Local music scene’s biggest stars, boosters honoured at awards show in Oshawa, Ontario

Clad in his usual all-denim attire, the Oshawa music scene’s biggest booster was as authentic as ever when he was honoured Sunday evening as the Music Industry Leader of the Year.

Will McGuirk’s long-deserved recognition was part of an evening of honours as Dreams! Music Awards – the successor to the long-running Oshawa Music Awards – held its annual celebration at the BOND|ST Event Centre.

For McGuirk, a music historian, writer and manager of the downtown KOPS record store, it was a trophy for just doing what he has been doing for decades – pumping the tires of local musicians in Oshawa’s thriving music scene.

“Funny to imagine getting an award for simply repeating yourself for over 30 years,” he said in his acceptance speech. “All I have been saying is invest in your young creatives. On every platform, in the paper, online, on shows, on panels, at the Kops shop, just invest in your young people. Make every floor a stage and every wall a gallery. But I just repeat myself again and again because the great city of Oshawa and the surrounding municipalities still haven’t gotten the message.”

“So on this stage then I will say again – invest in your young creatives. Book them for your civic events. Show up for their shows.”

McGuirk paid homage to several people no longer with us who paved the way, including Mike Star of Star Records “who made a place” for music in the city, John Sturrup for giving him his first byline and Al Cole, “who gave me a scene to write about.”

He also gave thanks to friends in the business who inspired him to keep on the path, including his wife Renee, “who does the real work why I go about being legendary.”

There were plenty of other prizes handed out during the first official Dreams! (Durham Regional Excellence in Arts, Music & Sound) awards show:

• Album of the Year: Golden Child by Meghan Patrick
• Song of the Year: Princess Maggie Buffalo by William James Gillespie
• Single of the Year: Airplane Bottle by Robyn Ottolini
• Band of the Year: Excuses Excuses
• Live Artist of the Year: Cuff the Duke
• Solo Artist of the Year: Alexa Goldie
• Emerging Artist of the Year: Stefan Palicki
• Songwriter of the Year: Tyler Lorette
• Music Producer of the Year: Lindsay Schoolcraft
• Music Video of the Year: Set in Stone by Alexa Goldie – directed by Andrew Scholz
• Music Venue of the Year: Biltmore Theatre
• Music Promoter of the Year: Jacob Hamayda and Diana Cerovich (Biltmore Theatre)

The event also honoured ‘Born to be Wild’ songwriter, Oshawa boy and Steppenwolf alum Mars Bonfire as the Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame Recipient.

Emceed by Najah Calibur (who performed the same duties during the Convergence Festival the day before), the event also featured performances by Aaron John, James Wilson, Will Gillespie and Lindsay Schoolcraft.