5 acts to watch for at the 2014 MusicNL awards

The nominees for the 2014 MusicNL awards were released earlier this week, and includes some a number of acts to watch out for.

Some familiar names are included in this year's list of nominees but there's also some fresh talent from the province included.

Jen Winsor with MusicNL said she's keeping her eye on five groupsin particular.

Each of those groups received five nominations, and they are also the five nominees for the Socan Songwriter of the Year Award.

Brianna Gosse

The singer-songwriter has played a number of shows around the province, but only just released her debut album,AERA in July. Gosse was accepted to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. She worked with fellow musician and MusicNL winner Chris Kirby to create her 10-song album.

The Once

This folk trio hasbeen performing together for years across Canada, but this year departed for a tour across the U.K., Europe and North America with Passenger. They're won Canadian Folk Music Awards, been named Newfoundland and Labrador Art Council's Artists of the Year and have been nominated for a Juno.

RocketRocketShip

This pop-rock group from St. John's released their first album,Your Best Kept Secret in 2012, which was followed up by their second album, Shake It Off in May 2014. The band has been touring across Canada since they originally formed in 2009. They won MusicNL's Pop/Rock Band of the Year award in 2013.

Sherman Downey and the Ambiguous Case

This roots-rock band has been steadily gaining momentum since their 2010 debut album,Honey for Bees was released. The band followed up their success with their sophomore album, The Sun In Your Eyes, in 2013. Sherman Downey and the Ambiguous Case were the winners of the CBC Searchlight Competition in 2013. Three-thousandacts from across Canada entered the competition.

Steve Maloney and the Wandering Kind

This folk/alternative act based out of St. John's released its debut self-titled LP in 2014. The band hit the road this month, forsome tour dates across Canada. The group received praise from local and Canadian critics alike, and have wowed crowds at their lives shows.

MusicNL week begins in St. John's on Oct. 20, and then moves to Corner Brook on Oct. 23.

The winners will be announced at the Awards Gala in Corner Brook on Sunday, Oct. 26.