The YYC Music Awards return this year to celebrate Calgary’s thriving music community across genres and disciplines. From Alternative to Rap, from solo artists to ensembles, these nominations highlight the creativity and dedication driving the city’s sound.
Below is the full list of 2025 nominees and winners:
Alternative Recording of the Year
(Presented by X92.9 Calgary’s Alternative)
Brayden Bell – Box Office Bomb
Fish in a Birdcage – Rule #34
SHY FRiEND – Hammer The Screw
The Nolias – Whirlwinds
Thomas Thomas – One Lone Candle
Blues Recording of the Year
Corbie Dorner – Corbie Dorner
Malcolm. – When You’re Ready ft. Carter Blatz
Marcus Trummer – From The Start
Mark Dillon – Ghost Train and Other Scary Tales Part 1
Ollee Owens – Nowhere to Hide
Children’s Recording of the Year
Mr. Rayz and The Cuddlebuddies – Play/Breathe
Ms. Gaby – The Turkey Dance
Music with Mandy – A Little Time
The Wilder Bunch – Conservation Songs (Winner)
Classical Recording of the Year
(Presented by Viewpoint Foundation)
Calgary Wind Symphony – Prevail
Jarred Nicklen – Midnight Piano
Kat Hammer – Standards
Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra – A Rocky Mountain Symphony
The Daniel Pelton Collective – Violins of Hope
Community Ensemble of the Year
Calgary Round Up Band
Calgary Stetson Show Band
Calgary Women’s Jazz Collective
Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra
The Daniel Pelton Collective
Country Recording of the Year
(Presented by Ranchmans)
Amy Hef – Being Awesome (ft. Nice Horse)
Ashley Ghostkeeper – She’s Easy To Love
Drew Gregory – One For The Road
Robert Adam – Whiskey On Your Words
Robert Gosse – Who’s Running This Town
EDM Recording of the Year
(Presented by Oscill8)
Bungalow – The Friction
Ginsong, Roger Raw – Could You Love Me Too?
Jaxx, Niteshade – Creepin’
Jon Powers – Higher
Titus1 – Going Nowhere (Winner)
Folk Recording of the Year
(Presented by A Not So Silent Events)
Backyard Betties – Blame it on the Red Wine
Carolyn Harley – My Alberta Home
Irene Poole – The Mountains and The Sea
Joanna Drummond – Sail Away
Kate Stevens – New Walk Home (Winner)
Micah Sage – The Radical Acceptance
Group of the Year
Backyard Betties
Brother Bicker Band
Jade Elephant
Sea of Lettuce
The Royal Foundry
Indigenous Artist of the Year
(Presented by Blue Willow Entertainment)
Ashley Ghostkeeper
sean beaver
Sunflower Dreams
Trent Agecoutay
Industry Person of the Year
(Presented by Stagehand & PK Sound)
Jess L’Heureux (Stampede Entertainment)
Kerry Clarke (Calgary Folk Music Festival) (Winner)
Nancy Laberge (Write On!)
