Sandra Sperounes
Postmedia News
WINNIPEG — Talk about fitting.
Manitoba son and acclaimed violinist James Ehnes was the only multiple winner at Saturday’s Juno gala in Winnipeg. Arcade Fire, Drake, Johnny Reid, Tegan and Sara, and Serena Ryder each picked up an award.
Thirty-five statues were handed out during the three-hour event at the Convention Centre, streamed for the first time via junoawards.ca.
Ehnes, from Brandon, earned two Junos in the classical music categories, but didn’t attend the ceremonies. Arcade Fire’s dance-rock epic, Reflektor, picked up Alternative Album of the Year while Drake’s Nothing Was the Same was named Rap Recording of the Year. Both were also no-shows.
Matt Mays’ Coyote won Rock Album of the Year — but he almost missed the chance to accept his award from gala host Jian Ghomeshi.
“I was out talking about surfing with a buddy out there,” said a sheepish Mays, about a minute after his name was called. “Sorry about that, everyone. That was lame.”
The Maritime rocker then paid tribute to his late guitarist, Jay Smith, who was found dead in a Edmonton hotel room last year. “We lost a brother and a good friend,” said Mays. “This goes out to his family.”
Country crooner Johnny Reid’s A Christmas Gift to You won Adult Contemporary Album of the Year, while Tegan and Sara’s Heartthrob earned Pop Album of the Year. “In our case, it didn’t take a village, but an entire country,” quipped Tegan.
Ryder picked up Artist of the Year, the last honour of the night. “Wow, thank you,” she said. “Holy sh–, this is great.”
Earlier on in the evening, Edmonton expat Brett Kissel, 23, and his lucky cowboy hat took home the Juno for Breakthrough Artist of the Year. “Oh my gosh, this is incredible,” said the country singer, as he accepted the award, then thanked his fellow nominees, his wife Cecilia, family and music team. “I can’t thank you enough. I’ll never forget this night.”
Kissel released his Warner debut, Started With a Song, last October, but recorded his first album when he was 12 — the same year he got his black hat at Lammle’s, an Alberta chain of clothing stores. “I’ll never get rid of it because it’s brought me incredible luck,” he told journalists in the media room.
Kissel grew up in Flat Lake, Alta., then lived in Edmonton for several years. He relocated to Nashville, Tenn. in 2013.
Started With a Song was also nominated for Country Album of the Year. The honour went to Dean Brody’s Crop Circles.
Six more Junos will be awarded during Sunday’s telecast, hosted by Serena Ryder, Johnny Reid, and rapper Classified. Arcade Fire leads the way with nominations in five of those categories — Single of the Year, Album of The Year, Songwriter of the Year, Fan Choice of the Year, and Group of the Year.
Toronto rockers July Talk, featuring Edmonton expat Peter Dreimanis, is up for Breakthrough Group of the Year.
Scheduled performers include Tegan and Sara, Robin Thicke, and Brett Kissel.
ssperounes@edmontonjournal.com
Twitter.com/Sperounes
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JUNO AWARD WINNERS
Country Album of the Year
Dean Brody, Crop Circles
International Album of the Year
Bruno Mars, Unorthodox Jukebox
Artist of the Year
Serena Ryder
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Brett Kissel
Adult Alternative Album of the Year
Ron Sexsmith, Forever Endeavour
Alternative Album of the Year
Arcade Fire, Reflektor
Vocal Jazz Album of the Year
Mike Rud, Notes On Montreal ft. Sienna Dahlen
Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year
Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra, Habitat
Traditional Jazz Album of the Year
Mike Downes, Ripple Effect
Instrumental Album of the Year
Esmerine, Dalmak
Francophone Album of the Year
Karim Ouellet, Fox
Children’s Album of the Year
Helen Austin, Colour It
Classical Album of the Year: Solo or Chamber Ensemble James Ehnes, Prokofiev Complete Works for Violin
Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment James Ehnes, Britten & Shostakovich: Violin Concerti
Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral Performance Marie-Nicole Lemieux & Andre Gagnon, Lettres de Madame Roy a sa fille Gabrielle
Classical Composition of the Year
Allan Gordon Bell, Field Notes
Rap Recording of the Year
Drake, Nothing Was the Same
R&B/Soul Recording of the Year
JRDN ft. Kardinal Offishall, Can’t Choose
Reggae Recording of the Year
Exco Levi & Kabaka Pyramid, Strive
Aboriginal Album of the Year
George Leach, Surrender
Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Solo Justin Rutledge, Valleyheart
Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Group The Strumbellas, We Still Move on Dance Floors
Blues Album of the Year
Downchild, Can You Hear the Music
Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year Tim Neufeld, Trees
World Music Album of the Year
David Buchbinder & Odessa/Havana, Walk to the Sea
Producer of the Year
Henry “Cirkut” Walter (co-producer Luke Gottwald) for Miley Cyrus, Wrecking Bell (from Bangerz) and Robin Thicke, Give It 2 U (from Blurred Lines)
Engineer of the Year
Eric Ratz for Monster Truck, Sweet Mountain River and The Lion (from Furiosity)
Recording Package of the Year
Robyn Kotyk, Petra Cuschieri and Justin Peroff, Arts & Crafts: 2003-2013 Arts & Crafts – Various Artists
Video of the Year
Matt Barnes for The Sheepdogs, Feeling Good
Electronic Album of the Year
Ryan Hemsworth, Guilt Trips
Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year
Protest the Hero, Volition
Adult Contemporary Album of the Year
Johnny Reid, A Christmas Gift To You
Pop Album of the Year
Tegan and Sara, Heartthrob
Rock Album of the Year
Matt Mays, Coyote
Dance Recording of the Year
Armin van Buuren & Trevor Guthrie, This Is What It Feels Like
