Canadian Folk Music Award for English Songwriter of the Year explained

The Canadian Folk Music Award for English Songwriter of the Year is a Canadian award, presented as part of the Canadian Folk Music Awards to honour the year's best songwriting in Canadian folk music. Unlike many songwriting awards, the nomination is given in consideration of all of the songwriting on a whole album rather than singling out individual songs. Awards are also presented for French Songwriter of the Year and Indigenous Songwriter of the Year.

2000s

YearNomineeAlbumRef
2005
1st Canadian Folk Music Awards
Lynn MilesLove Sweet Love
Melwood CutleryCampfire
Connie KaldorSky with Nothing to Get in the Way
James KeelaghanThen Again
Joel PlaskettLa De Da
2006
2nd Canadian Folk Music Awards
Stephen FearingYellowjacket[1]
Lennie GallantWhen We Get There[2]
Ron HynesRon Hynes
Romi MayesSweet Somethin' Steady
Sarah Noni MetznerDaybreak Mourning
2007
3rd Canadian Folk Music Awards
Suzie UngerleiderShort Stories[3]
Jon BrooksOurs and the Shepherds[4]
Bruce CockburnLife Short Call Now
David FranceyRight of Passage
Emm GrynerThe Summer of High Hopes
Keri Latimer, Shelley MarshallKey Principles
2008
4th Canadian Folk Music Awards
Corb LundHorse Soldier! Horse Soldier![5]
Tim HusBush Pilot Buckaroo[6]
Lindsay JaneLovers Find Reasons
Wyckham Porteous3AM
Garnet RogersGet a Witness
2009
5th Canadian Folk Music Awards
Susan CroweGreytown[7]
Jon BrooksMoth Nor Rust[8]
William HawkinsDancing Alone: Songs by William Hawkins
Rob HeathOne More Day Above Ground
Rob LutesTruth & Fiction

2010s

YearNomineeAlbumRef
2010
6th Canadian Folk Music Awards
Ian TamblynGyre[9]
Amelia CurranHunter, Hunter
Lennie GallantIf We Had A Fire / Le coeur hante
Chris MacLeanFeet Be Still
Justin RutledgeThe Early Widows
2011
7th Canadian Folk Music Awards
Lynn MilesFall for Beauty[10]
Bruce CockburnSmall Source of Comfort[11]
David FranceyLate Edition
Ron HynesStealing Genius
Mae MooreFolklore
2012
8th Canadian Folk Music Awards
Catherine MacLellanSilhouette[12]
Annie LouGrandma's Rules for Drinking
Jon BrooksDelicate Cages
DalaBest Day
The Deep Dark WoodsThe Place I Left Behind
PearSweet 'n Gritty
2013
9th Canadian Folk Music Awards
David FranceySo Say We All[13]
John Wort HannamBrambles and Thorns[14]
Old Man LuedeckeTender Is the Night
Lynn MilesDownpour
Justin RutledgeValleyheart
2014
10th Canadian Folk Music Awards
Shari UlrichEverywhere I Go[15]
Del BarberPrairieography[16]
James KeelaghanHistory
Lennie GallantLive Acoustic at the Carleton
Chris RonaldTimeline
2015
11th Canadian Folk Music Awards
Amelia CurranThey Promised You Mercy[17]
Catherine Allan, Andrew James O'BrienThe BlissFortunate Ones[18]
Jon BrooksThe Smiling and Beautiful Countryside
Luke Doucet, Melissa McClellandLeave No Bridge Unburned
Jenn GrantCompostela
2016
12th Canadian Folk Music Awards
Donovan WoodsHard Settle, Ain't Troubled[19]
Cara Luft, J. D. EdwardsWondrous TravelerThe Small Glories[20]
Danny MichelMatadora
The StrumbellasHope
Royal WoodGhost Light
2017
13th Canadian Folk Music Awards
Ken YatesHuntsville[21]
Scott CookFurther Down the Line[22]
Amelia CurranWatershed
Stephen FearingEvery Soul's a Sailor
Oh SusannaA Girl in Teen City
2018
14th Canadian Folk Music Awards
Lynne Hanson, Lynn MilesHeartbreak Song for the RadioThe Lynnes[23]
Noosa Al-SarrajWasted Time[24]
Bruce CockburnBone on Bone
Dana SiposTrick of the Light
Donovan WoodsBoth Ways

2020s

YearNomineeAlbumRef
2020
15th Canadian Folk Music Awards
Abigail LapellGetaway[25]
Ben Caplan, Christian BarryOld Stock [26]
Lennie GallantTime Travel
Dave GunningUp Against the Sky
Kaia KaterGrenades
Cara Luft, J. D. Edwards, Neil Osborne, Catherine MacLellanAssiniboine & The RedThe Small Glories
Madeleine RogerCottonwood
Justin RutledgePassages
2021
16th Canadian Folk Music Awards
William PrinceReliever[27]
Coco Love AlcornRebirth[28]
Basia BulatAre You in Love?
Pharis and Jason RomeroBet on Love
Sarah Jane ScoutenConfessions
Julian TaylorThe Ridge
2022
17th Canadian Folk Music Awards
Allison RussellOutside Child[29]
Scott CookTangle of Souls[30]
Rick FinesSolar Powered Too
Rob LutesCome Around
Noah ReidGemini
Ian TamblynA Longing for Innocence
2023
18th Canadian Folk Music Awards
Abigail LapellStolen Time[31]
T. BuckleyFrame by Frame[32]
John Wort HannamLong Haul
Li'l AndyThe Complete Recordings of Hezekiah Procter (1925–1930)
Matt PatershukAn Honest Effort
Yael WandSaltwater Heartwood
2024
19th Canadian Folk Music Awards
Jacob BrodovskyI Love You and I'm Sorry[33]
Tim Chaisson, Koady Chaisson, Jake Charron, Colin MacDonald, Carleton StoneHouse of Dreams[34]
Noah DerksenSanctity of Silence
Luke Doucet, Melissa McClellandI'm Not Crying, You're Crying
Dave GunningThe Same Storm
Noah ZacharinPoints of Light

