Josh Mills
Saint Catharines, Ontario, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2000 | SELF
Music
Press
Niagara's music scene endured a wet and windy night to throw itself a party Tuesday.
Rain and a late September chill couldn't deny the eighth annual Niagara Music Awards, held outdoors at Taps Brewery in downtown Niagara Falls. Rockers, folkies and headbangers alike gathered to celebrate a local music scene which leaves co-organizer Todd Brown in awe.
“We're spoiled,” he says. “I can't listen to anything else. I could just sit and listen to Niagara music all day long. It really is that great.”
And it's growing. Brown says more than 40 new artists submitted work for this year's awards, some getting multiple nominations. -
Veteran Niagara-on-the-Lake musician Steve Goldberger and St. Catharines folk rockers Odds & Ends lead the way for the eighth annual Niagara Music Awards.
Goldberger, one of the region's busiest guitarists with his band the Niagara Rhythm Section, is up for eight awards, including Album and Songwriter of the Year.
"I can say it's always a thrill to have one's work acknowledged by our peers," says Goldberger, who performs regularly at the Old Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Newcomers Odds & Ends are close behind with seven nominations, including Folk Artist and New Group of the Year. The trio of Ariella Aburto, Jay Falone and Pat Shea were "thrilled" to get the news Thursday.
"Being a musician or a vocalist feels very vulnerable most of the time," says Aburto. "You're constantly putting your heart and soul out there with very little feedback."
"These nominations tell me that we're doing something right, and that sticking with Niagara and nurturing the wonderful artistic scene we have here is what we need to keep doing."
Rugged Niagara Falls group The Rob Graham Band got news of their three nominations just over a week before they release their debut album, Welcome to Earth. The band is up for Rising Star, Original Song and Songwriter of the Year. "We are very, very happy and excited about the nominations," says Graham. "We worked very hard this year to step it up."
Among other multiple nominees are Celtic rockers Mudmen with five, synthpop band Glass Apple Bonzai with five, metal band Crutch with four, acoustic singer Sarah Boulton with four and progressive rockers Road Waves with four.
Welland singer Jessica Wilson says she entered the awards in previous years with no luck, but ended up with two nominations this year for Female Vocalist and Songwriter of the Year.
"So many incredible people get nominated every year and I am so flattered," she says. "Just shows to never give up on something you really want."
Nominees had to wait much later than usual this year because of a change in the submission process. With the usual $10 entry fee waived, more than double the usual submissions poured in.
"It was an amazing amount of entries in almost every category, and so much talent," says Niagara Music Awards co-organizer Todd Brown. "It really blew us away. For example, more than 40 artists submitted for Best Original Song."
The only category without enough submissions for an award this year was Electronic Dance Music.
This year's awards will be handed out Sept. 29 at Taps Brewery in downtown Niagara Falls.
2015 Niagara Music Award Nominees:
Album of the Year:
A Book for Wanderers
Kayd
Glass Apple Bonzai
Mudmen
Road Waves
Sarah Boulton
Scott Harvey
Steve Goldberger
Adult Contemporary Artist:
Battered Egos
Jamie Derek Moore
Sarah Boulton
Country Artist:
Jamie Derek Moore
MJ Laflair
Steve Goldberger
Engineer:
Alejandro Del Pino
Glass Apple Bonzai
Steve Goldberger
Thomas Weller
Female Vocalist:
Ashlynne Vince
Blindside Incentive
Kayd
Gail Davidson
Jessica Wilson
Ladee Lirix
Mel Monaco
Odds & Ends
Sammy Morelli
Under the Red
Folk Artist:
Odds & Ends
Thomas Weller
Sarah Boulton
Heavy Metal Artist
Blindside Incentive
Crutch
Hip Hop Artist:
Deeze
Lady Larix
Jae Ari
Instrumental Artist:
Alejandro Del Pino
Bryan Sorensen
Jamie Derek Moore
Zach Preston
Zac Tiessen
Jazz Artist:
Gail Davidson
Road Waves
Male Vocalist:
A Book for Wanderers
Josh Mills
Glass Apple Bonzai
Steve Goldberger
New Artist:
Bryan Sorensen
Christian Distefano
Deeze
Josh Mills
Ladee Lirix
Thomas Weller
Visca
New Group:
Blind Side Intersection
Left in Line
Odds & Ends
Road Waves
Tides
Under the Red
Original Group:
Blame the Neighbour
Blindside Incentive
Mudmen
Odds & Ends
Under the Red
Original Song:
Agatha Lafay
Bryan Sorensen
Mudmen
Odds & Ends
Rob Graham Band
Sammy Morelli
Steve Goldberger
Steve Goldberger w/ Tim Hicks
Victoria K
Producer:
Crutch
Glass Apple Bonzai
Steve Goldberger
Progressive Rock:
Battered Egos
Blind Side Incentive
Jah Cordphones
Left in Line
Promoter:
Eric Dickson (Indoor Shoes)
Rafik Guirguis
Rising Star:
Christian Distefano
Ladee Lyrix
Mel Monaco
Odds & Ends
Rob Graham Band
Swisshop Styles
Tides
Zac Tiessen
Rock Artist:
Back in the Daze
Blame the Neighbour
A Book for Wanderers
Crutch
Road Waves
Tides
Under the Red
Songwriter of the Year:
A Book for Wanderers
Glass Apple Bonzai
Jessica Wilson
Josh Mills
Mudmen
Odd & Ends
Rob Graham Band
Sammy Morelli
Sarah Boulton
Steve Goldberger
Unsung Hero (community recognition)
Bunnie Brandt
Darrell Spilchuck
Eric Conlon
Kyle Whittaker
John Navarolli
Venue:
The Sanctuary (Ridgeway)
Taps (Niagara Falls)
Video:
Crutch
Jae Ari
Mel Monaco
Visca
World Music:
Mudmen
Zach Preston - Niagara Falls Review
There’s a new star intern and he’s singing country karaoke. -
Discography
From the Heart
The debut album from Josh Mills
To be released Spring 2016Photos
Bio
Hear the music of Josh Mills, and you will immediately feel the passion behind his words. Between his laid-back personality, his unexpectedly distinct voice and his highly relatable song writing style, it is no wonder audiences connect with the very first listen. His sardonic humour and discerning observations, combined with his openhearted singing style have earned Josh a loyal following.
A songwriter from the heart, Josh has a flair for writing songs that leave listeners moved by the truth and raw emotion in them. Although his roots are placed in contemporary gospel music, he draws inspiration from the greats, including John Prine, Johnny Cash, Blue Rodeo and Jeff Healey.
Music is not a new passion for Josh. As a child with a busy single father, Josh was handed an $80 guitar and a ‘learn-to-play’ book. Attending gospel events with his dad, along with church every Sunday, Josh’s initial propensity for his story-telling style was planted.
As rhythm guitarist and vocals for his band, or as a solo artist, Josh has been providing audiences with high quality live entertainment for more than 15 years at events like the Fort Erie Friendship Festival, the Niagara Wine Festival and countless charity/fundraising events. A very family and community-oriented individual, Josh sites ‘an internal need’ to share his music. “Music is the only universal language - it is understood worldwide. Having the opportunity to share my story this way feeds my soul and clears my mind” says Josh.
Josh ended 2015 on a high note by winning Best New Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year at the Niagara Music Awards.
Josh lives in the picturesque Niagara Region in Southern Ontario, surrounded by the adoration and love of his four boys, aged 2 to 20. He is eager and ready to take his music to the next level and share it with a broader listening audience.
Band Members
Links
