Manitoba Music
Winnipeg Amazes the Country at the 2005 Juno Awards
The night Winnipeg has waited for finally arrived on April 3. The 2005 Juno Awards took over the city and made a star-studded impression that will last for years to come, even for those who weren't able to snag tickets to the prestigious event.
The festivities kicked off on March 31 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre with a truly Manitoban social, featuring performances by hometown hero Randy Bachman, 2005 Juno nominees The Waking Eyes, Manitoba's first Juno winner Joey Gregorash, multiple Juno nominated country act Doc Walker, Aboriginal music legend C-Weed, and young funksters Rudimental.
On April 1, with over 120 bands in 16 venues, the two-night music extravaganza JunoFest stormed Winnipeg stages and offered audiences a chance to witness some of the best music Canada has to offer, including over 50 local acts and 21 Juno nominees. Produced by former Winnipeg Folk Festival artistic director Rick Fenton, JunoFest was a rare chance to see acts like 2005 Juno winners The Wailin' Jennys, Feist, Gordie Sampson, Nathan, Kyprios, Fresh I.E., and Kyle Riabko in an exciting event that had downtown Winnipeg buzzing until the wee hours of the morning. JunoFest created some amazing moments, like the April 2 reunion of the original Harlequin line-up at The Zoo, and showed both local music fans and international visitors what Manitoba has to offer.
Aboriginal music enjoyed a greater prominence at this year's festivities, bouyed by the Aboriginal Host Committee and Culture Minister Eric Robinson. With a special Aboriginal Youth Career Day, countless lead-up events, the highlight was the Aboriginal music showcase and honouring ceremony at the Burton Cummings Theatre on April 1, featuring performances by Alex Wells, Ray & Cathy St. Germaine, Claude McKenzie, Florent Vollant, Wanye Lavallee, Taima, Pappy Johns Band, Sierra Noble, Ryan D'Aoust, Ryan Richard, C-Weed, Eagle & Hawk, and Burnt.
Winnipeg folk trio The Wailin' Jennys captured Manitoba's sole Juno Award of 2005 with a win for Best Roots and Traditional Album (Group) for their debut album 40 Days at the Juno Gala Dinner and Awards on April 2. Most of the weekend's awards were handed out at the gala, hosted by Jann Arden, which gathered together some of the country's top industry professionals, artists, and dignitaries over a lavish dinner and reception complete with champagne and Circe de Soleil acrobats performing mind-boggling feats from ropes dangling from the ceiling. The Jennys' Ruth Moody and Nicky Mehta were joined by former bandmate Cara Luft - who left the group in the fall - in accepting the award in front of an ecstatic crowd at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. The Jennys acknowledged friends and fellow hometown nominees Nathan while thanking their label Jericho Beach, distributor Festival Records, and both MARIA and Manitoba Film & Sound at the non-televised event.
A sold-out crowd witness Songwriters' Circle host Burton Cummings lead an impressive line-up of Canada's top songwriters in an event hosted at the downtown theatre that bears his name. Other performers included Alan Doyle (Great Big Sea), Buffy Sainte-Marie, Jully Black, Dallas Green (Alexisonfire), Amanda Stott and Gordie Sampson, coming together on stage to share their songs and stories.
The 2005 Juno Awards took over Portage Avenue on April 3 with the Winnipeg Host Committee's Rock the Block party. Underneath a 10 foot Manitobamusic.com banner atop a building, Moses Mayes DJ Grant Paley got crowds excited for the coming awards while folk/pop duo Easily Amused and Aboriginal rockers Eagle & Hawk showcased more local talent.
Audiences spilled into the buzzing MTS Centre at 6:30pm and were seated for the 2005 Juno Awards telecast in front of a dazzling set of incredible colourful screens and glowing cars suspended from the arena ceiling. Hosted by comedian Brent Butt, the two and half hour ceremony featured jaw-dropping performances by Billy Talent, Sum 41, k-os, Hall of Fame inductees The Tragically Hip, Feist, Kalan Porter, Simple Plan, and k.d. lang. A barefoot lang quieted audiences with a stunning performance of Lenoard Cohen's "Hallelujah" to a standing ovation and the brought down the house with a haunting rendition of Neil Young's "Helpless" in tribute to the music legend who was unable to attend the awards due to a brain aneurysm earlier in the week. The evening ended with an unprecidented tribute to Winnipeg's music history, led by Guess Who bandmates Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings. Joined by The Wailin' Jennys, Nathan, The Waking Eyes, and Fresh I.E., they performed "Taking Care of Business" and "Share the Land" and had audiences on their feet crying and screaming. The tribute was unlike anything seen at any previous Juno celebration, showing tv audiences across the country the Manitoba is truly the centre of Canada's musical world.
Overwhelmed audiences took to the streets once again after the awards, dancing to more beats courtesy of DJ Grant Paley atop his pillared building. Breakdancers delighted onlookers, some of whom got the courage to join in the fun. Revellers ended up at various parties throughout the city, including one at the Exchange Events Centre populated by acts like Haydain Neale, Billy Talent, The Wailin' Jennys, Nathan, and some of the nation's top industry big wigs.
The 2005 Juno Awards celebration was over two years in the making, with countless people working tirelessly to bring Canada's biggest music party to a city bursting with pride in its rich musical legacy and unparalleled talent. Over 2000 volunteers helped make all the weekend's festivities work seamlessly, from the Juno Cup in Selkirk to the pandamonium of Juno Fan Fare, showcasing Winnipeg's generous spirit. The festivities united a country in four days of fun and music with a party that Winnipeg will not soon forget.
