Winners at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards

Canada’s music elite gathered to toast 35 JUNO Award winners at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards presented by SiriusXM Canada last night in Hamilton. Hosted by Jessi Cruickshank at the Hamilton Convention Centre, the evening’s festivities featured performances by a spectacular lineup of 2015 JUNO Award nominees and winners, as well as unforgettable tributes to some of the most influential names in Canadian music.

Multiple Award winners at the Gala included alternative singer-songwriter Bahamas, who won honours for both Songwriter of the Year* and Adult Alternative Album of the Year; and electro-dance sensation Kiesza, who earned Dance Recording of the Year and Video of the Year*. Kiesza will also be making her JUNO Award performance debut during the Sunday night Broadcast on CTV from Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre.

Four other JUNO Awards Broadcast performers also took home statuettes last night, including Hamilton’s own Arkells for Group of the Year; Magic! for Breakthrough Group of the Year*; Lights for Pop Album of the Year* and The Weeknd for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year.

The night’s special award winners included Rush, who received the 2015 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award (sponsored by Bell Media), and music executive Ray Danniels, who was honoured with the 2015 Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award.

Guests at the performance-packed Gala enjoyed numbers by 2015 JUNO Award winner Dallas Smith, nominees Alvvays, Daniel Lanois, and Matt Andersen, as well as a special Blues Jam featuring Crystal Shawanda, JW-Jones, Steve Hill**, Steve Strongman, and The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer.

Winners of the 2015 Juno Awards as announced at the Hamilton Convention Centre Saturday, March 14.

International Album of the Year: In the Lonely Hour, Sam Smith

Group of the Year: Arkells

Breakthrough Group of the year: Magic!

Songwriter of the year: Bahamas

Country Album of the year:
Lifted, Dallas Smith

Adult Alternative Album of the year: Bahamas is Afie, Bahamas

Alternative Album of the Year: July Talk, July Talk

Pop Album of the Year: Little Machines, Lights

Vocal Jazz Album of the Year: Red, Diana Panton

Jazz Album of the Year, Solo:
Vista Obscura, Kirk MacDonald

Jazz Album of the Year, Group: Jane Bunnett and Maqueque

Instrumental Album of the Year: Encuentro, Quartango

Francophone Album of the Year: Maladie d’amour, Jimmy Hunt

Children’s Album of the Year: Where in the World, Fred Penner

Classical Album of the Year, Solo or Chamber Ensemble: Bartok, Chamber Works for Violin Vol. 3, James Ehnes

Classical Album of the Year, Large Ensemble: Mozart, Piano Concertos Nos. 22 & 24, Angela Hewitt

Classical Album of the Year, Vocal or Choral Performance:
Schubert,  Winterreise, Gerald Finley & Julius Drake

Classical Composition of  the Year: Airline Icarus, Brian Current

Rap Recording of the Year:
The Legends League Presents, Naturally Born Strangers

Dance Recording of the Year: Sound of a Woman, Kiesza

R&B/Soul Recording of the year: Often, The Weeknd

Reggae Recording of the Year:
Welcome the King, Exco Levi

Aboriginal Album of the Year: Animism, Tanya Tagaq

Roots & Traditional Album of the Year, Solo: The Raven’s Sun, Catherine MacLellan

Roots & Traditional Album of the Year, Group: Let It Lie, The Brothers Landreth

Blues Album of the Year:
Solo Recordings, Vol. 2, Steve Hill

Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: VIP, Manic Drive

World Music Album of the Year: 500 Years of Night, Quique Escamilla

Producer of the Year:
Adam Messinger, for “Rude,” by Magic!

Recording Engineer of the Year:
Eric Ratz, “Ghosts,” by Big Wreck

Recording Package of the Year: Roberta Hansen, Mike Latschislaw for “Pilgrimage,” by Steve Bell

Video of the Year:
Kiesza, Blayre Ellestad, Rami Afuni and Ljuba Castot, for “Hideaway” by Kiesza

Electronic Album of the Year: Our Love, Caribou

Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year: Z2, Devin Townsend Project

Adult Contemporary Album of the Year:
Shine On, Sarah McLachlan