October 21, 2008

By By Robert Thompson, Toronto

Winnipeg's The Weakerthans were the big winners when the Western Canadian Music Awards were handed out Monday night in Edmonton.
The literate rockers, who have been touring to support their "Reunion Tour" album, took home awards for outstanding independent album, songwriter of the year, and video of the year.

The awards are given to artists from the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon across 19 categories.

Other acts winning awards include Paul Brandt, who took him the outstanding country recording award for his album "Risk," and Vancouver's State of Shock, who won the outstanding rock recording award for their album "Life, Love and Lies."

Other recipients include Feist, k.d. lang and Nickelback as international achievement winners, while Vancouver folkies Spirit of the West and Senator Tommy Banks were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The full list of winners can be found here.

Subscribe to Billboard magazine today!