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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Deh Cho residents have the chance to help ensure that one of their own makes it to the stage at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards.

Wesley Hardisty of Fort Simpson performs at this year's Open Sky Festival. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Wesley Hardisty of Fort Simpson has been nominated for an award in the category of Best Fiddle CD for his debut album 12:12.

"It's a thrill to have been nominated," said Hardisty.

Hardisty, 18, has wanted to make a CD for almost as long as he's been playing the fiddle. Five years ago he was inspired to pick up the instrument after watching one of his cousins perform in a concert with the Kole Crook Fiddle Association's instructors.

It was one of the association's instructors who suggested that maybe one day Hardisty would make a CD. Work on the project began after Hardisty moved to Salt Spring Island, B.C., in 2009 to further his musical development.

The CD took shape over the course of 2010 with support from the NWT Arts Council and Hardisty's manager, Ellie Langford Parks. The album contains 10 tracks, five of which Hardisty either wrote or co-wrote. The music itself is diverse, ranging from traditional Celtic fiddle tunes to fiddle rock funk with a lot of stops in between.

"Most of the songs were favourites of mine," he said.

Through the music selection, Hardisty said he wanted to show the music that he was doing at the time. On the CD Hardisty was joined by members of his band at the time, Geoff McFarlane and Oscar Kempe, as well as Bruce Smith, a fiddle teacher from the school he was attending, and Quinn Bachand, a guitar player Hardisty admires.

12:12, which is a personal symbol for Hardisty meaning life is good, appreciate, enjoy and make the most of it, was released in May 2011.

"We've gotten some good reviews," he said.

The first track on the CD, Gilbert's Barn Dance, reached number 18 on the National Aboriginal Music Countdown Top 40. Almost all of the 500 CDs from the original release have sold out and Hardisty recently ordered another 500 copies.

Hardisty said he will have his fingers crossed as the date for the Nov. 2 awards ceremony approaches. People can vote for Hardisty's CD by going to the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards' webpage. The deadline for votes is Sept. 3.

Hardisty has been using Facebook and his webpage to encourage people to vote for him.

"I'm really excited," said Hardisty.

"It's a big deal."

Hardisty said he hopes to release a new CD in the next year or two.

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