Aboriginal Music Program

MANITOBA HEADS TO THE JUNOS

March 26, 2009

Vancouver is about to get a taste of Manitoba’s legendary hospitality with a special celebration of Manitoba music during the 2009 JUNO Awards street party in Vancouver on March 29. Presented by Manitoba Film & Music, Manitoba Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport, and Manitoba Music, the event will feature performances by 2009 Juno nominees Doc Walker, Tracy Bone, Billy Joe Green, and Big Dave McLean, showcasing some of the great talent coming from our province. With 11 nominations, this year marks Manitoba’s strongest showing in Juno history.

Three Manitoba bands are strong contenders for the top prize in the Roots & Traditional Album of the Year (Group) category this year, solidifying Manitoba’s reputation for great roots music. This year’s contenders include soulful roots music outfit Chic Gamine for its self-titled debut, genre-defying roots act The Duhks for Fast Paced World, and Americana duo Twilight Hotel for Highway Prayer.

Hometown talent is also leading in the Aboriginal Album of the Year category, landing three nominations this year. Nominees include country chanteuse Tracy Bone and her Western Canadian Music Award-winning debut, No Lies, on Winnipeg-based Aboriginal music label, Arbor Records. Also nominated are fellow Arbor act, hip-hop outfit Team Rezofficial and its release The World (And Everything In It), and blues man Billy Joe Green for his latest release, First Law of the Land, on local label StrongFront Records.

Fresh from September’s sweep of the Canadian Country Music Awards, country rock trio Doc Walker is up for Country Recording of the Year for Beautiful Life. Composers T. Patrick Carrabré and Sid Robinovitch are nominated for Classical Composition of the Year for From the Dark Reaches and Song of Songs, respectively. Paquin Entertainment’s Gilles Paquin, with Joan Prowse, is up for Music DVD of the Year for Buffy Sainte-Marie’s A MultiMedia Life. Winnipeg blues legend Big Dave McLean and his release, Acoustic Blues – Got ‘Em From The Bottom, is up for Blues Album of the Year.

Former Winnipegger DJ Brace is up for Instrumental Album of the Year for Nostomania, released by Winnipeg-based electronic label Balanced Records. Brandon-born violinist James Ehnes is up for Classical Album of the Year: Solo or Chamber Ensemble for his album, Homages. Expat Christian rock band Starfield is nominated for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year for its latest release, I Will Go.

Audiences will have plenty of chances to catch some Manitoba music during the Juno weekend events. The line-up for JunoFest, the music festival that runs March 27 and 28 in various Vancouver venues, includes Doc Walker, Tracy Bone, Twilight Hotel, Billy Joe Green, Big Dave McLean, Ridley Bent, Inward Eye, and Quinzy. Eagle & Hawk's Vince Fontaine and Jay Bodner will once again lace up their skates for the Juno Cup hockey game, while Doc Walker will take part in the Songwriters' Circle and Juno Fan Fare events.

Award winners will be announced at the JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards on March 28, and the 2009 JUNO Awards broadcast on CTV on March 29.

2009 JunoFest – Manitoba Showcases

FRIDAY, MARCH 27
Inward Eye @ Bourbon Street, 50 Cordova St. - 10pm
Twilight Hotel @ Doolins, 654 Nelson St. - 11pm
Doc Walker @ Shark Club 180, Georgia Street West - 12am
Ridley Bent @ Shark Club 180, Georgia Street West - 1am
Billy Joe Green @ The Yale Hotel, 1300 Granville St - 1am

SATURDAY, MARCH 28
Quinzy @ Pub 340, 340 Cambie St. - 10pm
Tracy Bone @ The Yale Hotel, 1300 Granville St - 11pm
Big Dave McLean @ The Yale Hotel, 1300 Granville St - 12am

2009 JUNO Awards – Manitoba Nominees

ABORIGINAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Billy Joe Green - First Law of the Land
Tracy Bone - No Lies
Team Rezofficial - The World (And Everything In It)

COUNTRY RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Doc Walker - Beautiful Life

CLASSICAL COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR
T. Patrick Carrabré - From The Dark Reaches
Sid Robinovitch - Songs of Songs

ROOTS & TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (GROUP)
Chic Gamine -Chic Gamine
The Duhks - Fast Paced World
Twilight Hotel - Highway Prayer

BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Big Dave McLean - Acoustic Blues – Got ‘Em From The Bottom

MUSIC DVD OF THE YEAR
Gilles Paquin, Joan Prowse - A MultiMedia Life (Buffy Sainte-Marie)

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