For more on the 2005 Juno Awards, please visit www.junoawards.ca
The festivities kicked off on March 31 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre with a truly Manitoban social, featuring performances by hometown hero Randy Bachman, 2005 Juno nominees The Waking Eyes, Manitoba's first Juno winner Joey Gregorash, multiple Juno nominated country act Doc Walker, Aboriginal music legend C-Weed, and young funksters Rudimental.
On April 1, with over 120 bands in 16 venues, the two-night music extravaganza JunoFest stormed Winnipeg stages and offered audiences a chance to witness some of the best music Canada has to offer, including over 50 local acts and 21 Juno nominees. Produced by former Winnipeg Folk Festival artistic director Rick Fenton, JunoFest was a rare chance to see acts like 2005 Juno winners The Wailin' Jennys, Feist, Gordie Sampson, Nathan, Kyprios, Fresh I.E., and Kyle Riabko in an exciting event that had downtown Winnipeg buzzing until the wee hours of the morning. JunoFest created some amazing moments, like the April 2 reunion of the original Harlequin line-up at The Zoo, and showed both local music fans and international visitors what Manitoba has to offer.
Aboriginal music enjoyed a greater prominence at this year's festivities, bouyed by the Aboriginal Host Committee and Culture Minister Eric Robinson. With a special Aboriginal Youth Career Day, countless lead-up events, the highlight was the Aboriginal music showcase and honouring ceremony at the Burton Cummings Theatre on April 1, featuring performances by Alex Wells, Ray & Cathy St. Germaine, Claude McKenzie, Florent Vollant, Wanye Lavallee, Taima, Pappy Johns Band, Sierra Noble, Ryan D'Aoust, Ryan Richard, C-Weed, Eagle & Hawk, and Burnt.
Winnipeg folk trio The Wailin' Jennys captured Manitoba's sole Juno Award of 2005 with a win for Best Roots and Traditional Album (Group) for their debut album 40 Days at the Juno Gala Dinner and Awards on April 2. Most of the weekend's awards were handed out at the gala, hosted by Jann Arden, which gathered together some of the country's top industry professionals, artists, and dignitaries over a lavish dinner and reception complete with champagne and Circe de Soleil acrobats performing mind-boggling feats from ropes dangling from the ceiling. The Jennys' Ruth Moody and Nicky Mehta were joined by former bandmate Cara Luft - who left the group in the fall - in accepting the award in front of an ecstatic crowd at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. The Jennys acknowledged friends and fellow hometown nominees Nathan while thanking their label Jericho Beach, distributor Festival Records, and both MARIA and Manitoba Film & Sound at the non-televised event.
A sold-out crowd witness Songwriters' Circle host Burton Cummings lead an impressive line-up of Canada's top songwriters in an event hosted at the downtown theatre that bears his name. Other performers included Alan Doyle (Great Big Sea), Buffy Sainte-Marie, Jully Black, Dallas Green (Alexisonfire), Amanda Stott and Gordie Sampson, coming together on stage to share their songs and stories.
The 2005 Juno Awards took over Portage Avenue on April 3 with the Winnipeg Host Committee's Rock the Block party. Underneath a 10 foot Manitobamusic.com banner atop a building, Moses Mayes DJ Grant Paley got crowds excited for the coming awards while folk/pop duo Easily Amused and Aboriginal rockers Eagle & Hawk showcased more local talent.
Audiences spilled into the buzzing MTS Centre at 6:30pm and were seated for the 2005 Juno Awards telecast in front of a dazzling set of incredible colourful screens and glowing cars suspended from the arena ceiling. Hosted by comedian Brent Butt, the two and half hour ceremony featured jaw-dropping performances by Billy Talent, Sum 41, k-os, Hall of Fame inductees The Tragically Hip, Feist, Kalan Porter, Simple Plan, and k.d. lang. A barefoot lang quieted audiences with a stunning performance of Lenoard Cohen's "Hallelujah" to a standing ovation and the brought down the house with a haunting rendition of Neil Young's "Helpless" in tribute to the music legend who was unable to attend the awards due to a brain aneurysm earlier in the week. The evening ended with an unprecidented tribute to Winnipeg's music history, led by Guess Who bandmates Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings. Joined by The Wailin' Jennys, Nathan, The Waking Eyes, and Fresh I.E., they performed "Taking Care of Business" and "Share the Land" and had audiences on their feet crying and screaming. The tribute was unlike anything seen at any previous Juno celebration, showing tv audiences across the country the Manitoba is truly the centre of Canada's musical world.
Overwhelmed audiences took to the streets once again after the awards, dancing to more beats courtesy of DJ Grant Paley atop his pillared building. Breakdancers delighted onlookers, some of whom got the courage to join in the fun. Revellers ended up at various parties throughout the city, including one at the Exchange Events Centre populated by acts like Haydain Neale, Billy Talent, The Wailin' Jennys, Nathan, and some of the nation's top industry big wigs.
The 2005 Juno Awards celebration was over two years in the making, with countless people working tirelessly to bring Canada's biggest music party to a city bursting with pride in its rich musical legacy and unparalleled talent. Over 2000 volunteers helped make all the weekend's festivities work seamlessly, from the Juno Cup in Selkirk to the pandamonium of Juno Fan Fare, showcasing Winnipeg's generous spirit. The festivities united a country in four days of fun and music with a party that Winnipeg will not soon forget.
For more on the 2005 Juno Awards, please visit www.junoawards.ca