FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUNO AWARDS WEEKEND IS HERE! The artists are confirmed and the stage is set for Canada’s biggest music celebration

JUST ANNOUNCED! Hockey Hall of Famer Lanny McDonald joins Juno Cup Roster;

Juno Cup Silent Auction items revealed: exclusive memorabilia including autographed Ovechkin photo and tickets to sold-out concerts for

Michael Bublé, Nickelback and The Tragically Hip Vancouver, BC (March 24, 2009) – Canada’s Music Awards finally arrive in Vancouver this weekend for one of the most anticipated JUNO Awards celebrations to-date. The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has confirmed the final line-up of artists and events for JUNO Awards Weekend including Juno Cup, Juno Fan Fare, JunoFest and Songwriters’ Circle, in addition to revealing nearly 30 coveted items up for bid at the Juno Cup Silent Auction, taking place at Friday night’s charity fundraiser game at the UBC Thunderbird Arena. These are the final days to purchase tickets to select JUNO Award Weekend Events as well as tickets to THE 2009 JUNO AWARDS broadcast on Sunday, March 29, on CTV. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

Juno Cup is an ever-growing popular event among fans that mixes music with sport, matching NHL alumni with top artists and entertainers. During the exciting two periods of the game, a Silent Auction will be held in support of MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity, associated with CARAS. Some of the coveted, one-of-a-kind items available include:

• Autographed Alexander Ovechkin Framed Photo • Steve Nash Autographed Basketball in Glass Display Case • Hanson Brothers Framed Autographed 8X10 Photo w/signed manuscript of Slap Shot movie • Gibson Epiphone Guitar Signed by Nickelback w/ Concert Tickets • Michael Bublé autographed Vancouver Giants package hockey jersey and ticket package • The Tragically Hip World Container Autographed Hockey Jersey, Hipeponymous Box Set and

tickets to sold out Vancouver show

Juno Cup has helped raise more than $700,000 for MusiCounts and music programs across Canada. For a complete list of Juno Cup Silent Auction items go to www.junocup.ca. The final confirmed 2009 Juno Cup rosters:

NHLers: Bob Probert Brad Dalgarno Cliff Ronning Dave Babych Garth Butcher Gino Odjick Greg Adams

Lanny McDonald – NEW addition Mark Napier Mike Pelyk Russ Courtnall Troy Crowder Guest Coach - Kadooh (State of Shock) Guest Coach - Martin Strong (Rock 101)

…/MORE

Juno Cup - Presented by The Keg Steakhouse & Bar Date: Friday, March 27 Location: UBC Thunderbird Arena Time: 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Tickets: $14.99

2.

Rockers: (*2009 JUNO Award nominee) Aaron Pritchett* Alan Doyle (Great Big Sea)* Barney Bentall Brad Keller (Creaking Tree String Quartet)* Brian Kobayakawa (Creaking Tree String Quartet)* Cam Melnyk (State of Shock) Captain Scotty (Jeff O’Neil Show, 99.3 The Fox) Craig Northey (Odds) Dustin Bentall George Canyon Jay Bodner (Eagle & Hawk) Jesse Wainwright (State of Shock) Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo)* – Team Captain John Dinsmore (NQ Arbuckle)

Kathleen Edwards* Luke Doucet Mark Sasso (Elliott Brood)* Matt Johnson (54-40) Matthew Barber* Paul Hawley (Hot Hot Heat) Peter Kesper (NQ Arbuckle)* Rob Higgins (Dearly Beloved) Sarah McLachlan (2009 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award) Sean McCann (Great Big Sea)* Steve Dawson* Tyler Stewart (Barenaked Ladies)* Tyson Yerex (Acres of Lions) Vince Fontaine (Eagle & Hawk) Guest Coach - Greg Keelor

TSN’s Off the Record host, Michael Landsberg, will be announcing the live play-by-play commentary during the game’s exciting two periods as well as the skills competition. Media Partners for Juno Cup: CTV, The Fox, Rock 101 and Vancouver 24 Hours. For more information on Juno Cup, go to www.junocup.ca.

