TORONTO - The Junos are heading to Calgary next year. The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which runs the annual awards gala, says the bash will return to Alberta for a three-day celebration starting April 4, 2008.
The Junos stopped in Edmonton in 2004.
Events already planned for Calgary include the Juno Cup celebrity fundraiser hockey game, a two-day musical showcase, the songwriters' circle, and the Juno fan fare, in which fans can get up close with their favourite artists for autographs and interviews.
It all culminates in an awards broadcast on April 6, 2008.
This year's Junos take place in Saskatoon, with a televised gala April 1 to be hosted by pop sensation Nelly Furtado.
Performers include Alexisonfire, Billy Talent, City and Colour, k-os and The Tragically Hip.
"There is an extraordinary energy in Calgary right now and we are thrilled that the 2008 Juno Awards will be part of this renaissance happening in the West,'' CARAS president Melanie Berry said Wednesday in a release.
Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier says the event will give the local music scene a tremendous boost and predicted that the tourism could bring up to $10 million in revenue to the area.
Other cities that have hosted the Junos include St. John's (2002), Ottawa (2003), Edmonton (2004), Winnipeg (2005), and Halifax (2006).
