A number of artists connected to Prince George and the northern B.C. region are in the running for the 2016 Juno Awards.
Topping the list is guitar player and singer Dave Rosin, a member of the superstar rock group Hedley. Their latest album Hello is in the running for two of the most esteemed categories: Group Of The Year (they are up against luminous acts Metric, Walk Off The Earth, Three Days Grace and Marianas Trench) and also for Pop Album Of The Year (contending with Walk Off The Earth, Shawn Mendes, Scott Helman and Justin Bieber).
"Hedley is arguably Canada's biggest band, with five consecutive multiplatinum albums to date," said a statement from the Juno Award organizers. Hello is their sixth album and is well on the way to platinum status itself. Based in Abbotsford, the band has so far earned themselves two previous Juno trophies on 28 past nominations.
Another former Prince George resident is now a member of a superstar group. Pop-era quartet The Tenors has Fraser Walters in their mix, and they are up for Adult Contemporary Album Of The Year for their album Under One Sky, shortlisted alongside Johnny Reid (see him live at CN Centre on Friday night), Jann Arden, Don Amero and Diana Krall.
More regional content comes from down the highway and somewhat off the beaten track. The Cariboo hamlet of Horsefly is home to Pharis & Jason Romero. This folk duo is in the running for Traditional Roots Album Of The Year for their latest album A Wanderer I'll Stay. Also on that shortlist is Jayme Stone, J.P. Cormier, The Wainwright Sisters and one of last week's Coldsnap Festival headliners Old Man Luedecke.
East coast country star Dean Brody is up for the Fan Choice Award (online voting is now underway), and although he was raised in the Kootenay town of Jaffray before his move to Nova Scotia, he was born in Smithers and still has family in this area. His new song package Gypsy Road is also up for Country Album Of The Year.
Another born-in-Smithers-raised-elsewhere artist is Dan Mangan, and he and duet partner Blacksmith are up for a Juno this year. Their album Club Meds is shortlisted for Recording Package of the Year thanks to art collaborators Cam Dales and Ben Clarkson.
Speaking of Smithers, Alex Cuba, the region's poster boy for immigrant cultural enhancement, is in the running for World Music Album Of The Year to go along with the Latin Grammy he already won this winter and the mainstream Grammy Award he is up for on Feb. 15.
Prince George audiences were among the first people on Earth to hear his new album, Healer, when he gave a sneak peak during his headline concert at the 2015 Canada Winter Games, then a full unveiling at CD release show at Art Space a few weeks later. Now it's a global hit.
Another band that played a big part of the 2015 Canada Winter Games is up for a Juno this year. Dear Rouge is not directly connected to Prince George, but they were the headliners at the Games opening ceremonies at CN Centre, followed by a full concert at the plaza downtown. This B.C. duo is in the running for Breakthrough Group Of The Year.
The full list of nominees is also dotted with familiar names from concerts in Prince George in the recent past: Alan Doyle, Paul Brandt, Brett Kissel, Splash'N Boots, David Gogo, Jaclyn Guillou was here just last week for Coldsnap, and others.
Looking forward, there are some names on the Juno list with upcoming Prince George concert dates already booked, like Carly Rae Jepsen is coming later this year with Hedley, City & Colour/Dallas Green is also on the way, and Johnny Reid on Friday.
The Juno festivities will be held this year in Calgary from March 28 to April 3.
