Presented by el Mocambo, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala took place tonight at Massey Hall, honouring the best in Canadian Music and on an international stage. Hosted by Marie-Mai, among those honoured tonight in are legends like Alanis Morissette, Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance, David Foster and Daniel Lavoie. The event concluded the inaugural Song & Score Week presented by RBC Emerging Artists which included a Songwriting Masterclass with Foster, in addition to a Songwriters’ Circle with the likes of Fefe Dobson, Tyler Shaw, Tim Hicks, TOBi and Ruby Waters.
In addition to tonight’s Honourees, the list of talent performing in tributes and presenting, was an A-List including Corey Hart, Alessia Cara, Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger and Ryan Peake, Deborah Cox, Jessie Reyez, Charlotte Cardin, Serena Ryder, plus a special appearance by Olivia Rodrigo. So honoured to be there for this monumental moment in Canadian Music History.
A Highlight Reel of the evening’s most memorable moments:
See some Snaps from the evening:
Visit the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame website for more here.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Now in its 20th year, Canada’s Walk of Fame honours excellence in multiple disciplines including Arts, Business and Science. Honourees are commemorated like in Hollywood with a star on the sidewalk in Toronto’s Entertainment District, immortalizing their contributions to their native Canada and abroad. Among those celebrated at this year’s Gala, held at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, were:
Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (Sports & Athletics)
Andrea Martin (Arts & Entertainment)
Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg (Arts & Entertainment)
Andy Kim (Arts & Entertainment)
Col. Chris Hadfield (Science & Technology)
Jimmy Pattison (Business & Entrepreneurship)
Leonard Cohen (Legend Inductee)
Jessie Reyez was named the 2018 Allan Slaight Honour Recipient, an award given to an up-and-coming force in the music industry. Past winners include the likes of The Weeknd and Shawn Mendes, who have gone on to achieve great success internationally.
Fans and Media filled the outdoor tented Red Carpet affair, followed by a taped ceremony, which is to be broadcast on CTV at a later date in December. Several familiar Canadian faces graced the event including the likes of Jully Black, Rush, The Tenors, Marilyn Denis, Brian Mulroney, Russell Peters, The Arkells’ Max Kerman, Stella Bowles, Kurt Browning and several more.
Tessa Virtue x Scott Moir
Seth Rogen x Evan Goldberg
Chris Hadfield
Stella Bowles
Andy Kim
Jimmy Pattison
Andrea Martin x Marilyn Denis
The Arkells’ Max Kerman
Jully Black
Wendy Crewson
Jeffrey Latimer (Canada’s Walk of Fame CEO) x Rush’s Geddy Lee
We had the pleasure of chatting with the likes of honourees Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen (starring in Disney‘s eagerly-awaited The Lion King), Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue on the carpet. We asked them about the importance of being recognized in their own homeland.
Goldberg x Rogen: “It’s much more valuable than rest of the world combined!”.
Virtue x Moir: “We love being back in Canada. It was important for us to train on Canadian soil in the leading-up to the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games games. It’s thrilling to be back here, it’s home. It means so much more to us to be given the magnitude of what it means to be Canadian and the support we’ve received over the years. We should be giving Canadians something in return. We keep getting these honours and I wish we could give Canadians a slight glimmer of what they’ve given us.”.
We ask what they’re most excited about at the 2018 Canada’s Walk of Fame Gala.
Goldberg x Rogen: “Seeing the little ‘maple leaf’ on the ground! We don’t often get awards because of some of the things we’ve made. We get to see a version of it (gesturing to the unveiling of the star). We get to touch it, lick it and all that! We’re just the story of every Canadian boy. It’s great!”.
Virtue x Moir: “The inductees are what I’m (Moir) most excited about. I can’t believe I’m up for the same type of award as Chris Hadfield. To be in the same room. I think that’s going to be a highlight.”.
See some highlights from the Gala:
More on Canada’s Walk of Fame here.
Photography taken on the NIKON D3400
Video recorded on the Samsung S7 Plus
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Julie Wright)
In celebration of YouTube‘s upcoming streaming service launch in Canada, YOUTUBE MUSIC, the Country’s biggest stars in Music stepped-out at Rebel Night Club by Toronto’s waterfront to celebrate the occasion! Hosted by our v. own Lilly Singh, who has found meteoric international success as a YouTube star-turned-Entrepreneur, the packed house including a mixture of ad buyers, Music industry and contest winners.
The audience was treated to three-plus hours of genre-spanning Music including hot musical acts like Brett Kissel, Roy Woods, DVSN, Jessie Reyez, Johnny Orlando, The Glorious Sons, Charlotte Cardin, Scott Helman and headliner, Daniel Caesar. PartyNextDoor originally was to appear but had cancelled unfortunately, although the audience was more than delighted with the evening’s offerings.
Singh along with fellow YouTube personality Humble the Poet, unveiled her new puppy who sat patiently waiting on his mommy at the event with a handler. Singh tells the audience “This was the best decision I ever made”, own taking-on pet ownership. As a tribute to her hometown, she named the puppy “Scarborough” and he is adorable, being hoisted in the air without flinching to feverish cell phone snaps from the sea of adorers.
See some highlights of the night, which as touted truly was unforgettable!
