The 14th annual awards show and concert is the flagship event of BreakOut West and a celebration of all the aspects of western Canadian music. The awards show is enjoying a format update this year, kicking off the BreakOut West weekend instead of ending it, and rolling into a more concert-focused event with fewer award presentations and more music. The lineup features a diverse mix of western Canadian talent, including Aboriginal Artist nominees David Morin (a BC artist also nominated for Urban Artist of the Year) and William Prince (a Manitoba artist also nominated for Roots Solo Artist of the Year) as well as Yukon's Alt-folk songwriter Diyet. Francophone Artist of the Year nominee Justin Lacroix brings the funk and blues from Manitoba, while Pop Artist nominee Lexi Strate brings her glamourous, R&B-infused indie-pop from Alberta. A-capella darlings Rosie & The Riveters represent Saskatchewan's exceptional talent along with headliner Colin James, while BreakOut Artist nominee Michael Bernard Fitzgerald brings his "music to get a speeding ticket to", adding a soulful, folk troubadour sound to the mix. This year's WCMA Show is a tremendous mix of rock, pop, and country variations performed by an outstanding cross section of western Canadian musicians.

**Purchase Awards Show Tickets Here**

In addition to performing at the show, Brett Kissel will be a hosting the Awards Show event as well. The Alberta country artist is nominated for both BreakOut Artist of the Year and Country Artist of the Year, as well as his latest recording drawing a nomination for an Audio Engineering Western Canadian Music Award. The last year has been quite a breakout for Brett Kissel in many ways, with recent months amping up the love for the artist even more, evidenced by his 8 consecutive top 10 singles, and the single "Airwaves" reaching #1. He recently was presented with a gold record for his hit single "Started With A Song" after an unforgettable performance in front of a sold-out crowd in his hometown of St. Paul, AB on June 18th. The mayor of the town declared the day "Brett Kissel Day," and the artist spent the afternoon speaking to schools in the area about pursuing your passions and dreams.
 
Brett also recently performed at Fort McMurray Fire Aid benefit concert in Edmonton, contributing his share to raising millions for relief and rebuilding efforts, and taking the time to fly to Fort McMurray to see some of the devastation for himself. He headlined the CMA Global Artist Showcase in Nashville in June, wowing the audience and later being included in a songwriters in the round session at the famed Bluebird Cafe. There's even more ahead with the young artist, with an opening slot for country artist Brad Paisley on the docket prior to his hosting and performance at the Western Canadian Music Awards Show in October.

About BreakOut West:
BreakOut West is an annual gathering to celebrate, develop and support the best of western Canadian music, taking place this year in Regina, SK from October 13-16, 2016. Western Canadian artists are developing sustainable careers of national and international scope, and BreakOut West is an integral component of this development. Through the annual conference and festival, industry from around the world and western Canadian artists are given the opportunity to discover, educate, network and grow. The weekend kicks off with the Western Canadian Music Awards, showcasing the talent contained in the "left half" of Canada, and continues with the conference and publicly accessible showcases throughout the weekend.
 
Check out: The 2016 Western Canadian Music Awards Nominees