Get a taste of Cowtown’s favourite music with an all-star country music line-up at the 2008 JUNO Awards

by Nadine Silverthorne

If you’ve caught the commercials for the JUNO Awards on CTV, (during "Idol" or "Dancing with the Stars" perhaps?) no doubt you’ve noticed the stellar line up of performers. Michael Bublé, Avril Lavigne, Feist, and, um, a whole bunch of country artists? Never before have the JUNO Awards showcased so many of our country’s country music talent.

“I think it’s fitting and timely that the Junos are being held in ‘Music City North,’ Calgary, this year,” says Elissa Lansdell, a host on Canada’s country music network, CMT. “Never before has country had such a presence in the mainstream music scene – and deservedly so, I think. True, Shania hosted the awards back in ’03, but everybody knows Shania. Same for Anne Murray and Jann Arden. But this is a chance for music fans to get a little taste of some of the more hidden gems of country.”

This country’s country finest

If you’re country-clueless like me, but want to get into the spirit of Calgary, here’s a quick roundup of this year’s country music elite.

Scottish-born, Canadian-bred Johnny Reid reflects the diversity of artists in this category. “If you haven’t heard his unique Scottish twang, which sounds strangely reminiscent of Rod Stewart – or, at least, how Rod Stewart wishes he sounded – this is your chance,” Lansdell recommends.

Reid will be joining fellow Albertans Gord Bamford, Shane Yellowbird and Aaron Lines (whom Lansdell refers to as “the cutest almost-pro-hockey-player-turned-country-artist EVER to come out of Ft. McMurray!”) in a tribute to their fair province. “I expect to be blown away.” Her enthusiasm for the genre is infectious. I’m already imagining dusting off my cowboy hat – a leftover from a Madonna phase – to watch the show.

The Rodeo King

If there was a rodeo king to be crowned, Paul Brandt may just be the Canadian country music contender. “Paul Brandt is no stranger to music awards shows. He is, after all, the winningest male Canadian country artist in history!  And he’s no stranger to the Pengrowth Saddledome, having hosted approximately 255 Canadian Country Music Awards at said venue,” jokes Lansdell. “One year he even made his grand entrance in a massive transport truck. Nothin’ says country…”

A former nurse, Brandt’s continuing philanthropy will be honoured at the JUNO ceremony with the inaugural Allan Waters Humanitarian Award. “The honour could not go to a more deserving fella,” Lansdell says, giving her seal of approval.

“He picks up the award for his efforts to positively enhance Canada’s ‘social fabric.’ A lot of children who were patients at the Alberta Children’s Hospital while he was a nurse there would agree. Since that time Paul has tirelessly worked for several charities, many of them benefiting children.” Only in Canada do you find the adage: Nice guys win all the awards.

All in all, you couldn’t ask for a better city for such a large-scale country music hoedown. I’m looking forward to JUNO night, April 6th, so I can unleash my inner cowgirl. Giddy up Canada!