On That Note: The JUNO Gala Awards
Posted Mar 16, 2015 08:10:21 AM.
Last Updated Jun 15, 2015 08:12:44 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Last night, I was off to check out the early award winners at the Hamilton Convention Centre.
After a week off events (JUNO Cup, et al), the Gala Dinner was a stunning array of musicians and artists recognized with the country’s top honours in achievement.
Hosted by the always-funny, sometimes-risque, but none-the-less enjoyable Jessi Cruickshank, the Gala was streamed live online. It made the jokes permissible; the cuss-words weren’t bleeped out and the delay you may have felt was probably just your router.
The evening was sprawled out over a few hours, where artists became early winners ahead of tonight’s formal broadcast. 35 of the awards were handed out; among them included RUSH‘s Allan Waters Humanitarian Award and their manager, Ray Danniels, was the recipient of the Walt Grealis Special Achievement.
It was a particularly smashing evening for Canada’s “90′s” it-girl, Kiesza, who took home two trophies last night (Dance Recording of the Year and Video of the Year for “Hideway”) and Toronto’s Magic! winning Breakthrough Group of the Year.
Fred Penner was in top-form, having received Children’s Album of the Year. In his speech he reminded us to not underestimate the impact we can have on the life of a child; he would later revel on how he’s also being asked to perform at University and College campuses across the country. One can only assume that those audiences are comprised of the kids he entertained through-out their childhood.
New Mom, LIGHTS, took home Pop Album of the Year for Little Machines which includes the giant single, “Up We Go”. In the press room, she explained that she was recording vocals when she went into labour with daughter, Rocket, and was back in the studio finishing the album just a short few days later.
The awards continue tonight. Hosted by Jacob Hoggard of Hedley, the evening promises to be big on performances with Alanis Morissette being inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame.
More winners can be found here: junoawards.ca
The broadcast kicks off tonight at 7pm, and I’ll be on-hand in the press room to grab more snapshots, and audio with a full On That Note episode this week of the night’s events.
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