April 8, 2002

For Immediate Release, April 8, 2002 ~ 

Juno Award Nominees the Ennis Sisters will be making a special presentation during JUNO Weekend when they visit St. Francis of Assisi School in Outer Cover, NF. The group will officially present a BAND AID grant of $10,000 worth of musical instruments to the students of the elementary school on behalf of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (producers of the annual Juno Awards Show).

BAND AID is part of the CARAS Music Education Program, which works in cooperation with the Coalition for Music Education in Canada (www.coalitionformusiced.ca), and awards these grants to schools who have music programs that are in jeopardy or in need of assistance to sustain their long term development.

St. Francis of Assisi School introduced their band program in 1981, and provides for a junior Grade 5 band and a senior Grade 6 band. While a community-based group donated some new clarinets, most of the instruments that are still used today were purchased on a limited budget over twenty years ago. Thanks to the generous support of CARAS, the students of St. Francis of Assisi will have some new and badly needed band instruments. This grant is creating much encouragement and enthusiasm for the students and I feel certain it will enhance their music-making." said Band Director Donna Marie Kelly.

There are seven schools receiving grants in 2002. Presentations have already been made to three of the schools: Kim Stockwood presented new instruments to Bayside Middle School in Saint John, NB; Chris Murphy and Patrick Pentland of Sloan joined the school‚s rock band for one of their songs at Northeastern Secondary School in Garson, ON; and Jimmy Rankin represented the Canadian music industry at Ball's Creek Elementary School in Sydney, NS.

"It is very concerning that music programs are being cut or underfunded, just as a growing body of scientific research indicates that participation in music programs at a young age has such wide-ranging benefits. The studies are showing that it enhances spatial reasoning and the ability to do maths and sciences. Making music does make you smarter!", commented CARAS Chairman Ross Reynolds, The outstanding support from artists and record companies underscores the music industry's commitment to addressing the erosion of music education in our school systems, and there is no better time to highlight this than during the Juno Awards, he continued.

Newfoundland natives the Ennis Sisters have received many accolades for their self-titled major label debut on WEA/Warner, including Best Pop Group at the 2002 East Coast Music Awards and their first ever Juno Award nomination for Best New Country Artist/Group for the upcoming ceremonies. The Ennis Sisters will be taking time from their busy pre-Juno schedule to visit St. Francis of Assisi School (ten minutes outside of St. John‚s in Outer Cove) on Thursday, April 11 at 9:30am. The three sisters will be performing two of their own songs, and the school band will be reciprocating with two of theirs. The Ennis Sisters, school Band Director Donna Marie Kelly and CARAS Chairman Ross Reynolds are all available for prearranged interviews or photographs.

The remaining three schools to receive BAND AID grants in 2002 are: 150 Mile Elementary School (BC Cariboo District) - Mile House, BC; Shamrock School Division Band - Foam Lake, SK; and Westview Centennial Secondary School - Toronto, ON. Details on artist presentations will be announced in the coming weeks. The BAND AID Program was created in 1997 and receives funding from the five major record companies in Canada. The annual Juno Awards will take place Sunday April 14th in St. John's, NF at 8:00pm local time and broadcast live on CTV.

2002 JUNO AWARDS TELECAST TO INCLUDE SEGMENT ON THE CARAS BAND AID PROGRAM Featuring Chris Murphy and Patrick Pentland of Sloan at Northeastern Secondary School in Garson, ON

A special segment about the CARAS Band Aid Program has been produced for inclusion in the April 14th CTV national telecast of the 2002 Juno Awards. Shot in Garson, ON., the segment features Sloan bassist Chris Murphy and guitarist Patrick Pentland when they dropped in on Northeastern Secondary School to officially present them with their Band Aid instrument grant. The school's band is a rock group called Evolutionary, and Chris and Patrick jumped on stage with the student band to join them in several renditions of Sloan‚s "If It Feels Good Do It". Additional footage was shot in and around Garson with substantial input from the Sloan boys, who will be introducing the segment live during the awards ceremony.

Two Great Artists - One Great Night

April 4, 2002 - Brookes Diamond Productions

Performers for JUNOfest 2002 Songwriters’ Circle Announced

April 3, 2002

Press Release - St. John’s, NF

The Music Industry Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (MIANL) has announced the line-up of performers who will participate in the JUNOfest 2002 Songwriters’ Circle, to be held on the afternoon of April 14th at the St. John’s Convention Center.

JUNOfest Coordinator, Peter MacKenzie, says the stellar list of performers is the result of the efforts of the JUNOfest Committee and circle hosts, multi-award winners Bruce Guthro and Barry Canning.

