Lindi Ortega Wins Canadian Country Music Awards “Roots Artist of the Year”

Last week saw the 39th Annual Canadian Country Music Week transpire in Hank Snow’s hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia, culminating in the 2015 CCMA Awards where Canadian artist Gord Bramford walked away as the big winner on Sunday night (9-13). Gord won Male Artist of the Year, and Single and Songwriter of the Year for his Canadian hit “Where a Farm Used To Be.” Dallas Smith won Album of the Year for Lifted, and CCMA regular Dean Brody walked away with Video of the Year for “Upside Down.” Jess Moskaluke from Saskatchewan was the Female Artist of the Year.

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Photo: Grant W. Martin

Speaking to the encroachment of American-style country music on the Canadian market, Florida Georgia Line and Thomas Rhett made appearances at the awards, potentially helping to give Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine Records a beachhead in Canada for a future invasion. Fortunately, Canadian broadcasting rules regulate the percentage of Canadian artists who must be played on the radio at 35%, and only native Canadians are eligible for CCMA Awards.

On Saturday night (9-12), the CCMA’s also threw their annual awards gala where 20 CCMA were handed out, including one to Last Gang Records singer and songwriter Lindi Ortega who walked away with the distinction of Roots Artist of the Year. This is Lindi’s second win in the roots category in a row. Lindi released her latest record Faded Gloryville on August 7th. Though Lindi currently lives in Nashville, she is originally from Toronto.

“So very honored to perform at the CCMA gala! And what a wonderful surprise to win roots artist again for a 2nd year in a row,” Lindi said Saturday night.

READ: “I Say, Include Women.” An opinion piece by Lindi Ortega

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List of 2015 CCMA Winners

Fans Choice Award: Johnny Reid

Album of the Year: Dallas Smith – Lifted

Female Artist of the Year: Jess Moskaluke

Male Artist of the Year: Gord Bamford

Group or Duo of the Year: High Valley

Single of the Year: Gord Bamford – “Where a Farm Used to Be”

Video of the Year: Dean Brody “Upside Down”

Rising Star: Madeline Merlo

Songwriter of the Year: Gord Bamford, Buddy Owens, Phil O’Donnell  – “Where a Farm Used to Be”

Roots Artist of the Year: Lindi Ortega

Interactive Artist of the Year: Brett Kissel

CCMA Discovery Award: Raquel Cole

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

Artist: Dianne Leigh

Industry Builder: Elizabeth (Ma) Henning

2015 Slaight Music Humanitarian Award: MusiCounts

Leonard T. Rambeau International Award: Robert Ott

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