Twenty of Canada’s hottest acts and JUNO Award nominees have been confirmed to participate in JUNO Weekend’s FREE live and interactive event, Juno Fan Fare. The all-day extravaganza is packed with autograph sessions, interviews and prize giveaways! Juno Fan Fare line-up

Aaron Pritchett Arkells Carly Rae Jepsen Cancer Bats City and Colour Crystal Shawanda Deborah Cox

Divine Brown Doc Walker Elise Estrada Faber Drive George Canyon Kreesha Turner Marianas Trench

Saint Alvia Sam Roberts Band Tara Oram The Midway State The Stills The Trews

Media Partners: CTV, The Beat 94.5, 93.7 JRfm, JACK FM and The Vancouver Sun. For more information on Juno Fan Fare, go to www.junofanfare.ca

Live music hits the streets of Vancouver! More than 100 acts have been confirmed for JunoFest, with nearly half of the participating line-up chosen locally to highlight Vancouver’s rich and diverse music scene, in addition to performances from 2009 JUNO Award nominees and some of Canada’s national touring acts.

…/3

Juno Fan Fare - Presented by Sirius Satellite Radio Date: Saturday, March 28 Location: Granville Street Party (at Smithe) Time: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Doors at 9am (first come, first serve) Tickets: FREE public event

JunoFest Date: Friday, March 27 & Saturday, March 28 Location: Various venues Time: 8 p.m. – 2 a.m. (both nights) Tickets: $30 per wristband (must be 19 years of age or older to attend) $12 at the door

3. Produced in association with Vancouver-based Donnelly & Associates Event Marketing Inc., JunoFest is a two-night music extravaganza that showcases the talents of over 100 local, regional and national artists representing the diverse spectrum of Canadian music.

JunoFest’09 line-up:

16mm A Grey Medium Acres of Lions Adaline Andrew Allen Amos Garrett* Arkells Armchair Cynics Barney Bentall & The Legendary Hearts Beast* Bel Riose Ben Sigston Bend Sinister Big Dave McLean* Billy Joe Green* Black Betty Callahan Carly Rae Jepsen Chin Christer Chris Donnelly* Cold Driven Cousin Harley Current Swell DJ BRACE* DL Incognito* Daniel Wesley Dan Mangan David Blair Dearly Beloved Deep Dark Woods Divine Brown* Doc Walker* D-Sisive* Dustin Bentall Eccodek* Eldorado Elise Estrada* Elizabeth Shepherd* Elliott Brood* Em Express Faber Drive Famous* Fluffy Starr Francois Bourassa Quartet* Free City Collective George Leach Gord Grdina Grass City

Greg Sczebel The Gryphon Trio* Hannah Georgas Hey Ocean! Hey Rosetta! Humble* Inhabitants* Inward Eye Jackalope Jane Bunnett* Jason Plumb Jaydee Bixby Jessica Beach Jim Byrnes & The Sojourners Jimmy Zee Band John Lee Sanders Jon and Roy Jon-Rae Fletcher Kill Rhythm Kinnie Starr Ko Kapches Kuba Ladies of the Canyon Laura Smith Laurell Le Groupe Swing* Lindsay Ell Mad Shadow Mani Khaira Marble Rye Maryem & Ernie Tollar* Matthew Barber* Matt Walker Maurice Michael Occhipinti and The Sicilian Jazz Project* Michelle Lee Mobadass Mobile Mohawk Lodge Mother Mother Murray Atkinson NQ Arbuckle* Nat Jay Ndidi Onukwulu* Ninjaspy Odds Olliebollen Trio On Holiday Outlaw Social Plants and Animals*

Pride Tiger Quinzy Rich Hope Ridley Bent Royal Wood Run GMC Ryan McMahon Said the Whale Saint Alvia* Savannah Leigh Band Scatterheart Sex With Strangers Shawn Hlookoff Sherry St. Germain Shiloh Shiloh Lindsey Shout Out Out Out Out Sleddogs Souljah Fyah* Spread Eagle Stand Down Starfield* Steve Dawson* Suzie Vinnick* Swan Tanya Tagaq* Tara Oram* The Bleeding Horse The British Columbians The Dudes The Februarys The Fugitives The Good News The Latency The Manvils The Midway State* The Painted Birds The Small Glories (Blue Violets) The Turn The Trews* The Whethermen Times Neue Roman Tracy Bone* Twilight Hotel* Vince Vaccaro Wakefield Drive Warren Dean Wide Mouth Mason You Say Party! We Say Die! Yvette Tollar* Zaki Ibrahim*