Jessie Reyez
Lilly Singh x Scarborough
Daniel Caesar
“Daniel’s Caesar” – one of the Evening’s official cocktails
Roy Woods
Jazz Cartier
Brett Emmons, The Glorious Sons
Charlotte Cardin
Brett Kissel
DVSN
KRNFX
Jenna Walker, The Reklaws
Sign-up for updates on YouTube Music Canada here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
We are super-excited about Toronto’s own Jessie Reyez and have been following her on her rise over the past couple years closely. The Singer-Songwriter who hails from Brampton, has seen a significant boost in her profile beginning with her soulful and minimalistic radio staple Figures, which has been a mainstay since 2016. Rarely with a moment to rest, Reyez has been busy balancing the recording of her forthcoming debut Disc with strategic planning and performances on both sides of the Atlantic. Finally we got to meet this brilliant young woman whom we are touting as Music’s next major force!
Hot off the release of new Single Body Count, which is a cut from the same cloth as Figures with a sassy punch, Reyez visited Times Square in New York City yesterday, posing in front several LED Billboards advertising her new Single on Spotify! Prior to that the JUNO Award winner was in L.A working on some new Music and even did a Q&A with fellow Torontonan Lilly Singh too!
We are overjoyed we got to meet Reyez finally who is everything we thought she would be, embracing us with a hug in appreciation of our support. We asked her how far along her Album is and she assures us it’s almost done. She tells us, “The thing is I recorded like 200 songs for it and now I’ve got to narrow it down.”. I asked if her first few Singles will be on it, although she still isn’t sure if she will include Greater One and Figures on it. Either way, we are so buying it!
If you haven’t checked-out Body Count‘s Salem Witch Hunt-inspired Video, you can do so here:
In case you aren’t up to speed on Reyez‘s amazing Music and compelling vocals, check it out below:
GREATER ONE
FIGURES
We’ll be seeing Reyez again in a couple days and we’re so stoked! More to come!
See our Snaps!
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Universal Music)
Taking place at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena tonight, the 47th annual JUNO Awards took place, celebrating the best in Canadian achievements on a national and international stage. The themes of truth and reconciliation were front and center tonight in light of recent social movements like #TimesUp and #MeToo.
The late Gord Downie was honoured winning Artist of the Year. Brothers Patrick and Mike accepted the Award on his behalf, stating “All this love and support is really helping the healing. This is Gord‘s Award. He’s Artist of the Year but he was our man of a lifetime.”. He was paid tribute to also by friends Dallas Green (City and Colour) and Sarah Harmer via song during the CBC Broadcast. Downie himself was awarded post-humously alongside Kevin Drew as Songwriter of the Year for their work on A Natural, Introduce Yerself and The North on his Album Introduce Yerself, released October 2017. He also won for Adult Alternative Album of the Year.
“I left your house this morning” 🎶 @cityandcolour and @sarah_harmer perform an amazing tribute to Gord Downie #JUNOS pic.twitter.com/ZktmUPKeLK
— The JUNO Awards (@TheJUNOAwards) March 26, 2018
Receiving major recognition tonight also was Montreal’s Arcade Fire winning Album of the Year for Everything Now. The Band also were recognized for their body of contributions, receiving the International Achievement Award.
Everything RIGHT NOW! 🌐 @arcadefire https://t.co/tsEGnDry4i pic.twitter.com/rqTtZxLJUS
— The JUNO Awards (@TheJUNOAwards) March 26, 2018
Michael Bublé, who prior to tonight had won 12 JUNOs, filled hosting duties after being unable to do so last year due to his son Noah falling ill.
He won for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year for Nobody But Me and confirmed earlier in the evening that he and his wife Luisana Lopiloto are expecting a second child. Fellow Vancouver native Diana Krall who won Vocal Jazz Album and Producer of the Year for her Album Turn Up the Quiet would join him on-stage in a duet of Nat King Cole‘s Love.
We L-O-V-E @DianaKrall and @michaelbuble performing together! ❤ #JUNOS https://t.co/ORKYyA7mNM pic.twitter.com/66TC3rtqxF
— The JUNO Awards (@TheJUNOAwards) March 26, 2018
Another major highlight was Canadian Outfit Barenaked Ladies coming together on-stage for a one-night-only reunion, marking the Band’s 30th anniversary. The Band this year are inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Steven Page had embarked on a solo career in 2009 and joined his Bandmates on-stage and each of them individually thanked those who were a part of their success in a comical song which drew thunderous applause from the crowd.
.@barenakedladies with @stevenpage are officially inducted into the @CANMusicHF! #JUNOS pic.twitter.com/Crd4B1I0Sw
— The JUNO Awards (@TheJUNOAwards) March 26, 2018
Pickering’s Shawn Mendes won Single of the Year for There’s Nothing Holdin’ me Back and also the Fan Choice Award, although he wasn’t in attendance as he preps his upcoming Album.
Kendrick Lamar won International Album of the Year for DAMN.
Toronto’s LIGHTS was awarded Pop Album of the Year for her Disc, Skin & Earth.
Brampton’s Jessie Reyez scored for Breakthrough Artist. Her hit Figures reached #58 on the Canadian Billboard Hot 100, which she performed live on the Broadcast joined by fellow Torontonian Daniel Caesar, who won R&B/Soul Recording of the Year for his Track, Freudian.
No words ❤ @Jessiereyez @DanielCaesar #JUNOS pic.twitter.com/dtPDdB4mdI
— The JUNO Awards (@TheJUNOAwards) March 26, 2018
See some of the talent back in Toronto from the JUNOs festivities! Hover cursor left and right to navigate.
For a complete list of winners, click here.
The Awards will take place in London, Ontario in 2019.
(Photo/video credit: The JUNO Awards)
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