Manitoba musicians absolutely cleaned up at the 2009 Western Canadian Music Awards, held Sept. 17 through 20 in Brandon, Man.

Nine Manitoba artists snagged 10 awards, four local luminaries received special honours and two industry professionals took home trophies (Paquin Entertainment Group was named best agency, while recording engineer Shawn Pierce was named top engineer at an industry brunch on Sept. 19). With a total of 16 awards won, this was Manitoba's strongest showing in the seven-year history of the awards.

In particular, it was a big night for Romi Mayes. The local roots/blues darling picked up the awards for best roots solo recording and songwriter of the year for her latest album, Achin In Yer Bones.

"I feel pretty great. I don't even know what to say," Mayes said backstage, looking bad-ass in a black dress and cowboy boots. "This is all I know how to do, and I didn't know so many people would like it. I don't have a lot of major goals in terms of fame. For me, it's about integrity. Writing good songs and being appreciated by my peers, it makes it all worth it."

Mayes also nabbed both awards in 2007 for Sweet Something Steady.

"It's much more exciting when you're actually here," she said. "When I won for Sweet Something Steady in 2007, I was in Sweden and found out in an email.

"It's blowing my mind right now."

Rap 'n' roll collective Grand Analog snagged the award for best hip hop recording for its Touch Your Toes EP. "It feels good to be recognized, especially in your home province," DJ Ofield Williams said.

Veteran bluesman Big Dave McLean won the award for best blues recording for his critically acclaimed album, Acoustic Blues: Got 'Em From The Bottom. ("Fuckin' A!" Mayes said of Dave's win backstage.) Juno-nominated composer T. Patrick Carrabré picked up the award for best classical composition for A Hammer for Your Thoughts. Singer/songwriter Daniel ROA won best francophone recording for his debut, Le nombril du monde.

Manitoba musicians also took home top honours in the independent and country categories. The Waking Eyes won best indie recording for Holding On to Whatever it Is, while Doc Walker nabbed the country trophy for Beautiful Life, which also won album of the year at the recent Canadian Country Music Awards.

The Agency Group's Ralph James accepted the awards on behalf of both the Eyes and Doc Walker.

"I hope they don't wait another three years to make a record," James said of TWE. "And Doc Walker, come on. I've been a fan of theirs for a long time. I'm not a country guy, I'm a rock guy. But they rock."

Eagle & Hawk also continued a bit of a winning streak with its latest, Sirensong. The album, which was named best Aboriginal recording, also recently won two Indian Summer Music Awards in Milwaukee, Wis.

Brandon-born violinist James Ehnes, along with Michael Bublé, received an international achievement award (Ehnes' proud mama, Barbara, accepted on his behalf), while composer Robert Turner and Paquin CEO and founder Gilles Paquin were recognized with the Heritage and Industry Builder awards, respectively.

Morden-born world-music legend Loreena McKennitt was the latest inductee into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Like her fellow Manitoba musicians, she was happy to be honoured in her home province.

"I think the place you come from shapes who you are," McKennit said backstage after an ethereal two-song performance. "You may go off somewhere and do other things, but where you came from never leaves you.

"It's unecessary, but appreciated," she added with a laugh.

Manitoba WCMA Winners

Artistic AWARDS
Aboriginal Recording of the Year
Eagle & Hawk - Sirensong

Blues Recording of the Year
Big Dave McLean - Acoustic Blues:Got 'Em From the Bottom

Christian Recording of the Year
Steve Bell - Devotion

Classical Composition of the Year
T. Patrick Carrabre - A Hammer for Your Thoughts

Country Recording of the Year
Doc Walker - Beautiful Life

Francophone Recording of the Year
Daniel ROA - Le nombril du monde

Independent Album of the Year
The Waking Eyes - Holding On To Whatever It Is

Rap and Hip Hop Recording of the Year
Grand Analog - Touch Your Toes

Roots Solo Recording of the Year
Romi Mayes - Achin In Yer Bones

Songwriter of the Year
Romi Mayes - Achin In Yer Bones

INDUSTRY AWARDS
Agency of the Year
Paquin Entertainment Group

Engineer of the Year
Shawn Pierce

HERITAGE AWARD
Robert Turner

HALL OF FAME AWARD
Loreena McKennitt

INDUSTRY BUILDER AWARD
Gilles Paquin

INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
James Ehnes