Town Heroes win 3 East Coast Music Awards

Nova Scotia alt-rock duoThe Town Heroes picked upthree East Coast Music Awards on Thursday night, and might have won more if they had been nominated for anything else.

The Cape Breton group Mike Ryan and Bruce Gillis won ECMAs in all their nominated categories: group recording of the year (forSunday Movies), fans' choice entertainer of the year and fans' choice video of the year.

The awards come just months after The Town Heroes swept the Nova Scotia Music Awards last November.

Band members Bruce Gillis and Mike Ryan said it was a thrilling experience to hear their names called again and again.

"We're the luckiest guys in the world," Ryan told CBC News.

"We have the most amazing support in the world, whether it's the people who voted for the awards, or the people who support us back home, our families, friends."

Gillis said the duonever expected to get such a positive response.

"Like we always say, [we're]happy to be nominated this year, it's unbelievable," he said.

"Just to win, it's surreal."

Halifax band In-Flight Safety won album of the year for Conversationalist, while St. John's group Hey Rosetta! won song of the year forKintsukuroi.

Performers from across Atlantic Canada have converged on the St. John's area for four days ofshowcases, concerts and meetings. This year marks a break with tradition, with the gala held on Thursday night and preceding other performances.

More awards will be presented over the coming days.

Thursday night'swinners

• The Town Heroes Group recording of the year
• Kim Harris Rising star recording of the year
• Carleton Stone Solo recording of the year
• The Town Heroes Fans' choice entertainer of the year
• The Town Heroes Fans' choice video of the year
• Hey Rosetta! Song of the year
• The Once Folk recording of the year
• In-Flight Safety Album of the year

Some of the awards will be handed out in the coming days, as East Coast Music Week continues in St. John's.

Follow alongwith CBC at East Coast Music Week in our live blog.

This is the first year ever the week-long event starts off with the awards gala, set for Thursday night at Jack Byrne Arena inTorbay.

Pulling off East Coast Music Week is no easy feat. An army of a few hundred volunteers are working pretty much around the clock to stage concerts, showcases and the big event. Check our videoinfographicfor more details on the numbers behindECMW.

ECMA, by the numbers

10 years ago

Duration 1:10

CBC's Alyson Samson did the math on the East Coast Music Awards

East Coast music awards

10 years ago

Duration 2:23

ECMA show producer Tony Murray gives the CBC's Krissy Holmes a preview of the big show!