MECHANIC FALLS – Cowboy boots and hats may be tools of a trade out West, but in Maine they identify the dyed-in-the-wool country-western music fan or performer.

The Silver Spur, a popular Central Maine country-western music hall, was filled with hats, boots, flashy shirts and fancy dresses Saturday afternoon. It was the 26th annual awards show of the Downeast Country Music Association.

“This was a wonderful production that they all put on today,” said Jackie Harmon of Limerick, DECMA president. “The talent this year is outstanding.”

Harmon said more than 180 acts competed for the 2006 awards. They included individuals, duets, bands, dancers and comedy acts. There was also a best-dressed category.

About 20 bands and other performers entertained the crowd. They were winners of a New England competition in 2005, as well as a national competition in Tennessee earlier this year.

DECMA trophies were presented for traditional country, bluegrass, folk and gospel with divisions for youth, veteran performers and seniors.

Winners

Dirigo Highway took top honors for Traditional Country Band of the Year. Second place went to Elizabeth Country Drifters and third went to Bobby Reed and Wild Horse.

Country Jim Palmer took honors for top solo artist of the year.

Elizabeth Country Drifters was named best vocal group.

Erin Robertshaw won best traditional country female vocalist and Barry Wood got the nod for male vocalist as well as instrumentalist of the year.

Bobbi Berracah was named best new country female vocalist. The male vocalist award in that category went to Stacy Lupo.

Other awards in traditional country were Pattie Jean Michaud, senior female vocalist and senior female entertainer, and Bobby Thibodeau, senior male vocalist.

Gary Moffett won country male entertainer.

Bill Giasson was named senior male entertainer, traditional country.

In bluegrass, Katie Delcourt took first for female youth 12 and under.

Cliff Randall won bluegrass instrumentalist of the year for youth 17-20, as well as bluegrass male vocalist and male entertainer for his age group.

Elizabeth Decker was best bluegrass female vocalist as well as top female entertainer and top new gospel entertainer.

The Snowflakes – Elizabeth and Erin – were named top bluegrass vocal duet.

Brian Wardwell took best traditional gospel male entertainer for youth 12 and under, as well as first place awards in traditional country.

Glen Weeks won best new gospel male entertainer.

Top gospel female entertainer went to Pam Carpenter and the male award went to Del Parker.

New gospel vocal duet of the year was Amie Bailey and Melissa French.

Wings and Prayers was named best gospel group.

In Judge’s Choice awards, Erin Robertshaw was named most promising and the DECMA Horizon Award went to Travis Pinkham. He was also traditional country male entertainer, youth 13-16. The female award went to Kayla Wass.

Magan Taliger took the youth 13-16 award for new country female entertainer. Christopher Frost won the male award in that category.

Other winners included Katie Danforth, Leanne Arsenault, Matthew Thomas, Kimberly Reed, Katie York, Ashley Rood, Michael Thomas and Chassie McKeen.

Best country vocal duo/duet went to Pattie Jean and Teresa Seavey. Best new country duo was Potpourri, consisting of Connie Fletcher and Brenda Bond.

Randy and Travis Pinkham were best duo, mixed age, in traditional country.

Jason Muchemore won new country instrumentalist.

Comedy honors went to “Petunia.”

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