In the seven years CTV has aired the Juno Awards from different locales across Canada, Feist’s performance at the 2005 ceremonies in Winnipeg stands out as a lasting memory for Suzanne Boyce.
Boyce, president, creative, content and channels, CTV Inc., watched as the indie sensation — awarded Best New Artist that year — stopped and restarted her performance due to technical glitches live on national television, maintaining her composure throughout.
“No one expected that to occur, and she was just phenomenal,” Boyce says. “It was so up close and personal … that was truly a moment. It still gives me chills.”
WARNER MUSIC CANADA
Originally from Burlington, Finger Eleven goes up against friends in the Rock Album of the Year category.
All eyes will be on how Feist will fare during the 37th annual Junos this weekend in Calgary — the city where the Nova Scotia-born Grammy nominee spent a great deal of her formative years — not to mention how the Alberta city reacts to the likes of Avril Lavigne, Finger Eleven, Hedley, Jully Black, Measha Brueggergosman and Michael Bublé performing and/or collecting trophies.
Céline Dion leads the Juno pack with six nods. Feist, Lavigne and Bublé follow with five each. The bulk of the trophies will be awarded during a non-televised gala on Saturday. Sunday night’s two-hour show (CTV, 8 p.m. EST in most locales) hosted by comedian Russell Peters from the city’s Pengrowth Saddledome — and simulcast on select radio stations across the country — will see seven Junos handed out.
Among this year’s highlights: An all-country musical tribute to Calgary and Alberta; hard rock trio Triumph’s induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame; and Anne Murray performing duets with Sarah Brightman and Calgarian Jann Arden.
For Black, up for two awards, it’s about the opportunity to connect with other Canadian artists, whether through the Juno Cup hockey tournament, on stage during a Songwriter’s Circle or any number of informal gatherings.
“It’s like a big family reunion,” adds Rick Jackett, guitarist for nominees Finger Eleven. “It’s funny: We’re nominated in the Rock Album of the Year category, the guys in Pride Tiger, The Saint Alvia Cartel and Sum 41 are good friends of ours. So being good buddies, we’re all joking that, ‘Well, now we’re all rivals until they give us an award.’”
