(from press release) Toronto, ON (February 1, 2011) — The wait is over and the race is on! The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) today announced the 2011 JUNO Award nominees who will vie for the nation’s highest music honour in Toronto, ON, where 40th Anniversary celebrations of the JUNO Awards will take place. Rapper Drake, who was also announced as the Host of THE 2011 JUNO AWARDS broadcast on CTV, is up for six nominations, as he and the other nominees get set for JUNO Week, March 21-27.
Winners will be declared at the JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards on Saturday, March 26, as well as THE 2011 JUNO AWARDS broadcast on CTV on Sunday, March 27 at the Air Canada Centre.
Tickets to THE 2011 JUNO AWARDS go on sale starting this Saturday, February 5 at 10:00 am (EST). Prices are $213.75, $112.00, $62.25 (includes HST) plus additional service fees and can be purchased through Ticketmaster or by phone at 1-855-985-5000. Also announced today, performers slated for Canada’s biggest night in music include 2011 JUNO Award nominees Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Down With Webster, Hedley and Johnny Reid. More performers will be announced soon.
Arcade Fire earned an additional four nominations including Group of the Year; Songwriter of the Year (sponsored By SIRIUS Satellite Radio); Alternative Album of the Year (sponsored by Long & McQuade) and Jack Richardson Producer of the Year (sponsored by Slaight Music). The album’s art directors also received a 2011 JUNO Award nomination for Recording Package of the Year.
There are 82 first-time JUNO Awards nominees in 2011. Basia Bulat, Bobby Bazini, Caribou, Hannah Georgas and Meaghan Smith share the New Artist of the Year category; while New Group of the Year nominees include: Die Mannequin, Hollerado, Misteur Valaire, My Darkest Days and Said The Whale. (Both categories are sponsored by FACTOR and Radio Starmaker Fund).
Neil Young, who will be honoured with the 2011 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award, is nominated for Artist of the Year and Adult Alternative Album of the Year (sponsored by Galaxie, Your Musical Universe).
All Nominees here