All Canadian music lovers' ears will turn towards Winnipeg this weekend for the upcoming Juno Awards on Sunday, April 3. The event has not been without controversary after the snubbing of hometown musical hero Randy Bachman. Fortunately, Bachman is back onboard and the weekend promises to be one to remember for Winnipeg music fans.
So why is the music scene in Winnipeg hot? How have artists connected to Manitoba, Canada sold more than 100 million records world-wide?
According to Randy Bachman, it is the cold weather itself which helped to create a hot Winnipeg music scene. In an interview in Macleans by STEVE LAMBERT, Bachman says:
"Because of the climate . . . you're kind of six months underground in your basement. [The community clubs made it] pretty much like a little Liverpool. There must have been 150 bands from '62-'69 with hundreds of places to play - community centres, church halls. A big dance was the school gymnasium."
Canadian music historian John Einarson, regarding the Winnipeg scene which spawned Neil Young, Randy Bachman, and Burton Cummings of The Guess Who, among others, said:
"Winnipeg is regarded as having a very unique and special contribution to Canadian music."
When Young was in Winnipeg in 1992, for his father Scott's induction into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame, biographer Jimmy McDonough writes in Shakey (via Winnipeg Free Press):
"As we drove outside the city one day, across the endless prairie, I heard the lonesome clanking of Young's Harvest in my head. I felt a lot of Winnipeg in Neil."
From a CTV report covering the Junos of an interview with longtime Neil Young fan Bill Laing on Young's Winnipeg hometown:
" "I'm a huge fan to the point of what my wife considers obsessive," said Laing, who lives in Gimli, Man., and is a contributor to the fan website Thrasher's Wheat.
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Article comments
1 - Triniman
I'm a Winnipegger and the city is excited about hosting the Junos this weekend! The main telecast on Sunday will take place in our brand-new hoockey arena, the MTS Centre.
And I'm trilled to see that my favorite Winnipeg group, The Wailin' Jennys, are nominated for best roots album. Yes, "40 Days" is on Amazon.com, and I encourage any of you who enjoy three-part female harmonies to check it out. That they have caught fire locally and nationally is absolutely no surprise to me. One of the Jennys, Nicky Mehta, also happens to be an astounding songwriter and singer in her own right. Her solo album "Weather Vane" must be heard to be believed. Her songwriting is just head and shoulders above most other artists.
http://www.thewailinjennys.com/
http://www.nickymehta.ca/
My all-time favorite Canadian band is The Guess Who and having seen them perform at the CanWest baseball park a few years ago, I can honestly say that the show was one of the most enjoyable concerts that I've ever seen. The concert was also made into a DVD that I reviewed here last year.
Years ago, when I used to work in the government side of the music industry, one of the records we helped to fund became the number one record in Canada - the debut by the Crash Test Dummies.
I can't honestly say that Winnipeg has more talent per capita than any other place in Canada, but I can say that we have a multitude of outstanding performers and songwriters here. Some have speculated that the government's nurturing of the industry here has blossomed into the vibrant scene we are seeing. We also have a music industry association who educate artists on the business side and also, on how to do it themselves. I don't think government funding of musicians to make demos, CDs, to assist with touring and marketing, takes place in the US. And it doesn't happen in every province in Canada, either (as far as I know.)
By the way, Thrasher, nice blog. I'm going to bookmark it and check more of it out.
2 - Thrasher
Great comment Triniman, thanks!
You're post really does highlight the different environments that artists face in Canada vs. US.
Maybe that's why Canada is producing really talented artists like Arcade Fire or Wailing Jenny's while the US produces schlock like Britney, Ashlee, Hillary, Justin, etc.
Drop me a line on any Juno/Winnipeg updates this weekend and I'll add to Thrasher's Blog!
Keep on Rockin!
3 - Russell
That's an interesting comment:
"Years ago, when I used to work in the government side of the music industry, one of the records we helped to fund became the number one record in Canada - the debut by the Crash Test Dummies."
Some may argue that if this is your tax dollars at work, we Canadians are in real trouble!
4 - Janie
Oh my god! I just heard the news on Neil. I really hope he's OK. I'm pretty bummed he won't be at the Junos tomorrow.
tho not as bummed that he's in the hospital.
Get well soon Neil! we need you!
5 - Triniman
The Wailin' Jennys won for Best Roots and Traditional Album - Group at the 2005 Junos Gala Awards. This event hands out most of the Junos and was not telecast. Tonight's Junos Awards will be telecast.
6 - thrasher
Here's a Juno update from Neil Young News:
"Juno organizers plan to send Neil a "love letter" during Sunday's televised award show. Executive Producer John Brunton said:
"We have all pow-wowed together and I think we've come up with a beautiful love letter for Neil Young from all of us in Winnipeg and all of us at the show. It's very fitting."
7 - esmerelda
I thought the juno show went over pretty well. I was surprised and filled with joy when Gord Downie broke out in John K. Sampsons 'aside' at the end of the hip's set. Definitely confirmed that local winnipeg art was revealed although concealed.
Fantastic
Esmy