VANCOUVER, B.C.
– A live downtown concert by local band Said The Whale kicked off the beginning of what is sure to be a killer month for Vancouver music fans, leading up to the annual Juno Awards. The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Monday announced the line-up Monday for JunoFest 2009. The festival, held on March 27 and 28, the same weekend as the awards ceremony, will feature more than 100 musical acts from throughout Canada. More than half of those participating have been chosen locally to highlight Vancouver’s rich and diverse music scene. The Trews, a Juno nominee for group of the year, is scheduled to perform, as is Surrey, B.C.’s Elise Estrada. Estrada is nominated for R&B recording of the year for her self-titled album. Earlier in the day, some of Canada’s top musicians announced they will trade in their guitars for neck guards when they take on a team of ex-NHL players next month at the annual Juno Cup.
Blue Rodeo frontman Jim Cuddy will headline a star-studded cast of hockey-playing musicians, including Sarah McLachlan and Alan Doyle and Sean McCann of Great Big Sea at this year’s game at UBC Thunderbird Arena.