Serena Ryder, an Ontario-based folk-rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, with four prior JUNO Awards, was named Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year in the 2014 Canadian equivalent of the Grammys. Toronto-based alt-country singer-songwriter Justin Rutledge’s Valleyheart and The Strumbellas’ We Still Move on Dance Floors were named Roots & Traditional Album of the Year – Solo and Group, respectively.
The 43rd annual JUNO Awards were presented by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (CARAS) on Sunday, March 30, at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Ryder, who co-hosted and performed during the show, had received nominations in five categories. Only indie rockers Arcade Fire, with six nods, received more nominations. Like Ryder, the Montreal-based group received two awards – Album of the Year and Alternative Album of the Year for Reflecktor.
Justin Rutledge’s Valleyheart beat out So Say We All by David Francey, Tin Star by Lindi Ortega, Come Cry with Me by Daniel Romano, and Don’t Get Too Grand by Donovan Woods in the Roots & Traditional Album of the Year – Solo category. Other groups that were in the running for the Roots & Traditional Album of the Year award won by the Ontario-based alt-country/indie-rock sextet The Strumbellas included The Devin Cuddy Band for Volume One, Little Miss Higgins & The Winnipeg Five for Bison Ranch Recording Sessions, Lee Harvey Osmond for The Folk Sinner, and The Wilderness of Manitoba for Island of Echoes.
Singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith’s Forever Endeavour was named Adult Alternative Album of the Year.
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