Spinneys simply outstanding, clean up at awards show

BY WENDY ELLIOTT

welliott@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

The Spinney Brothers had a fantastic evening at the East Coast Bluegrass Music Awards held in Truro Oct. 18. Out of eight nominations, the Wolfville area bluegrass band took home five awards.

They include: Male Vocalist of the Year (Allan Spinney); Guitar Player of the Year (Allan Spinney); Recording of the Year (Going Home); Vocal Group of the Year; and the coveted 'Band of the Year' award. Included in these awards, the Spinneys also received 'Masters' level awards in both 'Recording of the Year' and 'Band of the Year.' “This means we have won the award five times,” Rick says. “As a band and individuals combined, we have our masters awards now in five categories.”

They are: Band of the Year, Recording of the Year, Banjo Player of the Year, who is Rick Spinney, and Individual Entertainer of the Year, also the talented Rick Spinney. “The demand for new recorded material is very high and we are doing our best to accommodate the demands,” he notes.

With all the awards came an emotional standing ovation for the band’s performance of a new song Rick wrote and debuted at the awards show about Karissa Boudreau, the young murder victim from Bridgewater. It is entitled, “I Pray to God”. “We are set to record it on our new CD next month. After our week in the recording studio, we are launching a bunch of new material, including ‘I Pray to God’,” Rick said, at the fifth annual Bluegrass in the Valley concert at the Horton Performance Centre Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m.

Special guest will be Ron Stewart of the Dan Tyminski Band and New Ground of Clare, N.S.

The band has performed frequently in the Maritimes this year, but they have also been to New York, Arizona and Texas, where they received a very favourable reception.

The spring concert for the Spinney Brothers sold out early, so remember; doors open at 6 p.m. and tickets are available at CD Plus in New Minas and Music Stop on Dow Rd. in New Minas.