Pat McGannon (PM Gigs)
Seth Anderson (Blue Willow Entertainment)
Inspirational/Holiday Recording of the Year
Brother Bicker Band – Rocky Mountain Christmas (ft. REVV52)
FAC Music – Fill the Room
Jazz Hutch – A Jazz Hutch Christmas
Kristen Scott – The Pages of Us
Write On! The Songwriting Experience – Harmony (Winner)
Jazz Recording of the Year
(Presented by JazzYYC & Jazz at the Attic)
Aimee-Jo Benoit – Horns of Hope
Angela Wrigley Trio – Messy
David Lavoie & Carson Tworow – Teardown
Delirium Street Party Brass – The Alberta Sessions
Jeremy Brown with Audrey Ochoa – Intersections (Winner)
Live Performer of the Year
(Presented by StoryBeat Media)
Cyril Tenjohn and the Honky Cats – Elton John Tribute (Winner)
Kathleen Morrison
Kay L
Madhuban Performing Arts
SHY FRiEND
Metal Recording of the Year
(Presented by Loud As Hell Metal Fest)
Die Another Day – Transcend (Winner)
MachinedGod – Misanthrope
Metavore – Mosaic
Random Damage – Hellbound
Wych – Revelations
Music Educator/Ensemble Director of the Year
(Presented by CADME)
Chris Herard (CSSD/Westwinds) (Winner)
Drew Van Allen (Nakoda Elementary School)
Jeff Waterbury (Calgary Stetson Show Band)
Jeremy Brown (University of Calgary)
Shana Yang (Mount Royal University Conservatory)
Music Video of the Year
Fish in a Birdcage – Rule #44 – Badger (Dir. Owen Poffenroth)
Micah Sage – I Do (Dir. Micah Sage & Owen Poffenroth)
STONEGATE – Hope Dies Last (Dir. Oliver Clarke, Shutter Release Productions)
Tea Fannie – Rap Again (Dir. Vince Raquel & Jb Visualz)
The Royal Foundry – Sad Girl Summer (Dir. Bethany Salte)(Winner)
People’s Choice Award
(Presented by Music Mile)
Goldmarkist – Gratitude
Jose Trinidad – Tarantella Napoletana (Violin)
Madhuban Performing Arts – Yun Hi Tu
Tecun B’alam – A Better Version of Me
VIXIN – Exhibition (Winner)
Pop Recording of the Year
Approaching Jupiter – Screwed
Dempsey Bolton – Comfortable Lines (ft. Micah Sage)(Winner)
Eden Taylor – JealousyKayla Williams – RETRODELIA
Maclayne – Off The Deep End
R&B/Soul Recording of the Year
Kindé – Dopamine High
Souls In Rhythm – Bury My Body
Tendavillage – The Tenda Dimension
Tissa Rahim – Without an Offer
ZENON – Falling (Into You) (Winner)
Rap Recording of the Year
AGE AJ – 17
K The Chosen, Tarik Robinson, Bkay, 3rd Verse – Breathe
Nick Wise – Approach It
Tea Fannie – It’s All Love (Winner)
Tinywiings – Playing With Fire Signs
Recording Studio of the Year
Audiohouse Recording Studio
Evergreen Studios
OCL Studios (Winner)
SAD Entertainment Inc.
Wheelhouse Sound
Rock Recording of the Year
(Presented by The King’s Head Eatery and Music Room)
CTZN6 – Pretty Baby
Howells – Underdose
Jade Elephant – So Far (Winner)
LONG LIVE THE KING – Freedom
Lÿnx – Claws Out
Single of the Year
(Presented by Craig Senyk Initiatives)
Ashley Ghostkeeper – She’s Easy To Love
Drew Gregory – One For The Road
Tea Fannie – Rap Again
The Royal Foundry – Famous (Winner)
Thomas Thomas – One Lone Candle
Solo Artist of the Year
(Presented by Grey Eagle Resort & Casino)
Ashley Ghostkeeper
Drew Gregory
Jennie Harluk
Justine Giles
ZENON (Winner)
Songwriter of the Year
(Presented by Calgary Folk Music Festival)
Ashley Ghostkeeper – She’s Easy To Love
Brother Bicker Band – Rocky Mountain Christmas
Miles Canyon – Record Shelf
Ollee Owens – Still in Pieces
Robert Adam – Bailing Twine (Winner)
The Prophets of Music Emerging Artist Award
(Presented by The Prophets of Music Society)
Irene Poole (Winner)
Jaysongz
Maclayne
Madhuban Performing Arts
Tori Morley
Venue/Presenter of the Year
Bert Church Theatre
Calgary Bluesfest
Canmore Folk Festival
Festival Hall
Grey Eagle Resort & Casino
The Ironwood Stage and Grill (Winner)
World/Cultural Recording of the Year
Goldmarkist – Gratitude
Jose Trinidad – Tarantella Napoletana (Violin)
Luis Tovar – Back to My Roots (Winner)
Madhuban Performing Arts – Yun Hi Tu
Paloma Negra – Me Vale Madres
Featured Image – Robert Adams