“The JUNOfest Committee asked Bruce and Barry to help put together a group of singer/ songwriters that would make the JUNO Sunday afternoon a truly memorable musical experience,” said MacKenzie. “With the list being released today, it will undoubtedly be an enjoyable two and a half hours of great songs, and their stories, as performed and told by the artists who created them.”

Guthro, who has hosted the last seven ECMA songwriters’ circles, says that this is an amazing line-up, stacked with award winning songwriters. “I’ve sat in songwriters’ circles with most of these performers and the entertainment value here is undeniable. Throw all of them into a circle in the middle of a great music city like St. John’s, and it will be one hell of a show”.

Noting that each of the performers’ web-sites pay a great deal of attention to their songs and lyrics, co-host Barry Canning says that “their dedication to their craft and their love for their songs underscores why they were asked, and why they readily accepted the invitation to perform.”

The confirmed artists as of this release, though subject to change due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts, are:

Bruce Guthro www.bruceguthro.com
Co-host of these circles, Bruce has been awarded for his songwriting and for his great voice with eight ECMAs, three Canadian Radio Music Awards, SOCAN Songwriter of the Year award, a JUNO nomination, along with a host of others. With songs like “Walk This Road”, “Falling”, and his latest single, “Disappear”, he has distinguished himself as one of Canada’s finest songwriters.

Barry Canning www.barrycanning.com
CANADIAN MUSICIAN magazine recently wrote that MIANL Male Artist of the Year and Best Pop/Rock Artist Barry Canning “has a knack for writing catchy melodies and well-developed, polished song structures.” His latest endeavors have seen him on stage with acts such as America, Great Big Sea, and Crush, as well as with Bruce Guthro, Jimmy Rankin, and Ken Tobias at the 2002 ECMA Songwriting Circle.

Maren Ord www.marenord.com
2002 JUNO nominee for “Best New Solo Artist”, a repeat performer on the Lilith Fair Tour, a single “All I Want” on Women & Song 5, and her hit song Sarah on the radio across the nation…we are very pleased to have Maren join us for the JUNOfest SWC.

Ron Hynes www.hynesite.nf.net
With five Peoples Choice awards, three ECMAs, a Genie, and both JUNO and CCMA nominations, Ron is a highly decorated, and covered, songwriting soldier. His songs have been recorded by many including Valdy, Prairie Oyster, Susan Aglukark, The Good Brothers, Mary Black, Christie Moore and EmmyLou Harris, not to mention the dozens who have recorded “Sonny’s Dream” worldwide.

Ron Sexsmith www.ronsexsmith.com
2002 JUNO nominee for “Best Songwriter”, Ron's consummate songwriting style continues to be appreciated by those who eschew contrivance and producer-made hits. His ability to conjure images, characters, plot or just plain emotion has earned him praise from Elvis Costello, Paul McCartney and Sheryl Crow, and his songs have been covered by everyone from Rod Stewart to opera singer Anne Sophie Van Otter.

Alan Doyle www.greatbigsea.com
Singer songwriter Alan Doyle is a member of multi platinum Warner recording group Great Big Sea. Alan has contributed over 23 songs to all five of their studio albums, including their latest recording Sea Of No Cares, which debuted #1 in its first week of sales. The title track co-written by Alan is in heavy rotation on radio and music television stations nation wide.

Jimmy Rankin www.jimmyrankin.com
After ten years of touring, numerous hit singles, and multiple JUNOs and other awards as the principle songwriter with Canadian musical icons, The Rankins, Jimmy is back with his critically acclaimed solo debut album, Song Dog. At this year's ECMAs , Rankin received three Awards, including Single of the Year for "Followed Her Around" and the prestigious SOCAN Songwriter of the Year award. He is nominated for “Best Country Artist” at this year’s JUNOs.

Paul Lamb www.crush.ca
Singer songwriter Paul Lamb is a member of rock group Crush, who recently received New Group of the Year and Rock Group of the Year honours at the 2002 ECMA’s. Paul penned seven original tracks on the group’s debut recording here, including their first single “Live”, which has garnered heavy airplay on radio and music television stations across the country.

Daniel Lanois www.daniellanois.com
With 8 Grammy Awards for production under his belt, Daniel Lanois has been the producer, a key musician and an occasional songwriter on such acclaimed albums as Dylan’s “Time Out of Mind,” U2’s “The Joshua Tree,” Emmylou Harris’ “Wrecking Ball” and Peter Gabriel’s “So.” He is currently concentrating on producing his very own music and will be in St. John’s to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the Junos on April 14, where he is also up for producer of the year for U2’s “All That You Can’t Leave Behind.” Lanois will be sharing his songs with us that same afternoon in the JUNOfest 2002 Songwriters’ Circle.

