The marathon of Félix awards began on Oct. 24, 2018, with the Premier Gala de l’ADISQ, as well as the Industry Gala, in Montréal, where a total of 41 trophies were handed out.
Among the winning SOCAN members was, of course, rap sensation and winner of the 2018 Prix de la chanson SOCAN, Loud, who walked away with the Most Successful Artist Outside of Québec Award. He recently won the Breakthrough and Urban Music honours at the Montréal SOCAN Awards Gala and, during his winner speech at ADISQ, he thanked SOCAN for its support during the past year.
Hubert Lenoir, co-winner of the 2018 SOCAN Montréal Gala’s Breakthrough Award, won the ADISQ Album of the Year, and the Critic’s Choice Award for his superb Darlène. Philippe Brach won Album of the Year – Alternative for Le silence des troupeaux and Galaxie won Album of the Year – Rock.
Arcade Fire’s latest album, Everything Now, won the band the award for Album of the Year – Anglophone, and The Barr Brothers won Concert of the Year – Anglophone. Jordan Officer’s Three Rivers was chosen as Album of the Year – Jazz, and the musician also gave a performance during the ADISQ gala, which was televised on Télé-Québec. On the folk side of things, Tire le coyote won his first Félix for Désherbage, while Pierre Kwenders won Album of the Year – World Music for Makanda, at the End of Space, the Beginning of Time. Yoan won the same prize in the country music category for Depuis longtemps, and Martin Lizotte walked away with the trophy in the instrumental category for Ubiquité. The Félix in the roots category went to De Temps Antan, a first award for the band.
In addition to Jordan Officer, several SOCAN members performed during the Premier Gala, hosted by Marie-Mai and Yann Perreau: there was a beautiful duet by Beyries and Gabrielle Shonk, an energizing song by Émile Bilodeau, an uptempo Latin number by Boogat, Dumas’ irresistible dance groove, as well as Mara Tremblay’s luminous performance.
This 40th annual celebration of Québec’s music industry will conclude Oct. 28 with the televised Gala, which will once again be hosted by comedian Louis-José Houde, and broadcast on ICI Radio-Canada Télé, live from the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier of Place des Arts.
For a complete list of the Premier Gala and Industry gala winners, visit the ADISQ website.