October 24, 2010

Publication title: Vancouver Sun, vol. -, Iss. -, pg. –
Place: Unknown
Writer: Andrea Whoo

Sarah McLachlan, Tegan and Sara win international achievement prizes at Breakout West 2010 Festival

The Breakout West 2010 Festival in the Okanagan concluded with the 2010 Western Canadian Music Awards on Sunday.

Among the highlights of the event, held at the Kelowna Community Theatre, Vancouver dance-punks You Say Party won rock recording of the year for XXXX and Vancouver-based rock band Chilliwack was inducted into the hall of fame. Singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan and sibling pop-rock duo Tegan and Sara were honoured with international achievement awards.

Vancouver-based singer-songwriter Laurell won pop recording of the year for her album Can’t Stop Falling, Winnipeg’s Grand Analog won rap/hip-hop recording of the year for Metropolis is Burning, and Leela Gilday won aboriginal recording of the year for Calling All Warriors.

In an industry award category, Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom won live music venue of the year.

Breakout West, which spanned Oct. 21-24 and was presented by the Western Canadian Music Alliance, included an industry conference, a showcase festival, the Western Canadian Music Awards gala and an industry awards brunch.

Artists from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories and Yukon — including Bif Naked, Grapes of Wrath, Said the Whale and You Say Party — performed at nine city venues throughout the Okanagan.

More than 600 musicians and industry representatives were expected to attend in all.

The province invested $20,000 into the awards, plugged as a venue for emerging artists and a mingler for industry officials, which was expected to generate about $1 million in economic activity for the host community.