The 20th milestone anniversary featured four nights of bilingual concerts and presentations in Ottawa/Gatineau, with a diverse mix of veterans and newcomers taking home trophies. Loryn Taggart and Lucy MacNeil won the most of this year's 21 awards.
The 2025 Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMA) WERE held in Ottawa/Gatineau, Ontario, from April 3-6, 2025. The CFMA celebrated the breadth and depth of Canadian folk music. The International Folk Music Awards were held on February 19, 2025, in Montréal, Canada, as part of the Folk Alliance International conference, and streamed on YouTube.
Performer Lineup consisted of
This year’s awards week celebration ran from April 3 to 6, 2025 and featured a series of bilingual concerts that spotlighted the diversity, creativity, and cultural importance of Canada’s folk music scene. Instead of just one awards show, each concert included several awards presentations.
2025 CFMA Awards Week Concert Lineup featured:
Songs & Stories Songwriter Concert
Date & Time: April 3, 2025 | 7:30 PM
Venue: Canadian Museum of History
About the Event: A celebration of Canada’s top folk songwriters, this intimate concert featured heartfelt stories woven through intricate melodies.
Performers: Burnstick, Celeigh Cardinal, Geneviève Racette, Jeffery Straker, Michel Robichaud, Sandra Bouza
Awards: Contemporary Singer, Indigenous Songwriter, New/Emerging Artist, French Songwriter, English Songwriter, Producer
20th Anniversary Gala Concert
Date & Time: April 4, 2025 | 7:30 PM
Venue: National Arts Centre
About the Event: Celebrate 20 years of folk excellence with a grand gala concert showcasing some of the most celebrated names in Canadian folk music.
Performers: Connie Kaldor, Indian City, Kiran Ahluwalia, Lucy MacNeil, Mia Kelly, Sirène et Matelot
Awards: Pushing the Boundaries, Traditional Album, Contemporary Album, Ensemble, Single, Instrumental Group
Trad & Global Roots Concert
Date & Time: April 5, 2025 | 7:30 PM
Venue: Canadian Museum of History
About the Event: Immerse yourself in the roots and rhythms of traditional folk and global roots music, where cultural traditions blended to create unforgettable performances.
Performers: Bradley Murphy, Derina Harvey Band, Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Okavango African Orchestra, Prairie Comeau, The Andrew Collins Trio
Awards: Traditional Singer, Global Roots Album, Solo Artist, Instrumental Solo Artist, Vocal Group, Instrumental Composer
Folk for Families Concert
Date & Time: April 6, 2025 | 10:30 AM
Venue: Canadian Museum of History
About the Event: Perfect for music lovers of all ages, this family-friendly concert featured a fun-filled lineup by CFMA nominees.
Performers: Abigail Lapell, Amelia Parker, Irish Millie, Will and Seeka
Awards: Children’s Album, Young Performer
Admission was free with museum entry or with a wristband
A week of exceptional music, inspiring performances, and engaging celebrations as we honour two decades of Canadian folk artistry.
About the Canadian Folk Music Awards:
Founded in 2005, the Canadian Folk Music Awards celebrate and promote the breadth and depth of Canadian folk music, embracing the many traditions that make up our musical heritage.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada and Canada’s private radio broadcasters.
The Canadian Folk Music Awards acknowledge the generous funding and support from Ottawa Tourism, The National Arts Centre, and the Canadian Museum of History.
Visit: https://folkawards.ca/prix-awards
2025 WINNERS WERE:
21 awards were presented in 20 categories, and artists from every Canadian province, representing a wide range of folk, roots and world music styles, were featured. The two double winners were Montreal singer-songwriter Loryn Taggart and Lucy MacNeil. Montreal singer-songwriter Taggart won for solo artist of the year (for her album The Lost Art of Pulling Through) and single of the year, for "Tell Me How," and these victories confirm her impact on the national scene.
2025 CFMA Award Recipients by Province
ALBERTA
- Celeigh Cardinal – Boundless Possibilities || Indigenous Songwriter(s) of the Year (tie)
SASKATCHEWAN
- Jeffery Straker – Great Big Sky || Contemporary Singer of the Year
MANITOBA
- Boy Golden – For Jimmy || Contemporary Album of the Year
- Ruth Moody – Wanderer || English Songwriter(s) of the Year
ONTARIO
- Abigail Lapell – Lullabies || Children’s Album of the Year
- Alanna Jenish – Daleview || Instrumental Composer of the Year
- Good Lovelies – We Will Never Be the Same || Vocal Group of the Year
- Joshua Van Tassel, Christine Bougie (Good Lovelies) – We Will Never Be the Same || Producer of the Year
- Kiran Ahluwalia – Comfort Food || Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries Award
- Maggie’s Wake – Maggie’s Wake || New/Emerging Artist of the Year
- Mary Frances Leahy – First Light || Young Performer of the Year
- Okavango African Orchestra – Migration || World Traditions Album of the Year
- Tio Chorinho – Tempestuoso || Instrumental Group of the Year
QUÉBEC
- Alexandre Poulin – La somme des êtres aimés || French Songwriter(s) of the Year
- Jeremie Groleau – Uphill || Solo Instrumentalist of the Year
- Loryn Taggart – Tell Me How || Single of the Year
- Loryn Taggart – The Lost Art of Pulling Through || Solo Artist of the Year
NOVA SCOTIA
- Alan Syliboy & The Thundermakers – Marks on the Ground || Indigenous Songwriter(s) of the Year (tie)
- Lucy MacNeil – Angels Whisper || Stan Rogers Traditional Singer of the Year; Traditional Album of the Year
NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
- Rum Ragged – Gone Jiggin’ || Ensemble of the Year
and
The 2026 Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMA) will be held in Calgary, Alberta. The event will take place from April 9-12, 2026, with venues including Bella Concert Hall, the National Music Centre and the Westin Calgary, which also serves as the host hotel
The Canadian Folk Music Awards 2026 CFMA Submissions Now Open!
Early bird submissions open until June 12, 2025. Final submission deadline is July 15, 2025.
New Category for 2026! Album Artwork of the Year https://folkawards.ca/prix-awards/submission-form/
