The Record (Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario)
April 5, 2004 Monday Final Edition

Area artists shut out in Edmonton

SOURCE: Guelph Mercury with files from The Record

by ERIC VOLMERS

A Juno Award is considered by some to be the highest honour bestowed
by the Canadian music industry, but at least two of the area artists
nominated this year didn’t appear to be on the edge of their seats
awaiting results over the weekend.

While winners were announced over the weekend in Edmonton, both Elora
guitarist Kevin Breit and Constantines drummer Doug MacGregor had to
be informed by the press yesterday that they did not win in their
respective categories.

Neither appeared to be particularly distraught by the news.

“I didn’t win?” said Breit, who was up for best blues album, when
contacted yesterday afternoon at his home in Elora. “I didn’t even
hear. I was gigging (Saturday night). I’ve been sort of touring since
the time I was nominated. From the beginning to the end I was really
out of it. I didn’t internalize the nomination . . . It’s great to be
nominated. I guess it would be great to say I won.”

None of the Kitchener and Guelph performers nominated for Junos won.

Kitchener’s Juno connections reached to the classical with Karina
Gauvin who was nominated in the voice, classical album category for
her work with the Canadian Canadian Chamber Ensemble (members of the
Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony) with conductor Raffi Armenian. The award
was won by Isabel Bayrakdarian and James Parker’s Cello Ensemble.

Bec Abbot of Kitchener was nominated for her debut CD Shine Like
Stars in the contemporary Christian/gospel album of the year
category. The award was won by Jill Paquette.

Breit was nominated for best blues album for Jubilee, which he
recorded with vocalist and songwriter Harry Manx. That award went to
Painkiller by Morgan Davis.

Danny Michel, who lives just outside of Guelph, was defeated in the
best new artist category by Vancouver swing revivalist Michael Buble.

Blackie & the Rodeo Kings’ latest album BARK lost in the roots and
traditional group category to Maudite Moisson’s Le Vent du Nord. The
trio, which includes Guelphite Stephen Fearing, performed at last
night’s awards.

Halifax hip-hop artist Buck 65 won best alternative album for Talkin’
Honky Blues, beating out competition that included former Guelph band
The Constantines. The Constantines were nominated for their sophomore
disc, Shine A Light.

MacGregor, the band’s drummer, hadn’t been informed yet about not
winning. “Yeah, it’s kind of like . . . Junos are more for your
parents,” he said with a laugh.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress