Juno Awards Gala | Charlotte Cardin at the top

The Montrealer won the biggest honor of the evening, album of the year, during a colorful ceremony in Halifax. Overview.

Quebecers at the Juno Awards

While she showed up to the main event of the Juno Awards with a trophy in hand (she won the one for pop album of the year on Saturday night during the opening gala), Charlotte Cardin finally concluded the weekend with a harvest of two prizes, out of a possible six. The Montrealer, who was the most nominated artist this year, returned to the stage a little later in the evening, for a superb interpretation of her hit Confetti. Still in Quebec, a tribute to Karl Tremblay, of the Cowboys Fringants, was paid by pianist Alexandra Stréliski. “Your end of the road has come much too soon, Karl, but you have sowed so much stardust in our hearts that you will never stop shining,” said the musician on the microphone, before a poignant number on the piano, during which she reinterpreted Shooting Starswhile photos of the singer who died last year flashed on the big screens behind her.

All in music

The Juno Awards evening was more of a succession of performances than of award presentations. Only four trophies were presented on Sunday evening, while around forty had been presented the day before, during the opening gala. This is how TALK, Quebec’s favorite singer-songwriter, took to the stage for the first time in Halifax for another great performance. He then received the Discovery of the Year award. The tribute to Gordon Lightfoot and Robbie Robertson, performed in particular by Montrealer Allison Russell and Aysanabee, provided another particularly touching and captivating moment of music. The Juno Awards gala has the great merit of giving Canadian artists from all backgrounds a place on its main stage. Karan Aujla, an Indo-Canadian rapper and songwriter, was one of the first to appear in front of the crowd and the cameras, to perform Admirin’ You And Softly. It was he who won the Grand Public Prize at the end of the evening. Jeremy Dutcher and Elisapie joined forces for a captivating number where each performed a few of his tunes.

Nelly Furtado on animation

She wasn’t just an entertaining host on Sunday evening. She was also part of the show. The singer Nelly Furtado, who gave us several hits in the 2000s, served them to us in bursts at the very beginning of the evening, opening the ceremony with a medley which reminded us that his repertoire is rather well stocked. Between Promiscuous And I’m Like a Bird Passing by ManeaterFurtado delighted the crowd gathered in Halifax for this Juno Awards evening that was somewhat unsatisfying in terms of the “wow” factor, but still entertaining.

Music in the spotlight, above all

Rapper Maestro Fresh Wes, after a heartfelt presentation by Kardinal Offishal, received all the honors Sunday evening, while celebrating his induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The one who was the first Canadian rapper to reach the top 40 of Billboard was also the first to receive the Juno Award for Rap Album when it premiered. “I was there when Leonard Cohen himself was inducted into the Hall of Fame. What an honor, in 2024, to be here now. This is hip-hop! » Another honor was given to Tegan and Sara (for the foundation bearing their names), presented by Elliot Page, who highlighted the importance of such an initiative for the well-being of LGBTQ2S+ youth. The singer-songwriter twins received the Humanitarian Prize of the year.

The other big winners of the weekend

The Juno Awards were presented over two evenings, the first held on Saturday, also in Halifax. Tate McRae was crowned the big winner of the first evening: her success Greedy was chosen as single of the year and she won the award for artist of the year, a category in which Charlotte Cardin was also nominated. The prize for best French-speaking album went to Cowboys Fringants with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. The prize was collected by the group’s bassist, Jérôme Dupras, visibly touched and who preferred not to extend his thanks. The music video of the year was awarded to Demons by Allison Russell, directed by fellow Montrealer Ethan Tobman. Dominique Fils-Aimé won the Juno for vocal jazz album of the year.

The Canadian Press

The Canada Music Fund will pay $32 million to music creators

The Government of Canada announced Sunday, as part of the Juno Awards evening, the granting of a sum of $32 million to maintain measures to promote the careers of Canadian artists. The sum will be distributed over the next two years. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, Pascale St-Onge, announced “the renewal and increase of funding for the Canada Music Fund to continue to promote the success of Canadian artists at home and abroad,” announced the Ministry. The Canada Music Fund, through FACTOR and Musicaction, finances approximately 5,000 projects per year in support of Canadian music. Some $139 million had already been paid over three years during the pandemic to ensure the viability of the music sector.