Folk music award nominations released

Toronto klezmer folk band Beyond the Pale has scored a leading four nominations for Canadian Folk Music Awards.

The CFMA nominations announced Wednesday also included multiple nods for Newfoundland singer Amelia Curran and band The Once, musical storyteller Lennie Gallant and Toronto's Justin Rutledge.

Beyond the Pale, a group of six musicians who have been playing together for 10 years, mixes Klezmer, Balkan and Romanian styles with an eclectic range of music, including interpretations of classical works by Mozart.

Previous winners of best instrumental group at the CFMAs, the group is again being recognized for that award. It also has nods for world group, ensemble of the year and the award called "pushing the boundaries" which recognize innovation for its album Postcards.

Beyond the Pale is vying for best ensemble with three traditional francophone groups Le Vent Du Nord , Les Tireux d'Roches and Nicolas Pellerin et les Grands Hurleurs and with Vancouver gospel singers The Sojourners.

St. John's-born, Halifax-based singer-songwriter Curran has three nominations, including best solo singer, best contemporary album and best songwriter for Hunter, Hunter. She won a Juno award earlier this year.

A new band from Newfoundland and Labrador, The Once, plays arrangements of Newfoundland and British Isles folk music on their debut self-titled album. They've been nominated for best traditional and vocal group, as well as getting a nod as emerging artists.

Le Vent Du Nord have three nominations for Le Part de Feu, including best world artist.

Roots artist Rutledge also scored in the contemporary, solo and songwriter categories with his album The Early Widows. Collaborator Hawksley Workman earned a best producer nomination for his work on the album.

The awards to celebrate the best of Canadian folk music will be handed out Nov. 20 at Pantages Playhouse Theatre in Winnipeg.

CBC Radio on-air personality Shelagh Rogers and Juno Award-winning veteran entertainer Benot Bourque will host the gala with performances by David Essig,Madagascar Slim, The Once and Don Ross.