Notes and References

  1. https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/veteran-lang-tops-canadian-folk-awards-1.570565 "Veteran Lang tops Canadian folk awards"
  2. https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/wailin-jennys-madrigaia-nominated-for-canadian-folk-music-awards-1.588642 "Wailin' Jennys, Madrigaia nominated for Canadian Folk Music Awards"
  3. Greg Quill, "Toronto roots musicians snag prizes". St. Catharines Standard, December 3, 2007.
  4. https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/bruce-cockburn-up-for-4-canadian-folk-music-awards-1.666311 "Bruce Cockburn up for 4 Canadian Folk Music Awards"
  5. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/late-toronto-fiddler-honoured-at-folk-music-awards-1.722426 "Late Toronto fiddler honoured at Folk Music Awards"
  6. https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/late-fiddler-oliver-schroer-leads-canadian-folk-music-nominations-1.722428 "Late fiddler Oliver Schroer leads Canadian Folk Music nominations"
  7. Lynn Saxberg, "Folk musicians honoured". Regina Leader-Post, November 23, 2009.
  8. https://folkawards.ca/past-years/results-2009/ "Results 2009"
  9. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113756416/ "The Once wins big in Winnipeg"
  10. https://www.therecord.com/entertainment/2012/03/11/review-lynn-miles-delivers-a-memorable-performance.html "Lynn Miles delivers a memorable performance"
  11. Michael Kornfeld, "Nominees Named for 2011 Canadian Folk Music Awards". Acoustic Music Scene, October 22, 2011.
  12. https://www.rootsmusic.ca/2012/11/21/canadian-folk-music-award-winners/ "Canadian Folk Music Award winners"
  13. Brad Wheeler, "Good Lovelies among winners at Canadian Folk Music Awards". The Globe and Mail, November 11, 2013.
  14. Michael Kornfeld, "Nominees Named for 2013 Canadian Folk Music Awards". Acoustic Music Scene, September 29, 2013.
  15. Lynn Saxberg, "Ottawa singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume among folk music award winners". Ottawa Citizen, November 30, 2014.
  16. Lynn Saxberg, "Folkies set to honour their own". Ottawa Citizen, September 25, 2014.
  17. https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/folk-music-awards-1.3310554 "Canadian Folk Music Awards recipients announced in Edmonton"
  18. Michael Kornfeld, "Nominees Named for 2015 Canadian Folk Music Awards". Acoustic Music Scene, September 9, 2015.
  19. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2016/12/03/rail-yard-labourer-turned-musician-david-francey-wins-big-at-canadian-folk-music-awards.html "Rail yard labourer-turned-musician David Francey wins big at Canadian Folk Music Awards"
  20. Calum Slingerland, "Canadian Folk Music Awards Announce 2016 Winners". Exclaim!, December 4, 2016.
  21. Sarah Greene, "Six highlights From the 2017 Canadian Folk Music Awards". Now, November 20, 2017.
  22. Brock Thiessen, "Canadian Folk Music Awards Reveal 2017 Nominees". Exclaim!, September 21, 2017.
  23. https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2018/12/03/lynnes-pharis-romero-win-multiple-cfmas "The LYNNeS, Pharis Romero Win Multiple CFMAs"
  24. Michael Kornfeld, "Nominees Named for 2018 Canadian Folk Music Awards". Acoustic Music Scene, September 22, 2018.
  25. Allie Gregory, "Here Are All the 2020 Canadian Folk Music Awards Winners". Exclaim!, April 5, 2020.
  26. https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/lifestyles/entertainment/dave-gunning-gets-four-nominations-for-canadian-folk-music-awards-378458/ "Dave Gunning gets four nominations for Canadian Folk Music Awards"
  27. https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2021/04/11/pharis-jason-romero-head-cfma-winners-list "Pharis & Jason Romero Head CFMA Winners List"
  28. Brock Thiessen, "Canadian Folk Music Awards Unveil 2021 Nominees". Exclaim!, December 1, 2020.
  29. Heather Kitching, "The Canadian Folk Music Awards 2022 – winners and highlights". Roots Music Canada, April 2, 2022.
  30. Megan Lapierre, "Canadian Folk Music Awards Announce 2022 Nominees". Exclaim!, September 28, 2021.
  31. https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2023/04/05/cfmas-are-handed-out-vancouver "CFMAs Are Handed Out In Vancouver"
  32. Stephen Cooke, "Madison Violet, Shannon & Tony Quinn among 2023 Canadian Folk Music Award nominees". SaltWire Network, October 5, 2022.
  33. Calum Slingerland, "Here are the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards Winners". Exclaim!, April 10, 2024.
  34. Nika Petrosian, "Canadian Folk Music Awards Unveil 2024 Nominees". Exclaim!, October 18, 2023.