40th Annual Juno Awards

As the Junos are hosted in a new city every year, it's always exciting to hear that they are coming to a city near you. I was lucky to participate in Juno festivities two years ago while I was interning in Vancouver. Although I didn't end up going to the awards (I went to see Marianas Trench for a matinee show instead), I still managed to take part in Fanfare (meeting greats like The Stills, Sam Roberts Band and The Arkells) and take in a few shows during Fanfest. Honestly the best part about that weekend for me was just being around so much great musical talent!

This year, as the Junos were in Toronto, I tried my hardest to get media for the week, but as it turns out, that didn't happen. I was sad but I understood so I tried to find other ways to compensate for that as I still wanted to participate in Juno 2011 festivites! Luckily I was able to sign up to be a volunteer seat filler (whoohoo!) and got accepted for the position! I was stoked even though there was a good chance I wouldn't be given seats or able to see the show at all!

So on Sunday (March 27) some friends and I met up to fulfill our missions as seat fillers! The organizers ended up ushering us (approx 1000 volunteer) behind the stage where there were unused seats until they were able to determine where people were to be seated. Now we weren't talking backstage where the musicians and Drake were hanging out (haha, I wish!) we were talking BEHIND the backstage area. We were enclosed in darkness for almost two and a half hours. It was definitely a great way to make some new friends and we even managed to get #junosinthedark to trend in Toronto on Twitter!

Anyways, my friends and I managed to get tickets to the show and were no longer "volunteers". Our seats had "obstructed views" (aka a camera in the way) but we didn't care, seeing as these tickets probably would have cost us at least 80 dollars if we'd have bought them. It was honestly just an awesome feeling knowing that there was so much amazing musical talent in one building and in Toronto!

I was super stoked to be at the Junos in general so I was even more stoked that Canadian rockers Down With Webster and Hedley (my fave...yes, I'm a Hedley fan lol) were performing amongst some amazing Canadian talent. I mean it's not every day you get to share a stage with Drake, Sarah McLachlan, Jim Cuddy, Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene (to name a few).

Now I have no idea what the sound was like on Television (we all know that it can sound effed up on TV), but it was incredible to be at the ACC and listening to them perform. Every single performer brought a different, unique perspective to Canadian music and it was great to be able to hear different genres.

Probably one of my favourite moments was when Shania Twain was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. I have been a big (and by big I really mean HUGE) fan of Shania since I was 10-years-old. I have had every single cd, was a part of her fan club - I'm not joking - and even begged and pleaded my mom to take me to the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) when I was young so we could go and see her. It's crazy to see a beauatiful woman from the small town of Timmins Ontario grow to be the top selling female singer in music history! I can't wait to read her new biography coming out soon or to hear what she comes up with next in new music!

Anyways it was definitely a long day but it was totally worth it in the end! A shoutout to Freda and crew who organized the volunteers! I had a lot of fun and it was great to experience one of Canada's top music events of the year!

Here are some of the major winners:

Best Album of the Year:
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Artist of the Year:
Neil Young

Group of the Year:
Arcade Fire

New Artist of the Year:
Meaghan Smith

New Group of the Year:
Said the Whale

Country Album of the Year:
Johnny Reid - A Place Called Love

Pop Album of the Year:
Justin Bieber - My World 2.0

Rock Album of the Year:
Matthew Goode - Vancouver

Video of the Year:
Kyle Davidson - Perfect (Hedley)

Electronic Album of the Year:
Caribou

Fan`s Choice Award:
Justin Bieber

Junos 2011: Juno Cup and Junofest!

As the Juno's draw closer, more information is being released about all the amazing festivities that will be happining in and around Toronto! Information on the Juno Cup and Junofest was recently released and it's looking to be an exciting time!

Juno Cup

As we all know, the Juno Cup is a traditional aspect of the Juno Awards no matter which city the festivities are in. It's a battle between NHL Greats and Canada's great musical talents in a showdown to see who can beat who. While combining Canada's two favourite past-times, music and hockey, it's also in support of MusiCounts, Canada's education charity associated with CARAS. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca and run for $19.75 a person or a family pack is available with six tickets for $99.00.

Check out below who you'll be able to see hit the ice on Friday, March 25th.


Canadian Rockers

Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo), Andrew Scott (Sloan), Barney Bentall, Brad Keller (Creaking Tree String Quartet), Brian Kobayakawa (Creaking Tree String Quartet), Bryan Crouch (Hail the Villain), Chris Murphy (Sloan), Classified, DJ Mike Boyd (Classified), Dustin Bentall, George Canyon, Greg Millson (Great Lake Swimmers), Jay Bodner (Eagle & Hawk), Jon Gallant (Billy Talent), Johnny Max (Johnny Max Band), Kathleen Edwards, Kevin Parent, Menno Versteeg (Hollerado), Mike Belitsky (The Sadies), Paul Aucoin (The Hylozoists), Peter Kesper (NQ Arbuckle), Rob Higgins (Dearly Beloved), Ron MacLean (Hockey Night In Canada), Sean Dean (The Sadies), Sarah Harmer, Tyler Armes (Down With Webster), Vince Fontaine (Eagle & Hawk)

The Amazing NHL Hockey Greats
 
Mark Napier, Brad Dalgarno, Curtis Joseph, Derek King, Gary Leeman, Gary Roberts, Mike Pelyk, Paul Coffey, Russ Courtnall, Troy Crowder, Valeri Bure

JunoFest allows the majority of music fans to experience some of the incredible talent that normally doesn't get heard and is 100 per cent Canadian.It's an event held over two days with over 100 bands and over 20 venues. With the purchase of one wristband ($36.50) it'll give you two unlimited days of great music! While there are still plenty of bands to be announced, here are some of the ones I believe you should check out!!

Said the Whale (saw them in Vancity for the Junos in 2009 - definitely a great one to see!)

Bedouin Soundclash (who doesn't love them?)

Saint Alvia

The Johnstones (these boys are a hoot!)

Okay so those are just a few but it was also JUST confirmed that CITY AND COLOUR will be headlining the Block Party, which is a kickoff to the amazing events!! City and Colour was recently featured on a Valentine's episode of CW's popular One Tree Hill. This is very exciting news!