Manitoba Aboriginal Artists Land Two Nods for 2013 JUNO Awards

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Aboriginal recording artists from Manitoba continue to rack up the accolades, landing two nominations for the 2013 JUNO Awards. The nominees for the 42nd annual awards were announced by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) in Toronto early on February 19, streamed live on CTV’s website.

Acclaimed singer/songwriter Don Amero has been nominated for Aboriginal Album of the Year for his latest album, Heart on My Sleeve. A first time Juno nominee, Amero is no stranger to awards; he already has hardware for the Canadian Folk Music Awards, Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, and Western Canadian Music Awards. 

Genre-defying outfit Burnt - Project 1 has picked up its third Juno nod in the Aboriginal category, this time for The Black List. The band's debut, The Avenue, was nominated in 2004 and its sophomore effort, Hometown, won for Aboriginal Recording of the Year in 2006.

Aboriginal artists from Manitoba have had a strong presence since country rockers C-Weed landed a nod in the Aboriginal category in 2001 and rock act Eagle & Hawk won in 2002. In the last decade alone, Manitoba artists have picked up 13 nominations in the Aboriginal category, including three more nods for Eagle & Hawk; two each for bluesman Billy Joe Green and folk act Little Hawk; and nods for country chanteuse Tracy Bone and rock band Bruthers of Different Muthers (BODM). The impressive showing at the Junos is a testament to the strength, talent, and diversity of Manitoba's Aboriginal artists and community.   

Many of the Juno-nominated Aboriginal artists from Manitoba -- including Don Amero, Eagle & Hawk, and Tracy Bone -- have participated in Manitoba Music's professional and market development programs and Aboriginal Music Program over the years, including funding support to access new markets at key industry events through the Market Access Program, which is jointly funded by Manitoba Music and Manitoba Film & Music. Manitoba Music’s programs and services are made possible by the generous support of the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, FACTOR, Manitoba Film & Music, and members of the music industry of Manitoba.

Brandon-born violinist James Ehnes is a double nominee this year, for Classical Album of the Year: Solo or Chamber Ensemble for Bartók: Works for Violin and Piano,  Vol. 1 and Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment for Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto.

Winners will be announced at the JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards on April 20, and the 2013 JUNO Awards broadcast on CTV on April 21, hosted by Michael Bublé.

For a complete list of 2013 JUNO Awards nominees, go to junoawards.ca.

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