…/4

4. JunoFest ’09 venues: The Bourbon - 50 Cordova Street Backstage Lounge - 1585 Johnston Street Bar None - 1222 Hamilton Street Biltmore Cabaret - 395 Kingsway Doolin’s Irish Pub - 654 Nelson Street Fairview Pub - 898 West Broadway The Libra Room - 1608 Commercial Drive The Media Club - 695 Cambie Street The Penthouse - 1019 Seymour St. Pub 340 - 340 Cambie Street

Railway Club -579 Dunsmuir St Red Room - 398 Richards Street Richards on Richards - 1036 Richards Street Rossini's - 1525 Yew Street The Roxy - 932 Granville St Royal Hotel - 1029 Granville Shark Club - 180 Georgia The Cellar - 1006 Granville The Yale Hotel - 1300 Granville St

For detailed information on dates, times, locations and performances of JunoFest artists, go to www.junofest.ca.

Media Partners: CTV, The Fox, 103.5 QM-FM, 94.5 The Beat, TALK 1410, The PEAK, JACK FM, The Province, 24 Hours.

Intimate, live and unscripted. Presented by the Canadian Music Publishers Association (CMPA) and the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), Songwriters’ Circle will be hosted by two-time JUNO Award-winning artist and 2009 JUNO Award nominee, Hawksley Workman, who will join fellow esteemed Canadian songwriters:

• Buffy Sainte-Marie, 1995 Canadian Music Hall of Fame recipient • Doc Walker (Chris Thorsteinson and Dave Wasyliw) • Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo) • Jacob Hoggard (Hedley) • Ndidi Onukwulu • Sarah Slean

CBC Radio 2 will broadcast the event live to listeners across Canada. Hosted by Radio 2 Drive’s Rich Terfy, known as Buck 65, bringing the best in current singer-songwriters and emerging Canadian talent. Proceeds from this event will go to benefit MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity, associated with CARAS to keep music alive in schools. Media Partners: CTV, CBC Radio 2 and 103.5 QM-FM. For more information on Songwriters’ Circle, go to www.junosongwriterscircle.ca.

Just last week, the star-studded cast of presenters for THE 2009 JUNO AWARDS was announced including Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, Feist, k.d. lang and many more.

…/5

Songwriters’ Circle - Sponsored by CMPA and SOCAN Date: Sunday, March 29 Location: The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts Time: Noon – 2 p.m. Tickets: $34.75/$39.75

THE 2009 JUNO AWARDS on CTV Date: Sunday, March 29 Location: General Motors Place Time: 5 p.m. (PST); broadcasts across Canada on CTV Tickets: $69.00 and $189.00

5. The complete performance line-up is now confirmed, totalling 14 of Canada’s hottest acts: Bryan Adams, City and Colour, Crystal Shawanda, Divine Brown, Great Big Sea (with Hawksley Workman and Eccodek members Andrew McPherson, Les Hartai and Jason Shute), Kathleen Edwards, Nickelback, Sam Roberts, Sarah McLachlan, Serena Ryder, Simple Plan and The Stills. Hosted by comic superstar Russell Peters, THE 2009 JUNO AWARDS airs live on CTV on Sunday, March 29. Tickets to the broadcast can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.ca, or by phone at (604) 280-4444. Tickets are priced between $69.00 and $189.00 (plus service charges) and are limited to four per person. For more information on The 2009 JUNO Awards, go to www.junoawards.ca. Sponsors of The 2009 JUNO Awards include FACTOR, Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s “Canada Music Fund,” The Province of British Columbia, The City of Vancouver, Music BC and Radio Starmaker Fund. Broadcast sponsors of THE 2009 JUNO AWARDS are Garnier, Pepsi, Pontiac and Rogers. About CARAS: The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/L’academie canadienne des arts et des sciences de l’enregistrement (CARAS) is a not-for-profit organization created to preserve and enhance the Canadian music and recording industries and to contribute toward higher artistic and industry standards. The main focus of CARAS is the exploration and development of opportunities to showcase and promote Canadian artists and music through vehicles such as The JUNO Awards. For more information on The 38th Annual JUNO Awards or The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) please visit our websites at www.carasonline.ca and www.junoawards.ca.

-30-

Media Contacts: Chris McDowall Tiffany Astle Holmes Creative Communications Holmes Creative Communications (416) 628-5648 (416) 628-5603 cmcdowall@hccink.com tastle@hccink.com