Good Dear Good leads Nova Scotia Music Week award nominations

Music Nova Scotia has released its Nova Scotia Music Week award nominations, and Good Dear Good looks to be on top with a total of four nominations. The Halifax indie pop-rock band released their newest EP sook last September, which is up for Pop Recording of the Year. They are also nominated for Entertainer of [...] The post Good Dear Good leads Nova Scotia Music Week award nominations appeared first on The Coast | News, events, restaurants, concerts and Burger Week for Halifax, Nova Scotia .

Music Nova Scotia has released its Nova Scotia Music Week award nominations, and Good Dear Good looks to be on top with a total of four nominations. The Halifax indie pop-rock band released their newest EP sook last September, which is up for Pop Recording of the Year. They are also nominated for Entertainer of the Year and Music Video of the Year for “Better of Dead” directed by the band’s frontman, Tim Hatcher, who is also nominated for the SOCAN Songwriter of the Year award.

Electronic artist Rich Aucoin and producer Israel Ekanem follow Good Dear Good with three nominations each, with a litany of other artists receiving nominations in 16 musical categories and seven industry categories. Voting for Music Nova Scotia members is now open until Tuesday, July 28. The general public can vote for the Entertainer of the Year category here .

Nominations for African Nova Scotia Artist of the Year are ongoing via write-in ballot, with a jury scoring submissions and selecting a winner at the Music Nova Scotia Awards Brunch in Truro on Nov. 15. Tickets and wristbands are now available for purchase. A few categories aren’t active this year due to low nomination rates.

This includes: Americana/Bluegrass Recording of the Year Blues Recording of the Year Children’s Artist of the Year Classical Recording of the Year Jazz Recording of the Year R&B/Soul Recording of the Year Traditional Recording of the Year Without further ado, here are your nominees for the 2026 Music Nova Scotia Awards. Music Nominations Country Recording of the Year Aaron MacDonald – It’s In My Blood Amy & Arwen – Catchin’ Nothin’ but a Buzz Bill Ricky – Shoot The Moon Cameron Nickerson – The Wagon Jon Mullane – The Road DJ of the Year Badi DJ

Ubuntu HieroPhunk KC OKOYE PINEO & LOEB Electronic Artist of the Year HieroPhunk KC OKOYE Minus World PINEO & LOEB Rich Aucoin Entertainer of the Year Braden Lam Cassie and Maggie Daniel James McFadyen Elyse Aeryn Good Dear Good HARMZ & Acalus Laura Roy Morgan Toney Nicole Ariana Rich Aucoin Folk/Roots Recording of the Year Daniel James McFadyen – Back To The Country Dave Gunning – Field Notes Cassie and Maggie – Gold and Coal The Dusty Halos – Keep Us This Night Cameron Nickerson – The Wagon Hip-Hop/Rap Recording of the Year Gearl – Escape Ghettochild + Corey Writes – Life’s Not That Bad

But It Still Hurts Kxng Wooz – Malik Mayaya – La sirène Snez – Without a Fight Indigenous Artist of the Year Cherise Basque DeeDee Austin Gearl Joe H Henry Morgan Toney Loud Recording of the Year ANGEL GIRL – LIFE OF AN ANGEL Last Call Chernobyl – VI: Trials & Tribulations Puffin – Puffin Where Giants Once Stood – Selling Salvation YipHerLastName – The Seed of Tragedy Is Buried in My Fate Music Video of the Year Braden Lam – Hurricane Season, directed by Griffin O’Toole Burry – TV GLOW, directed by Annaka Gale Customer Service – Never Meant To, directed by MOOSECANFLY Good Dear Good – Better Off Dead, directed by Tim Hatcher JupiterReign – All Mine, directed by Kardeisha Provo & KekeBeatz Maggie Andrew – Emotional Touchdown, directed by MOOSECANFLY Nicole Ariana – Return to Sender, directed by Griffin O’Toole & MOOSECANFLY Rich Aucoin – Space Western, directed by Rich Aucoin & Ian MacMillan The Boojums – Burnin’ Up, directed by Willie Stratton Yung St4k – Retrograde, directed by Jeff Miller Musician of the Year Aaron Lewis Dilshan Weerasinghe Kate Bo Leo

Cox Matt Meuse New Artist Recording of the Year Dane Pedersen – Travelling Alone Dilshan – re:fuge FERAL CAROL – SUPER DUPER! Malcolm MacNeil – The Bridge Puffin – Puffin Pop Recording of the Year Brett Matthews – Tomorrow Burry – I’m tired Good Dear Good – sook Maggie Andrew – HOW TO SING FOR MONEY Mat Hughes – South-Facing Dumpster Prix de l’Acadie

Jacques Surette Kristen Martell La Jam Acadjen de Sylvie Marie Serena Wu Vickie Deveau Rock Recording of the Year Beauts – Marigolds The Boojums – The Boojums Customer Service – If You’re Here, You Must Be Fine Elyse Aeryn – Everybody Loves You... FERAL CAROL – SUPER DUPER! SOCAN Songwriter of the Year Carleton Stone Laura Roy Tim Hatcher Willie Stratton Yung St4k Industry Nominations Artistic Development Award Chuck Boudreau Eirinn Fraser Halifax Jazz Festival Mi’kmaq Artist Emergence Program – Carol Ann Potter/Andree

Gracie SoundBox Music Educator of the Year Eirinn Fraser Evan Newman Laura Rae Reagan Mae Kuzyk Vladimir Sitnikov Emerging Industry Professional of the Year Darcy Walsh Ebow Darko Dawson Evan Wiseman Israel Ekanem Jayden Duplessis (NoLoveNorthern) Live Sector Award Glasgow Square Theatre Halifax Jazz Festival Pavilion Youth Association Sanctuary Arts Centre The Shore Club Media Arts Award Atlantic Broadcasters Ltd Darcy Walsh Evan Wiseman (Inside the Scene)

Israel Ekanem Josh Lavoie Recording Sector Award Alex LeBlanc Alex Meade John Mullane Laura Rae Owen Williams Sound, Tech and Production Award Derek Martin Dylan Mombourquette Leah Timmins Martin Maunder Patrick Coleman Nova Scotia Music Week is taking place in Truro from Nov. 12-15, 2026. The post Good Dear Good leads Nova Scotia Music Week award nominations appeared first on The Coast | News, events, restaurants, concerts and Burger Week for Halifax, Nova Scotia .