It’s not really much of a secret that this city, this region and certain business and social sectors could use a little pick-me-up.
’Tis the season and all that.
And on Tuesday morning the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the Calgary Juno Awards host committee held a press conference smack dab in all of the gloom and doom to, perhaps, possibly, hopefully raise spirits a little bit.
They did so by announcing further details of the 2016 Juno Week festivities, which will descend upon the city for a full slate of celebratory events taking place March 28-April 3, and culminating in the award show itself set for that Sunday night at the Saddledome.
In fact, they also went against normal practise and not only announced the first artist they have booked for the show — rising Canadian pop star Alessia Cara — but announced that there would also be a limited number of tickets at a cost of $34 going on sale beginning Friday from Ticketmaster.
Other things announced during the event, which was held at The Palomino Smokehouse and featured appearances by CARAS president and CEO Allan Reid, Mayor Naheed Nenshi, host committee chair Marco De Iaco and performances by locals Eve Hell and Transit included: submissions for acts and artists to appear during JUNOFest, the two-day showcase in clubs and rooms around town, are now open at junofestsubmissions.ca; a micro-grant program, open to musicians, venues, organizations and promoters, to “(seed) numerous small and unique musical events in Calgary; and the call for volunteers to step up and take part in the Juno experience by visiting outloudyyc.com.
It was also revealed that the National Music Centre’s new home Studio Bell, currently being built in the city’s East Village and set for a summer 2016 opening, would also host a couple of event including the prestigious Juno Welcome Reception.
mbell@calgaryherald.com
Twitter.com/mrbell_23