2024 Local & Canadian Grammy Award Nominees

On November 10, 2023 the Grammys announced their 2024 nominees. As always, a number of our fellow Canadian were on the esteemed list, including area artist Deadmau5 from Niagara Falls.

Hopefully, a number of them will bring some awards home when the 2024 GRAMMYs air live on Sunday, February 4,2023 on CBS and Paramount+.

Click here for the full list.

Here's a complete list of Canadian nominees:

• Best Dance/Electronic Music Album: Kx5 ft Deadmau5 (Niagara Falls) & Kaskade – Kx5
  
  
  
  Links: Deadmau5, More Deadmau5 StoriesVideo above courtesy of Kx5

• Album of the Year: GUTS – Olivia Rodrigo / Midnights – Taylor Swift (Mixed by Serban Ghenea - Montreal)
• Best Alternative Music Performance: Alvvays (PEI) – Belinda Says
• Best Americana Album: Allison Russell (Montreal) – The Returner
• Best Americana Performance: Allison Russell (Montreal) – The Returner
• Best American Roots Performance: Allison Russell (Montreal) - Eve Was Black
  
  
  
  Links: Allison Russel, More Allison Russel Stories, Video above courtesy of Allison Russell
  
  
• Best Americana Roots Song: Allison Russell (Montreal) – The Returner
• Best American Roots Song: Billy Strings ft Willie Nelson – California Sober (co-written by Aaron Allen - Chatham)
• Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella: Hilario Duran (Toronto) and his Latin Jazz Big Band: I Remember Mingus
• Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording: William Shatner (Montreal): Boldly Go: Reflections On A Life Of Awe And Wonder
• Best Contemporary Instrumental Album: Ben Wendel (Vancouver) – All One
• Best Dance/Electronic Recording: Cirkut (Toronto) - Higher Than Ever Before
• Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: Feist - Multitudes (Engineered by Robbie Lackritz - Toronto)
• Best Folk Album: Rufus Wainwright (Montreal) – Folkocracy / Joni Mitchell (Alberta) at Newport [Live]
• Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Darcy James Argue’s (Vancouver) Secret Society – ‘Dynamic Maximum Tension
• Best Melodic Rap Performance: Drake & 21 Savage – Spin Bout U
• Best Metal Performance: Spiritbox (Victoria) – Jaded
• Best Opera Recording: Blanchard: Champion – Yannick Nézet-Séguin (Montreal), conductor
• Best Orchestral Performance: Price: Symphony No. 4; Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony – Yannick Nézet-Séguin (Montreal), conductor
• Best Pop Dance Recording:  Baby Don’t Hurt Me – David Guetta, Anne-Marie & Coi Leray /  One In A Million – Bebe Rexha and David Guetta (Mixed by Serban Ghenea - Montreal)
• Best Rap Album: Drake - Her Loss
• Best Rap Performance: Drake & 21 Savage - Rich Flex
• Best Rap Song: Drake & 21 Savage - Rich Flex
• Best Remixed Recording: BADBADNOTGOOD (Toronto) – Alien Love Call
• Record of the Year: Worship – Jon Batiste / Vampire – Olivia Rodrigo / Anti-Hero – Taylor Swift (Mixed by Serban Ghenea - Montreal)

Links: Grammy, More Grammy Stories

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Debby Friday Wins Polaris Prize + Shortlist

The winner for the prestigious Polaris Prize was announced on September 9, 2023 and Toronto artist Debby Friday took the top honour (which includes $50,000) for her album Good Luck. 

Here is her acceptance speech from the Gala

Video above courtesy of CBC Music

Links: Debby Friday, Video above courtesy of Debby Friday - Topic

We didn't report of the Short List, which was revealed on July 13 so here's is a complete list below. Links with an asterisk (*) will take you to the band's performance at the Gala.

• Alvvays – Blue Rev
• Aysanabee – Watin *
• Begonia – Powder Blue *
• Dan Mangan – Being Somewhere *
• Daniel Caesar – Never Enough
• Debby Friday – Good Luck *
• Feist – Multitudes
• Gayance – Mascarade *
• Snotty Nose Rez Kids – I’m Good, HBU? *
• The Sadies – Colder Streams *

You can view the Short List announcement below.

Links: Polaris Music Prize, More Polaris Stories, Video above courtesy of polarismusicprize

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Hamilton's Zoon on 2023 Polaris Long List

On June 13, 2023, the latest Polaris Music Prize Long List was unveiled. This prestigious competition celebrates musical creativity and diversity in the Canadian music scene. The short list will be announced on July 13.

You can view the announcement below.

