To the musicians who perform, present and are honoured at the Junos, the annual event is more than just an awards show — it’s a yearly reunion.
The celebration, which is being held in Vancouver this weekend, spans four days and allows emerging local artists to mingle with the country’s best.
“It’s an excuse to gather the tribe, to get everyone in one place together for some kind of purpose,” Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy told Metro Vancouver on Thursday.
“It’s about celebrating another year in the music biz, which is a difficult life and a fun life.”
Cuddy said the diversity of events, including dozens of concerts and an NHLers-versus-musicians hockey game, give musicians another reason to come and spend the weekend.
As many as 20,000 people are expected to pack Granville Street’s entertainment district Friday and Saturday for a free street party while 100 artists are performing at venues across the city Friday night and Saturday night as part of Juno celebrations.
“It’s not just coming and just attending the TV show, we try to do something so much more. There’s the songwriter’s circle, which is a beautiful thing, there’s jamming suites at night,” said Cuddy.
“Everybody gets together, and this is the only time we have to get together.”
