Canadian talent honoured in the capital

34 JUNO AWARDS PRESENTED TO THE YEAR'S TOP MUSICAL ARTISTS AT THE 2012 JUNO GALA DINNER & AWARDS

OTTAWA, March 31, 2012 /CNW/ - It was a night of big wins and even bigger talent as 1600 Canadian music industry elite gathered to toast thirty-four JUNO Award winners at the 2012 JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards. Hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, the evening's festivities at the Ottawa Convention Centre also featured performances by a spectacular lineup of 2012 JUNO Award nominees and winners, as well as unforgettable tributes to some of the most influential names in Canadian music.

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS AT THE 2012 JUNO GALA DINNER & AWARDS, INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES AND IMAGES, GO TO WWW.JUNOAWARDS.CA. 

The evening got off to a brilliant start with a performance by 2012 JUNO Award nominee Lights, followed by the first-ever presentation of the JUNO Award for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year, given to KEN mode for their album VENERABLE.

Guests at the performance-packed gala also enjoyed numbers by two first-time JUNO Award winners: Dan Mangan, who took home the award for Alternative Album of the Year (sponsored by Long & McQuade), and The Wailin' Jennys, who won in the category Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Group. Additional performances throughout the evening included songs by 2012 JUNO Award nominees Oliver Jones (with Dave Young and Jim Doxas) and Lindi Ortega.

The Sheepdogs were one of the big winners of the night, snagging two JUNO Awards for New Group of the Year (sponsored by FACTOR and Radio Starmaker Fund) and Rock Album of the Year (sponsored by Recording Artists' Collecting Society - A Division of ACTRA). Other JUNO Award winners from the evening include: Arkells (Group of the Year); Feist (Adult Alternative Album of the Year, Music DVD of the Year); Hedley (Pop Album of the Year, sponsored by TD Bank Group); Drake (Rap Recording of the Year) and Melanie Fiona (R&B/Soul Recording of the Year).

Additional highlights included a special tribute to music industry veteran and philanthropist Gary Slaight, who was presented with the 2012 Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award by 2012 JUNO Award nominee Sam Roberts. Later in the evening, Montreal pop-punk band Simple Plan was honoured with the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award for their work through the Simple Plan Foundation, which has donated more than $750,000 to youth-focused charities since 2005. The band will perform their song "Summer Paradise" in collaboration with K'Naan on The 2012 JUNO Awards Broadcast tomorrow night.

The gala came to a close with an unforgettable performance by local Ottawa blues trio MonkeyJunk, who also celebrated their first JUNO Award win for Blues Album of the Year (sponsored by Galaxie, Your Musical Universe) right in their hometown.

Seven remaining JUNO Award categories will be announced tomorrow, Sunday, April 1, during the broadcast on CTV from Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, hosted by Canadian icon William Shatner. The 2012 JUNO Awards Broadcast airs LIVE in Ontario, Québec and Atlantic Canada at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. AT; at 8 p.m. in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba; and at 9 p.m. in Alberta.

Sponsors of the 2012 JUNO Awards include FACTOR, Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters and The Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage's "Canada Music Fund," Radio Starmaker Fund, National Capital Commission (NCC), Province of Ontario, City of Ottawa and TD Bank Group.

Broadcast sponsors of THE 2012 JUNO AWARDS are Chevrolet, Garnier, Rogers and TD Bank Group.

About CARAS:
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/L'académie canadienne des arts et des sciences de l'enregistrement (CARAS) is a not-for-profit organization created to preserve and enhance the Canadian music industry and to contribute toward higher artistic and industry standards. The main focus of CARAS is the exploration and development of ongoing opportunities to showcase and promote Canadian artists and music through vehicles such as The JUNO Awards and other year-round initiatives. For more information on the 41st Annual JUNO Awards or The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' (CARAS) website please visit www.junoawards.ca or www.carasonline.ca.

Media Contacts:
Adrienne Kakoullis, Holmes Creative Communications, [phone], [email protected]
Anne Vranic, Holmes Creative Communications, [phone], [email protected]m