Calgary wants musicians to look past oil and cowboy hats in time for Junos
The old and the new Juno Awards !
Shannon Montgomery, THE CANADIAN PRESS Published Monday November 26th, 2007
CALGARY - Calgary's music community is hoping that the rest of Canada can see past the stereotypes of oilsands, Stetsons and the Stampede this spring.
The 2008 Juno celebrations will hit the southern Alberta city April 4-6 with the slogan, "Calgary. Music Lives Here."
Alberta Tourism Minister Hector Goudreau said Monday that many people outside Alberta are surprised to find vibrant arts communities in the province.
"Whenever we talk to individuals right across Canada, you don't think of Calgary and Edmonton as being very involved in the arts sector," he said.
"Most people from outside Alberta are very, very surprised to see what is in fact happening in our largest cities," he said, adding the Junos will be a chance to change some of these ideas.
Calgary musician Tristin Chanel of Five Star Affair said she'd heard some of the same things from family and friends when she played a Juno showcase in Toronto. She had one thing to say to those people not listening to Calgary music: "They are missing out."
Her bandmate, Eric Elhanati, said while the Stampede is great, it's not fair to base Calgary's entire image on the rodeo extravaganza.
"Eleven and a half months of the year, there's a lot going on here as well," he said.
Juno award nominees are to be announced Feb. 6, with tickets going on sale Feb. 9.
Organizers also announced Monday that broadcasting executive Moses Znaimer will be presented a special achievement award, while Calgary country music star Paul Brandt will receive a humanitarian award.
2008 Juno Awards in Calgary !
