Artists From Manitoba Earn Nominations for The 2025 JUNO Awards

Posted on February 11, 2025

Artists Based in Manitoba Earn Honours in Adult Alternative, Blues, Christian/Gospel, Jazz, and Roots Categories

Artists from Manitoba are strong contenders for top honours in eight categories at The 2025 JUNO Awards. The nominees for the 54th annual awards were announced by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) on February 11.

Blues legend Big Dave McLean has earned his fifth JUNO nomination this year for Blues Album of the Year for This Old Life Big (Cordova Bay*Fontana North).

Singer/songwriter Boy Golden is a first-time JUNO nominee in 2025 for his latest album, For Eden (Six Shooter*The Orchard), in the Contemporary Roots Album of the Year category.

Guitarist and composer Jocelyn Gould has picked up her third JUNO nomination this year for Jazz Album of the Year: Solo for Portrait of Right Now (Independent), following up her 2021 win in this category.

Musician and songwriter Jordan St. Cyr has earned his second nomination for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year for his album My Foundation (Independent*The Orchard). St. Cyr won in this category in 2023.

Songwriter/producer The Secret Beach is also a first-time JUNO nominee this year for his album We were born here, what’s your excuse? (Victory Pool*The Orchard), in the Adult Alternative Album of the Year category.

Three former residents of Manitoba have also garnered JUNO nominations this year, including:

Toronto-based, Tataskweyak Cree Nation multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter and producer Sebastian Gaskin for Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year for Brown Man (Ishkōdé*Universal)
Morden-born, Ontario-based artist Loreena McKennitt for Traditional Roots Album of the Year for The Road Back Home (Live) (Independent*Universal).
Brandon-born, U.S.-based violinist James Ehnes has added to his impressive record with a nomination this year for Classical Album of the Year (solo artist) for Williams Violin Concerto No. 1; Bernstein Serenade.

Manitoba-based music company RAS Creative is represented this year with a nod for Adrian Sutherland (management) of Attawapiskat First Nation for Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year.

Winners will be announced at the 2025 JUNO Awards on March 30 from the Rogers Arena in Vancouver. For a complete list of nominees, go to junoawards.ca/2025-juno-awards-nominees.