Login / RegisterGrant Lawrence to return as host for Western Canadian Music Awards gala
Grant Lawrence returns to his hosting job at the Western Canadian Music Awards gala, taking place this year in Whitehorse, on October 23.
“We just really like Grant,” executive director Rick Fenton told the Straight, saying that he first caught the CBC Radio 3 host at the Polaris Music Prize awards in Toronto last year. “I happened to be with a bunch of young musicians much hipper than I,” he said, “the Sheepdogs, and a whole bunch of people, and they all went, ‘We really like Grant. He really gives a shit.’ ”
The other big news released today (September 8) is that 54.40 will receive the 2011 Hall of Fame Award. “They’re 30 years old, speaking of making me feel old,” Fenton said, adding that frontman Neil Osborne will also give a keynote address at the Industry Awards, which are being held the night before the gala. “If anybody’s lived the life of ‘Buy a guitar and then turn it into a career,’ it’s certainly been Neil,” said Fenton.
Among the 10 local artists heading up north for the event are Aaron Pritchett, Fish & Bird, and Steve Dawson.
