Folk Canada Announces 2025 Ontario Folk Music Award Nominees

Folk Canada is pleased to announce the nominees for the 2025 Ontario Folk Music Awards, in recognition of the outstanding work and contributions of Folk artists and musicians from across the province of Ontario.

Presented in partnership with the National Arts Centre, the 31st annual Ontario Folk Music Awards will take place on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at the National Arts Centre and will formally launch the Folk Music Ontario Conference. The event will feature performances by a select number of nominated artists and special guests, and for the first time in 2025 will include two brand new categories, Music Video of the Year and the Culture in Climate Award, which recognizes an individual, organization, or company in Canada's Folk music sector that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to climate action and environmental responsibility. Still to be announced are the Estelle Klein Award recipients, the first ever Culture in Climate recipient, the laureate for the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award and the Taylor Mitchell Bursary recipient. 

Tickets to the award ceremony are available by RSVP to those who have already registered for this year's Folk Music Ontario Conference. Please click here for more information and to reserve your ticket.

The 2025 nominated artists come from all across Ontario, including Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto Mississauga, Guelph, Windsor, Peterborough and more.

Established in 1987 and now in its 38th year, the 2025 Folk Music Ontario Conference will take place October 15-19 in Ottawa, Ontario at the Delta Hotels Ottawa City Centre and welcomes attendees from across the country to the event. To learn more, Folk Canada invites interested parties to visit the website and sign up for their newsletter. You can also register for the 2025 Folk Music Ontario Conference here.

The 2025 Ontario Folk Music Award Nominees are:

Song of the Year

“Weighing Down” by Julian Taylor (Julian Dean Taylor, Tyler James Ellis)

“There is a Power” by Larry Folk (Lawrence J Folk)

“Just A Little Bit” by Lynne Hanson (Lynne Hanson, Blair Michael Hogan)

“Only the Strong Survive” by Sam Drysdale (Sam Drysdale, Ally Sou, Tal Vaisman)

“Best Remembered” by Savannah Shea (Savannah Shea)

“Train Coming” by The Angelique Francis Band (Angelique Francis, Kiran Francis)

Album of the Year

“Anniversary” by Abigail Lapell

“Precious Diamonds” by Adrian Sutherland

“Kanzafula” by Ahmed Moneka

“Ghoyoum” by Kazdoura

“Slice of Life” by Larnell Lewis

“Azadi” by Tamar Ilana

Recording Artist of the Year

Abigail Lapell

Jessica Pearson and the East Wind

Julian Taylor

Steven Taetz

The Angelique Francis Band

Tragedy Ann

Performing Artist of the Year

Bruno Capinan

Gal George Gjurin

Irish Millie

Jessica Pearson and the East Wind

Sultans of String

Tennyson King

Music Video of the Year

“Precious” by Adrian Sutherland

“Khayal” by Kazdoura

“Only the Strong Survive” by Sam Drysdale

“Every Morning” by Tragedy Ann

“Waltz of the Birds and the Bees” by Willowbrook

About Folk Canada:

Folk Canada is a national music industry association that combines the previously existing organizations Folk Music Ontario and Folk Music Canada. This evolution is the result of years of sector and member consultation, collaboration, and a vision to work together, share knowledge, and pool resources to support a sustainable folk music industry across Canada.

About the Folk Music Ontario Conference:

The 2025 Folk Music Ontario Conference will take place October 15-19 in Ottawa, Ontario at the Delta Hotels Ottawa City Centre. Be sure to check out the rest of the Folk Music Ontario programming and Showcase lineup here and get your conference pass and tickets. Established in 1987, the Folk Music Ontario Conference has been the largest gathering of the professional Folk Music community in Canada. Since the inaugural gathering as the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals, FMO has connected artists and presenters through showcasing, one-on-one meetings, networking, peer sessions, panels, mentorship, and other career development opportunities.