Newfoundland and Labrador artists were in the spotlight at the 2025 East Coast Music Awards Gala, held Thursday night at the Mary Brown’s Centre in St. John’s.
Kellie Loder took home two fan-voted honours—TD Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year and Video of the Year for “Can’t Go Back.” Folk group Rum Ragged won Traditional Release of the Year for Paddy Hyde, and Deantha Edmunds, a celebrated Inuk soprano from NL, earned Indigenous Artist of the Year.
Other winners included Nova Scotia’s Classified for Solo Artist of the Year and Loviet as Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
The Ennis Sisters were also recognized with the Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating their decades-long contribution to east coast music.
One of the night’s most emotional moments came during the show’s opening, as Shanneyganock took the stage for their first performance since the sudden passing of co-founder Mark Hiscock earlier in the week. Performing Music & Friends with Bud Davidge, the group received a standing ovation from the crowd.
More awards will be presented Sunday at the Music & Industry Awards, taking place at the JAG Soundhouse in St. John’s.
