This year’s Juno nominations show a little province can have a tremendous impact on Canada’s music industry, says Music P.E.I. director Rob Oakie.
P.E.I.-born singer/songwriter Rose Cousins, traditional trio The East Pointers and indie pop band Alvvays are up for the biggest prizes in Canadian music.
This is the second year in a row The East Pointers received a nomination after winning a Juno Award for traditional roots album of the year in 2017.
Oakie feels it was absolutely incredible to see the group nominated two years in a row.
“That’s an amazing testament to just how darn good they are. It just leaves me speechless almost,” said Oakie. “It’s pretty amazing.”
Oakie said it is also a tremendous inspiration to younger P.E.I. musicians.
“It’s possible to be from a tiny little place like P.E.I. and still have a pretty tremendous impact on the music industry in Canada and worldwide,” said Oakie. “(The East Pointers) have played on some of the most prestigious festivals and stages around the world. It’s definitely inspiring and it just goes to show it’s definitely possible.”
The East Pointers (Tim Chaisson, Koady Chaisson and Jake Charron) are nominated for traditional roots album of the year for “What We Leave Behind.” The album has already won four Music P.E.I. Awards.
“The best news to arrive home to. THANKYOU… and congrats friends,” the band tweeted out Tuesday night after arriving back in Canada in preparation for a Maritime tour.
Alvvays – made up of Cape Bretoners Molly Rankin and Kerri MacLellan, along with Prince Edward Islanders Alec O’Hanley, Brian Murphy and Phil MacIsaac – snagged two Juno Award nominations on Tuesday. The band is nominated for group of the year and alternative album of the year.
Cousins is nominated for songwriter of the year for the songs “Chosen” and “Grace”, co-written with Mark Erelli, and “White Flag”, co-written with KS Rhoads from her album “Natural Conclusion”.
Cousins tweeted a response to the nomination on Tuesday night.
“This is pretty cool. Congrats to all the nominees today! Great company here,” Cousins wrote in the tweet.
Cousins’ has previously won a Juno Award in 2013, while her new album also saw a Grammy Award nomination this year for best engineered album, non-classical. The album lost to Bruno Mars’ “24k Magic”.
Arcade Fire and Jessie Reyez lead the nominees for this year's Juno Awards, which begin on March 19 in Vancouver.
The Juno Awards last a week, with the broadcast gala taking place on March 25.
With files from the Canadian Press
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