Manitoba Roots Acts Dominate Juno Awards

Chic Gamine has continued Manitoba's domination of the roots category at the Juno Awards.The quintet picked up the award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year (Group) for its self-titled debut at the 2009 JUNO Awards Gala & Dinner on March 28 in Vancouver. The band joins recent winners Nathan, The Duhks, and The Wailin' Jennys who won in 2008, 2006, and 2005, respectively. The Duhks were also nominated this year in the roots category for Fast Paced World, along with Twilight Hotel for Highway Prayer.

Chic Gamine wasn't the only Manitoba act to pick up hardware at this year's festivities. Country rock stars Doc Walker landed the award for Country Recording of the Year for its latest release, Beautiful Life.

Expats also did well this year, with DJ Brace taking Instrumental Album of the Year for Nostomania, released on Winnipeg-based electronic label Balanced Records. Brandon-born violinist James Ehnes won for Classical Album of the Year: Solo or Chamber Ensemble for his album, Homages. 

Most awards are handed out at the invite-only gala dinner the night before the main event, televised on CTV on March 29.

Keep up-to-date on the Juno festivities by following Manitoba Music on Twitter.