Maureen Ennis www.ennissisters.com
Since she first started performing with her sisters in her early teens, Maureen has developed into a very prolific songwriter. All of the songs on their new album, Ennis Sisters, were written by Maureen and writing partner, Mark Murphy. This year’s JUNO nomination for “Best New Country Artist” is just the latest of many accolades for their songs, and The Ennis Sisters’ ability to deliver the words the way they are meant to be heard.

Tickets for the JUNOfest 2002 Songwriters’ Circle are on sale at the Mile One Box Office (709) 576-7657 for only $20 plus surcharge. Proceeds from this event will help establish the Roger Skinner Scholarship Fund for Musical Excellence. Prior to his recent passing on Feb.23, 2002, Roger was President of he MIANL and was instrumental in the initial negotiations for JUNOfest 2002…Music From the Edge.

“Roger truly loved attending songwriters’ circles because he felt that the songs, when performed in such a setting by those who write them, become the stars of the show,” said Denis Parker, Executive Director of the MIANL. “He wanted this event to be a key segment of JUNOfest 2002 and our Board felt that this would be the perfect vehicle to help establish a music scholarship in his name.” This event is proudly presented by the MIANL, The Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, CARAS, Steele Communications, Molson, and The Telegram.

CBC Radio - Definitely Not the Opera

Saturday February 2, 2002
Jimmy Rankin in concert, live from the ECMA
CBC Radio One national broadcast
4 - 5pm
Details - http://www.cbc.ca/dnto/

For Immediate Release January 15, 2002

Saint John, NB -- An unprecedented number of musical acts will perform on this year's EAST COAST MUSIC AWARDS, one of the most exciting Canadian music events of the year. ECMA 2002 will be broadcast live from Harbour Station in Saint John, New Brunswick in a shared event of CBC Television and CBC Radio Two on Sunday, February 3 at 6 p.m. (6:30 p.m. NT). (Check your local listings for time in your area).

A spectacular array of musicians from all genres will entertain during the gala award ceremony including: Queen of the Fiddle Natalie MacMaster; multi-award winning performer/songwriter Bruce Guthro; award-winning Francophone artist Danny Boudreau; hot jazz artists Cindy Church , Joe Sealy, and George Koller; Jimmy Rankin, who is nominated for six ECMA's and is currently playing to sold out houses everywhere; and with a dazzling new CD and four ECMA nominations,  Newfoundland's Ennis Sisters.  A Bluegrass extravaganza features ECMA-nominated acts Birchmountain Bluegrass Band, Blacks Mountain and Bluegrass Diamonds.

In an innovative approach to the award ceremony, this year's show includes a multi-host format. Hosts include multiple Gemini Award winner Rick Mercer; Cape Breton comedienne Bette MacDonald; multiple ECMA award-winner Newfoundland's Damhnait Doyle;  Chris Murphy of the group Sloan, with six ECMA nominations; Shelagh Rogers, host of CBC Radio One's This Morning; 2001 country artist of the year Julian Austin;  Multi ECMA award-winner Kim Stockwood, and CBC TV personality Jonathan Torrens. CBC Radio Two will broadcast the awards show in stereo. Co-hosts Shelagh Rogers and Nora Young will bring listeners backstage interviews exclusive to Radio Two.

"The East Coast is a big talented family of musicians, singers and songwriters," says producer Geoff D'Eon.  "And we've tapped into that big family to bring as many performers and hosts from the East Coast as possible to our national TV audience," concurs fellow producer Michael Lewis.

"We're delighted that Canada will join us in celebrating East Coast artists," said Sheri Jones, Co-Chair of the East Coast Music Association. "This year's East Coast Music Awards promises to deliver a diverse array of established and emerging talent."

Winner of the Gemini Award for Best Music Variety Program for the last two years, THE EAST COAST MUSIC AWARDS has a tradition of showcasing fresh, young, regional talent and this year is no exception.  Rising stars invited to perform this year include Halifax rockers, nominated for three awards, The Joel Plaskett Emergency;  an original singer/songwriter talent Colleen Power;  from Halifax, the hard-driving alternative group The Jimmy Swift Band;  popular New Brunswick group Chris Colepaugh and The Cosmic Crew; and New Artist nominee RASA from Newfoundland,  offering a lilting blend of soft rock and jazz.  Also included on the big ticket are PEI's Celtic singers and dancers Celtitude; and the musicians from Mir who made such a hit at last year's award show.

THE EAST COAST MUSIC AWARDS is a CBC Atlantic/East Coast Music Association co-production.  Producers for CBC are Geoff D'Eon and Michael Lewis. Producer for the East Coast Music Association is Jac Gautreau and John Dalton is the producer for CBC Radio Two.

Tickets to the East Coast Music Awards can be purchased at Harbour Station, Imperial Theatre and selected Irving Mainway Outlets or by calling
506-657-1234 or 506-674-4100