Links: Polaris Music Prize, More Polaris Stories, Video above courtesy of polarismusicprize

Here's the complete Long List 

Click here for the winner & Short List

• Zoon – Bekka Ma’iingan
  
  
  
  Links: Zoon, More Zoon Stories, Video above courtesy of Paper Bag Records
  
  
• ALL HANDS_MAKE LIGHT – Darling The Dawn
• Alvvays – Blue Rev
• Aquakultre – Don’t Trip
• Aysanabee – Watin
• Badge Époque Ensemble – Clouds Of Joy
• Begonia – Powder Blue
• Bibi Club – Le soleil et la mer
• BIG|BRAVE – nature morte
• Philippe Brach – Les gens qu’on aime
• Mariel Buckley – Everywhere I Used To Be
• Daniel Caesar – Never Enough
• Chiiild – Better Luck In The Next Life
• Feist – Multitudes
• Debby Friday – Good Luck
• Gayance – Mascarade
• Ghostkeeper – Multidimensional Culture
• Home Front – Games of Power
• JayWood – Slingshot
• Khotin – Release Spirit
• Thierry Larose – Sprint!
• Murray Lightburn – Once Upon A Time In Montreal
• Isabella Lovestory – Amor Hardcore
• Dan Mangan – Being Somewhere
• N NAO – L’eau et les rêves
• Tami Neilson – Kingmaker
• Eliza Niemi – Staying Mellow Blows
• Nico Paulo – Nico Paulo
• Planet Giza – Ready When You Are
• poolblood – mole
• Jessie Reyez – Yessie
• The Sadies – Colder Streams
• Jairus Sharif – Water & Tools
• Andy Shauf – Norm
• Dylan Sinclair – No Longer In The Suburbs
• Snotty Nose Rez Kids – I’m Good, HBU?
• Alexandra Stréliski – Néo-Romance
• U.S. Girls – Bless This Mess
• Witch Prophet – Gateway Experience
• Yoo Doo Right – A Murmur, Boundless to the East

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2023 Opening Night Juno Winners

The opening night of the 2023 Junos saw two local acts awarded with the coveted statuettes. The rest of the awards will be handed our at a televised ceremony on Monday, March 13 at 8pm on CBC.

Click below to see the Opening Night Ceremony.

Video above courtesy of CBC Music

Below is a complete list of winners. Local acts are bolded.

• Children's Album: Vol. 2 - Walk off the Earth & Romeo Eats (Burlington)
  
  
  
  Links: Walk Off The Earth, More WOTE Stories, Video above courtesy of Walk Off the Earth
  
  
• Group: Arkells (Hamilton)
  
  
  
  Links: Arkells, More Arkells Stories, View acceptance speech here, Video above courtesy Arkells Music
  
  
• Adult Alternative Album: Colder Streams - The Sadies 
• Adult Contemporary Album: Higher - Michael Bublé 
• Album Artwork: Ian Ilavsky (Art Director & Designer), Maciek Szczerbowski (Illustrator): EVERYTHING WAS FOREVER UNTIL IT WAS NO MORE – Esmerine 
• Alternative Album: Blue Rev - Alvvays 
• Artist: The Weeknd 
• Blues Album: Long River - Angelique Francis 
• Breakthrough Group: Banx & Ranx 
• Classical Album (Small Ensemble) : Early Italian Cello Concertos - Elinor Frey and Rosa Barocca, conducted by Claude Lapalme 
• Classical Album (Solo): Fables - Philip Chiu 
• Classical Album (Large Ensemble): Viola Borealis Orchestre de l’Agora, conducted by Nicolas Ellis, featuring Marina Thibeault 
• Classical Composition: Bestiary I & II - Bekah Simms 
• Comedy Album: A Person Who Is Gingerbread - Jon Dore 
• Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album: Jordan St. Cyr - Jordan St. Cyr 
• Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group: Digging Roots 
• Contemporary Roots Album: Come Morning - The Bros. Landreth
• Country Album: Masquerades -  Tenille Townes 
• Dance Recording: CTRL + ALT + DEL - Rêve 
• Electronic Album: Interior - Teen Daze 
• Francophone Album: Crash - Les Louanges
• Global Music Album: Thieves of Dreams - Lenka Lichtenberg
• Inspired Minds Ambassador Award: Kevin Drew
• Instrumental Album: Everything Was Forever Until It Was No More - Esmerine 
• International Album: Harry’s House - Harry Styles 
• Jazz Album (Group): Desert Bloom - Florian Hoefner Trio 
• Jazz Album (Solo): Kinds of Love - Renee Rosnes 
• Metal/Hard Music Album: Synchro Anarchy - VOIVOD 
• Music Video: Unholy - Sam Smith and Kim Petras (directed by Floria Sigismondi)
  
  
  
  Links: Sam Smith, Kim Petras, Video above courtesy of Sam Smith
  
  
• Pop Album: Dawn FM - The Weeknd 
• Producer: Akeel Henry 
• Rap Single: Twin Flame - KAYTRANADA and Anderson .Paak
• Recording Engineer: Serban Ghenea
• Reggae Recoding: Reggae Party - Kirk Diamond, Kairo McLean and Finn
• Rock Album: Otherness - Alexisonfire
• Single: Sacrifice - The Weeknd 
• Songwriter: The Weeknd
• Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group: The Bearhead Sisters 
• Traditional R&B/Soul Recording: Last One - Savannah Ré ft Dylan Sinclair
• Traditional Roots Album: Tell ‘Em You Were Gold - Pharis & Jason Romero 
• Underground Dance Single: I Knew Techno - Greg Gow
• Vocal Jazz Album: Featuring - Caity Gyorgy 
• Walt Grelas Special Achievement: Ron Sakamoto

Links: Juno Awards, More Juno Stories

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