The weekend is finally here for all you Vancouver music fans! It’s JUNO weekend. The awards are rolling into Vancouver and it’s shaping up to be an unforgettable celebration of Canadian talent. With the festivities starting tonight and the awards on Sunday it is set to be a jam packed weekend but definitely one to remember.
Before I get into the nitty gritty of what you can expect going on this weekend, let’s rewind a little bit. The JUNO Awards date back to 1964 and at that time they were known as the RPM Gold Leaf Awards but in 1971 the awards ceremony was rebranded as the JUNO awards. The name JUNO nods to Pierre Juneua, the inaugural chairperson of the CRTC. And today? The JUNOs have come the pinnacle of Canadian music recognition. Vancouver is acting as the host with the most this weekend. But it actually isn’t the first time Vancouver is hosting the awards, our beautiful city has had the honour multiple times, the last time in 2018. But enough with the history lesson, because I’m sure you wanna know more about what’s going on in the city.
If you aren’t able to make it to the actual awards ceremony no need to stress because there’s lots of other events happening around the city.
From 4:00 to 10:00 today and 10:00 to 10:00 tomorrow the “Let’s Hear It Live JUNO Block Party” is happening at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square, which is formally known as the Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza. So what can you expect? Lots of live music, local eats, food trucks, and of course the unbeatable Vancouver energy. You will hear a lot of new Canadian talent, people who are just beginning their music career, on the TD Stage! Some of the performances are local to Vancouver which is always super fun seeing people representing Vancouver, and you also can catch some JUNO nominated artists hitting the stage! And the best part about it? This event is free! No need to buy a ticket ahead of time!
Today at the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts there is the JUNO Songwriters’ Circle, Presented by SOCAN & FACTOR. This event starts at 7:30 and it gives visitors a chance to have a conversational style interaction with JUNO nominated artists about all things music from the meaning behind the song you are hearing to even some performances! If you’re looking for something to do where you really get to interact with the artists, this is the place to be.
CBC is hosting JUNOFest! This spans over 10 venues with artists lined up hour by hour to deliver constant entertainment. If you’re looking for last minute Friday or Saturday fans you literally have to look no further. There is something for everyone and there is truly no better way to spend your weekend than celebrating Canadian artists!
But of course the main event takes place Sunday. The grand ceremony will bring an electric energy to Rogers Arena and of course our very own Michael Bublé hailing from Burnaby will be the host. This year, British Columbia’s music scene is taking charge with 208 nominees representing your province. It’s a testament to the incredible talent brewing right here in our backyard. Let’s show them some hometown love!
And get ready to see some crazy talented artists hit the stage. Aqyila, Josh Ross, Tia Wood, bbno$, Peach Pit, and Nemahsis are just some of the few that will blessing the stage with their presence. And of course, one of the most exciting parts of Sunday will be Sum 41 coming for an historic last ever performance. Sum 41, Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees will be bringing the energy to the stage one last time, and that is something you will not want to miss.
But don’t hit the panic button yet! Tickets are still up for grabs! Whether you’re aiming for the main event or the surrounding festivities, make sure to secure your spot. Check out Ticketmaster for availability. But if you can’t make anything in person either but still want to be a part of the magic tune into CBC or stream it live on CBC Gem.
Vancouver doesn’t get too many exciting things coming to our city so when something comes you know the anticipation builds and it’s going to make for an awesome weekend. So whether you’re watching from your couch or taking part in the celebrations, get ready to celebrate our nation’s music and all of the talent from behind the scenes, to the performers on stage. The JUNO awards promise a weekend of memories, laughs, discovering new music, and celebrating old. Happy JUNO weekend Vancouver, let’s make it one for the books. Happy JUNOs!