Into the Groove: How the Junos became cool again
An analysis of how Canada’s national music honours transformed itself from an Anne Murray love-in to the concert extravaganza it is today. Photo of deadmau5 courtesy of CARAS.
Kaitlyn Balon had never seen a concert before.
When a friend invited to her to watch last year’s Juno Awards at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, she said yes, not knowing what to expect.
What Balon got was a two-hour party with more than 15,000 cheering fans and performances by artists renowned across Canada and around the world.
April Fools, BBC News style
Reinventing the blues with MonkeyJunk
How three Ottawa friends went from playing Sunday pub gigs to becoming Juno nominees in four years. Originally published by Apartment 613, 3/29/12. Photo courtesy of MonkeyJunk.
It’s about time MonkeyJunk got a Juno nomination.
The Ottawa trio have nine Maple Blues Awards, a Canadian Independent Music Award, were only the second Canadian artist to win a Blues Music Award, and placed third at the International Blues Challenge in 2009 — all in four years.
Titles aside, frontman Steve Marriner, lead guitarist Tony D (last name Diteodoro) and drummer Matt Sobb don’t call themselves a blues band.
“We don’t play strictly blues, rock-and-roll or funk,” says Marriner, who sings and plays guitar, keyboards and harmonica. “We play whatever we want. It’s three guys endeavouring to make as much sound as possible.”
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Tickets are selling out for the first Ottawa Comiccon faster than the Millennium Falcon. It’s not surprising - a bevy of pop culture icons including Sir Patrick Stewart will be attending.
I spoke with organizer David Newman and Jody Haucke of The Comic Book Shoppe about the event. Ottawa Comiccon takes place May 12 and 13 at the CE Centre.
