April 02, 2004

A taste of what’s in store next year will be showcased tonight at a Manitoba Night reception promoting Winnipeg’s role as host of the 2005 Juno Awards, said Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Eric Robinson.

Held in Edmonton, site of this year’s Junos, the reception will feature performances by three Manitoba nominees.

"With a long line of Juno award winners calling Manitoba home, it’s only fitting that next year the awards show will come running back to Winnipeg," said Robinson.

Manitoba has four nominees at the 2004 Juno Awards:

• Doc Walker for Country Recording of the Year;
• Burnt for Aboriginal Recording of the Year;
• Eagle & Hawk for Aboriginal Recording of the Year; and
• The Weakerthans for Alternative Album of the Year.

The event will be emceed by Manitoba NCI radio personality and singer Ray St. Germain and children’s entertainer Fred Penner, a former Juno award winner. Co-hosts of Manitoba Night at the Junos include the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba Film and Sound, the MTS Centre and the Manitoba Audio Recording Industry Association.

The province will be contributing $275,000 toward the 2005 Juno Awards which will be held at the new MTS Centre. Other events will be held at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, bars and hotels.

First presented in 1970 and first televised in 1975, the Juno Awards honour excellence in Canadian music. They are now a three-day event encompassing Junofest, an awards ceremony and dinner, and a televised gala awards show.

More information on the awards is available at http://www.juno-awards.ca.

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