Metric and The Weeknd Among Big Winners at 2013 JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards

- 35 JUNO AWARDS PRESENTED TO MUSIC INDUSTRY'S TOP TALENT -

REGINA, April 20, 2013 /CNW/ - The stars aligned in the Prairies as 1,150 Canadian music industry members gathered to toast 35 JUNO Award winners at the 2013 JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards. Hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, the evening's festivities at Regina's Credit Union Eventplex also featured performances by a spectacular lineup of 2013 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 2013 JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards, including biographies and images, go to www.junoawards.ca. 

The celebration got off to a stirring start with a country medley featuring four 2013 JUNO Award nominees: Dean Brody with Colin James, Donny Parenteau, and Kira Isabella.

It was a night of many milestones, including the first-ever presentation of the JUNO Award for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year to The Tenors for LEAD WITH YOUR HEART. Meanwhile, multiple 2013 nominee, Carly Rae Jepsen, closed the show by winning her first JUNO Award for Pop Album of the Year (sponsored by TD).

The evening also featured one family milestone, with the iconic Leonard Cohen winning Artist of the Year on the same night as his son, Adam Cohen, made his JUNO Awards debut as both a nominee and a performer. While the elder Cohen was not in Regina to accept the award in person, the younger singer-songwriter picked up the statuette on his father's behalf and showcased the family trade on stage in a performance.

Guests at the performance-packed gala also enjoyed numbers by two of the night's JUNO Award winners: The Tenors, and Rose Cousins (who took home the award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Solo), as well as a show-stopping number from JUNO Award nominee Monster Truck.

The Weeknd was one of the big winners, earning JUNO Awards for Breakthrough Artist of the Year (sponsored by FACTOR and Radio Starmaker Fund) and R&B/Soul Recording of the Year. Metric's album SYNTHETICA landed three awards: the band won Alternative Album of the Year (sponsored by Long & McQuade), band member James Shaw was named Jack Richardson Producer of the Year (sponsored by Slaight Music), and art director Justin Broadbent took home Recording Package of the Year.

Other JUNO Award winners from the evening included: Classified and David Myles (Rap Recording of the Year), Crystal Shawanda (Aboriginal Album of the Year, sponsored by Aboriginal Peoples Television Network), Grimes (Electronic Album of the Year, sponsored by Roland), Johnny Reid (Country Album of the Year, sponsored by PotashCorp), and Rush (Rock Album of the Year, sponsored by Musicians' Rights Organization Canada).

Additional highlights included a special tribute to Tom Cochrane as the recipient of the 2013 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award (sponsored by Bell Media), and music industry journalist Larry LeBlanc being honoured with the 2013 Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award.

Seven remaining JUNO Award categories will be announced tomorrow, Sunday, April 21, during the broadcast on CTV from the Brandt Centre in Regina, hosted by Canadian musical icon Michael Bublé. The 2013 JUNO Awards airs live in Atlantic Canada, Québec, Ontario, and Saskatchewan at 8 p.m. ET (9 p.m. AT/6 p.m. CT), as well as at 8 p.m. CT/MT/PT in Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia.

Broadcast sponsors of The 2013 JUNO Awards are Chevrolet, Garnier, TD, and Virgin Mobile.

Sponsors of The 2013 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, the Province of Saskatchewan, PotashCorp, the City of Regina, the Regina Hotel Association, the City of Moose Jaw, and TD.

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 and recording industries 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 42^nd Annual JUNO Awards or The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' (CARAS), please visit www.junoawards.ca or www.carasonline.ca.

SOURCE: JUNO Awards

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