Juno 2014 events unveiled in Winnipeg

Juno fever fired up in Winnipeg on Tuesday as the host committee unveiled theevents that will take place leading up to and during the awards week at the end of March.

• Winnipeg to host Juno Awards in 2014
• Manitobans get 13 Juno nods ahead of Winnipeg award show

"There are somegreat ticketed events as well as free public events and performances taking place all aroundWinnipeg, said KennyBoyce, one of the committee co-chairs, along withCaroleVivier.

We have planned free public events that include performances at The Forks and the airport, aswell as Random Acts of Junothat will be springing up around downtown until the end of March," said Vivier.

"We will also be engaging with some Winnipeg schools for an All Strings Consideredperformance at the West End Cultural Centre."

Boyceand Vivier made the announcement at a news conferenceat the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre, which will serve as Manitoba Houseduring the Junocelebration.

AJuno kick-off party will be held March 27 at Manitoba House with performances by The Trews, TheNew Meanies and Attica Riots.

Anumber ofevents will takeplace there and at otherlocations around the city during the Juno week.

Country singers BrettKissel, DeanBrody, andGordBamfordwere named Tuesday as additional performers for the awards night.

They join previously announced performers Matt Mays, RobinThicke, Serena Ryder, The Sheepdogs,Teganand Sara, and Walk Off The Earth.

It was also announced Tuesday that Canadian singer and eight-time Juno winner Sarah McLachlan will take the stage as a special presenter for MusiCounts, speaking about the work done by the charity toput instruments into the hands of children and award scholarships to music students.

The Olympic women's curling gold medallists from Winnipeg, Team Jennifer Jones, will also be special presenters at the awards night.

Jones said it's a big honour for them because they're all huge music fans.

"When we got the invitation to come and present at the Junos, I just got goosebumps even talking about it," she said.

"We're in Winnipeg, we're in our city and the Junos is so huge and we're huge music fans and we're going to be presenting on stage. It's an incredible honour for us and we can't wait."

Meanwhile, another Winnipeg native,Randy Bachman,will host the popular Songwriters' Circle, which features Canadian songwriters sharing their songs and the stories behind them.

The11-time Juno Award winner and a founding member of The Guess Who andBachman-TurnerOverdrive, will take the stage for the eventon March 30 at the Burton Cummings Theatre.

Event expected to be boon for local bars

The cultural, artistic warmth of our community will be on full display for the whole country, said Premier Greg Selinger. Its going to make a big difference.

Kings Head Pub owner Jay Khanuja expects to see that difference in his bottom line.

Basically, the magnitude of it is having three or four Fridays in a row, said Khanuja. Its just going to do nothing but grow the live music scene again.

Khanuja said recent changes to liquor laws, which allow for smaller venues to host live music, will also help.

The full roster of events can be found on the Juno Awards website.

There is still no word on who will host of the 2014 awards.