(Toronto) The Weeknd picked up another handful of Junos this year, but the Canadian superstar didn’t show up in Edmonton to accept them.
Nominated in four categories — including artist of the year — the Toronto pop singer was nowhere to be found at a pre-telecast event on Saturday, where most of the awards are handed out.
The Weeknd, real name Abel Tesfaye, also bagged Song of the Year awards for Sacrificepop album for Dawn FM and Songwriter of the Year for the many hits he co-wrote.
“In the lead with four statuettes, The Weeknd joins Bryan Adams in second place among the most awarded artists at the Juno Awards”, underline the organizers of the event in a press release.
Other musicians have overcome obstacles to come to the Junos, including members of Arkels who faced flight cancellations in Newfoundland. Three of them nevertheless arrived in time to win their sixth Group of the Year award.
Quebecers stand out
Montreal duo Banx & Ranx won Newcomer of the Year — Group.
Montrealer Rêve, real name Briannah Donolo, won the dance recording of the year award for her track CTRL + ALT + DELa recognition that she described as inspiring and a signal to continue making music.
The prize for the French-speaking album of the year was given to the group Les Louanges, for their album Crash and the band Voivod was awarded the prize for Metal/Hardcore Album of the Year thanks to Synchro Anarchy.
The Orchester de l’agora, under the direction of Nicolas Ellis, and with soloist Marina Thibeault, won the Juno for classical album of the year for large ensembles. The award for the classical album recorded by a small ensemble went to the album Early Italian Cello Concertos by cellist Elinor Frey, accompanied by the Rosa Barocca ensemble led by a conductor who was born in Montreal but settled in Alberta, Claude Lapalme. Montreal pianist Philip Chiu won the Juno in the category classical album by a soloist.
The 52e Juno Awards night will be broadcast live from Rogers Place in Edmonton on Monday at 8 p.m. on CBC.