Celebrate the Juno Awards

As many as 20,000 people are expected to pack Granville Street’s entertainment district this weekend for a free street party to celebate this year’s Juno Awards.  And 100 artists will perform at various venues across the city.

The Juno Awards started un 1971 with just 16 categories but have grown to 39.  Major awards include album of the year and artist of th eyear as well as niche -market oriented awards such as World music Album of the Year, Aboriginal Album of the Year and Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year.

In most major categories, nominations are based on sales and can be voted on by members of CARAS (Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences).  The major categories are Internationsl Album of the Year, Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, Group of the Year, New Artist of the Year and New Group of the Year.

There are also nominations for some other categories including Songwriter of the year. Others are decided by a jury of experts in a given field.

To celebrate the awards, there’ll be parties, concets and star-studded events all weekend in Vancouver. There’ll be every kind of music from Techno, Soul, Blues, Rock, Pop, Folk, Trip-hop and even Throat Singing.

If you’re planning to attend check out these downtown venues for some free and some admission only shows:

West Jet Street Party 700 block. Friday- Sunday

Fan Fare Granville at Smithe, Saturday 11am – 4 pm (free)

Songwriter’s Circle Centre of Performing Arts Broacast Centre CBC Radio 2    Sunday 12 – 2

An unscripted gathering of artists including Blue Rodeo frontman Jim Cuddy, rising blues and soul singer Ndidi Onukuwulu, Sarah Slean and Folk icon Buffy Sainte Marie

Tickets $34.75 – $39-75 proceeds to MusiCounts

2009 JUNO AWARDS GM Place  Sunday 5 pm  tickets $69=$189

Tickets at Ticketmaster