Juno performers finding fun forums to perform
The cancellation of the Juno Awards due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic left dozens of bands without venues to play at — so some of them are getting creative.
Local band Too Soon Monsoon — who had been scheduled to play at the Drift Café on Friday night as part of the two-day Junofest — announced that they would livestream their concert set on social media in the wake of the Junofest cancellation.
Instead of playing as part of the awards, they’ll play in their drummer’s living room. The band’s vocalist and keyboard player, Greg Orré, said they’re happy to perform to show off what they’d been working on with a live stream on Friday night.
“Other artists are finding different venues to bring music to the city. Rapper D.O. — whose real name is Duane Gibson — is based out of Toronto but was born in Watrous. Gibson was in the airport waiting for his flight to Saskatoon when he heard the Juno Awards were cancelled, but he decided to make the trip anyway.
Gibson said he wanted to connect with people in a city he remembers fondly from his childhood — so he’s planning a concert for students at Lakeview School on Friday.
“This trip represented me coming back and doing some work in Saskatchewan,” Gibson said. “I am, and I was, really looking forward to that.”
Gibson, who set the Guinness World Record for the longest freestyle rap in 2003, said he was excited to be coming back for some
Juno Awards events, but when the cancellations were announced, he thought about how much Saskatoon would miss the Junos.
“This was a huge event for Saskatoon,” he said. “It would be a shame if there isn’t live music this weekend, even if it’s smaller places ... Saskatchewan has a history of great music, and I think we should show that off this weekend.”
Other Junofest remnants are still aiming to have performances this weekend despite the cancellation: Leot Hanson with the Capitol Music Club said he was in negotiations to have The Blue Stones still play at the club on Saturday, and Saskatoon-based band W3APONS said on Facebook they will still be perform at Amigos Cantina on Friday.