MusicNL is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2025 Honorary Awards!

Each year, the MusicNL Board of Directors selects recipients who have made outstanding contributions to Newfoundland and Labrador’s music industry for three honorary awards: Lifetime Achievement Award, Denis Parker Industry Builder Award, and the Unsung Hero Award.

Nominations closed on Friday, September 19 and today, November 7th, we’re pleased to announce the 2025 Honorary Award Winners:

Lifetime Achievement: Dave Panting

Dave Panting is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, composer and producer, and a founding member of two of Atlantic Canada’s most influential bands — Figgy Duff and Rawlins Cross. For more than four decades, he has stood at the creative forefront of Newfoundland and Labrador’s music community, shaping its sound through performance, songwriting, and production.

In addition to his work with these pillar bands, Dave has performed and recorded with Panting Brothers Band, Tanglecove, Cotillion, and Panting & Boland, alongside numerous solo projects, session work and producer credits. His songs, rooted in tradition yet forward-looking, helped define Rawlins Cross’s signature Celtic-rock sound.

A passionate educator and mentor, he has taught at programs such as Vinland Music Camp, inspiring generations to explore the province’s instrumental traditions and incorporate modern expression. 

MusicNL proudly congratulates Dave Panting on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, honouring his enduring legacy and lifelong contribution to Newfoundland and Labrador’s musical heritage.

Denis Parker Industry Builder: June Hiscock

June Hiscock is a tireless champion of Newfoundland and Labrador’s live music community and one of the province’s most influential independent promoters of the 1990s.

June became a driving force behind St. John’s vibrant scene at a time when information about live performances was hard to come by. Through her company Moonlighting Promotions, June created the iconic Moonlighting posters — colourful, city-wide listings connecting audiences with live shows across St. John’s. Each week June tirelessly phoned every music venue in the city and compiled their listings on posters, connecting audiences and artists, and building a connected music scene. She also produced a series of zines featuring interviews and profiles of local artists, capturing the energy of a growing scene.

In 1993, she launched Wom/men Jammin’, a groundbreaking weekly showcase that featured women as the main acts and invited men to join the open jam. The series ran throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, giving voice and visibility to women in what was then a male-dominated scene. Many well-known performers, including Colleen Power, credit June’s encouragement for their start on stage and trace their first public performances back to those nights at The Ship.

June also provided opportunities behind the scenes, hiring young musicians to help with shows, promoting their gigs, and mentoring them. Her generosity, enthusiasm, and belief in the power of a connected scene inspired a generation of artists and contributed immeasurably to the foundation of the local industry. 

Today, June lives in Burgeo and continues a life of service and connection, serving as the community’s Harbourmaster. Her Moonlighting posters—a cherished record of St. John’s musical life—are archived at Memorial University.

MusicNL proudly honours June Hiscock with the Denis Parker Industry Builder Award for her vision, community spirit, and enduring impact on the province’s cultural history.

Unsung Hero: Paul Boomer Stamp

Paul “Boomer” Stamp has sat in the background of many venues, holding the band together with his incredible timing both musically and comedically. While he has certainly played with many of the greats during his career, he has always preferred to let his playing do the talking. Never one to seek the limelight or recognition, he is foremost a proud musician — a drummer’s drummer — one who could play any kit, anytime, anywhere, with any artist.

For nearly 20 years, he has been the resident drummer at Spirit of Newfoundland. Regardless of age or work load, he will still play an early show at Spirit before heading downtown to play a bar gig with any number of bands. Never missing a beat or a note, Boomer gives his all every time. A member of the legendary Wonderful Grand Band, Boomer’s musicianship and comedic instincts were central to the group’s success on television and stage.

Drummer, friend, and collaborator to The Man of A Thousand Songs, Ron Hynes, Boomer was there through every step of Ron’s storied career: touring, recording, and even taking care of Ron in his final days. His extensive credits also include Huski (with Brian “Too Loud” McLeod of Chilliwack & Headpins fame), Private Eye, Snook, The Irish Descendents, John White, Brothers in Stereo, and The Punters. As a recording artist, even he might not know how many albums he’s appeared on.

In the early 2000s, the ECMA surprised him with their prestigious Musicians Achievement Award, but knowing he’d never attend to accept it, they hired him to play house drums and surprised him on stage. That’s Paul “Boomer” Stamp to a tee. Try searching for him online and you’ll find little, because he truly is a real unsung hero.

MusicNL proudly honours Paul “Boomer” Stamp with the Unsung Hero Award, recognizing his decades of quiet excellence, generosity, skill, and unwavering dedication as the steady heartbeat of Newfoundland and Labrador’s musical community.

For more info on the awards, visit our Honorary Awards page here or read the press release here.