Music NL tuning up for awards in Bonavista

MusicNL is taking its show on the road and preparing to holdits annual awards and conference in Bonavista from Oct. 13 to16.

• Repartee leads Music NL awards pack with 6 nominations

Glenda Tulk, executive director of MusicNL, saysthe organization's main event is held outside St. John's every second year, but there's recently been a push to develop musical talent beyond the overpass.

"We're seeing a movement in the music industry in Newfoundland and Labrador," she said.

"Most of the talent was kept on the Avalon;now you can see that there's pockets of it springing up on the west coast, and in central and up the coast as well."

Central Morning8:13MusicNL Week Heading to Bonavista.

Taking MusicNL week on the road. We'll hear about which performers have been nominated this year and why it's taking place in Bonavista.

Tulk said Bonavista proved to be the perfect location forthe MusicNL awards and conference, for bothitslocation and love of music.

"We felt as a board that it was time to bring it more centrally rural," she said.

"Bonavista is a great entertainment town, they understand entertainment, and they're very supportive of culture in the town, so we're very happy to support that."

The event should also support the town financially as well as culturally, Tulk said.

"As far as MusicNL is concerned, we have almost 300 room nights booked already, so the economic spinoff for Bonavista is going to be huge, I think."

Following the announcement of nominations, Bonavista's mayor expressed her excitement for having the event in her community.

"I'm very, very excited about having Music NL come to my town, and I'm sure everybody else in town is excited as well," said Mayor Betty Fitzgerald.

St. John's electronic-pop group Repartee leads the way with six nominations for the 2016 MusicNL awards, including album of the year.

Guitarist Duane Andrews and rockers Long Distance Runners are right behind with five nominations each.

• See the full list of 2016 MusicNL award nominees

Tulk said the majority of the nominees will be in Bonavista as part of the event, but MusicNL has yet to reveal its gala lineup and some of the artist showcases.

The weekend event will also include a number of workshops for artists and industry professionals.