Cornerbrook, Nfld & Lab., and the East Coast Connected team are anxiously awaiting the 2009 ECMA’s - particularly the Fan’s Choice Award category. New this year, this gives fans the opportunity to nominate and vote for their favourite East Coast music act.

ECC is a great supporter of Atlantic Canada’s homegrown musical talents - and in honour of this new award category – we have compiled our favourite picks for the Fan’s Choice. While ECC enjoys rocking out to some of the region’s brilliant, but more established artists like Matt Mays and El Torpedo and The Joel Plaskett Emergency, this profile will highlight some stellar talents that probably aren’t on your iPod, but should be.

Through highly unscientific polling of ECC members, we’ve compiled a listing of some of our favourite picks for this award. Read on to learn about Atlantic Canada’s up and coming talents and some new listening material for to update your playlist.

Matt Andersen - New Brunswick's Matt Andersen has a larger than life showmanship that has been earning him a fervent and steadfast audience wherever he graces the stage. Matt's sprawling blues, roots and rock musical hybrid with his sorrowing and soulful voice has sparked a phenomenal buzz on Canada’s East Coast and that grass roots word of mouth cannot be contained any longer! Give Matt a listen at www.bustedflatrecords.com.

Slowcoaster –From Cape Breton, Slowcoaster reflects another side of the island's music scene. Known for catchy songs which are both honestly written and undeniably danceable, their music is a fusion of funk and reggae, with hints of rock, jazz, hip-hop and Latin rhythms forming a distinct original sound. Give them a listen at www.slowcoaster.ca.

Chad Tetford – Mira, N.S. native Chad Tetford has had the ECC crew rocking out to his debut album, Between US. Give him a listen at http://www.chadtetford.com/

Hey Rosetta – A great band from Newfoundland, great song writing, with an amazing sound that’s been compared to indie favourite, Broken Social Scene. http://www.heyrosetta.com/

David Myles - Nominated for three East Coast Music Awards this year, Entertainer of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Folk Recording of the Year, this Fredericton native is making his mark on the East Coast Music scene He is also eligible to win this year's Fan's Choice Award... Give him a listen at http://www.davidmyles.com/index.php?section=music.

Dave Carroll – An ECC ambassador and award winning songwriter, Carroll has made his mark as one of the two Sons of Maxwell. Carroll has struck out on his own and has just released his highly anticipated debut solo recording, Perfect Blue. Called "one of the most under rated songwriters in the country," by Paul Kennedy, CCMA Radio Personality of the Year, you can have a listen at http://www.davecarrollmusic.com/page/music-lyrics.

Mike Aube – This Windsor, N.S., based folksy singer/songwriter gives ECC the blues – in a good way. Aube is releasing his sophmore disc, "Out of Reach" in June, which follows his “Aberdeen Street” debut. Give a listen to one of ECC’s favourite tracks from this yet to be released album, “Passing Through” at http://www.myspace.com/mikeaube.

These and other great Atlantic artists can be head at www.eastcoastcountdown.com.