-Canadian duo has, among other things, spent time offering workshops promoting francophone culture through music. It’s part of what led to their also having a nomination for Music Educator of the Year, one of the awards MusicNL offers in recognition of contributions to music culture and industry.
Rachel Cousins has matched Port-Aux-Poutines’ five nominations in the music award categories. Her nominations include: Folk Artist of the Year; Music Video of the Year for “To Fail”; Ron Hynes Songwriter of the Year; Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year, for What Hasn’t Killed Me.
Along with Port-Aux-Poutines and Cousins, the Album of the Year category includes Bill Brennan and Andy McNeill’s Dreaming in Gamelan; Duane Andrews’ Duane Andrews and The Hot Club of Conception Bay; Matthew Byrne’s Stealing Time and Robert Humber’s into air.
Close behind Port-Aux-Poutines and Cousins in total nominations are Mallory Johnson and With Violet, both with four nominations each.
In all, there are 117 nominees in 26 categories up for awards, meant to recognize the best of the year from the province’s music industry, according to MusicNL.
The MusicNL Awards gala will be in St. John’s, featuring performances from The Irish Descendants, Mallory Johnson, Mark Bragg and The Butchers, and Cousins.
Weekend AM20:13Port aux Poutines says “Oui B’y!”
Port aux Poutines brings us their deuxieme/second collection of Francophone-Newfoundland songs
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