The Hunter Brothers and their families had been sure for Saskatoon on Thursday — travelling in a three-car or truck convoy somewhere in between Kyle and Rosetown — when they acquired this year’s Juno Awards had been cancelled due to problems in excess of the distribute of COVID-19.
“To say we were not upset would be a lie simply because it is one thing we have been so excited about,” J.J. Hunter explained.
The sibling country songs group, slated to enjoy in a Junos kickoff concert Thursday night time, have long been admirers of the once-a-year awards clearly show celebrating Canadian songs.
“Escalating up in smaller-city Saskatchewan, knowing that they had been currently being held listed here in our home province, knowing that we got to be a section of them… we have been excited for a extensive time,” Hunter explained.
On Thursday early morning, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) officially announced it was cancelling this year’s event, which had been set to include several times of functions, concerts and functions major up to a televised awards clearly show on Sunday.
“When you glimpse at all the get the job done which is absent into it — the arranging system, the many teams that are a section of it — I consider disappointment is a normal reaction to it. At the exact time, we also realize that basic safety is of utmost relevance and so we stand behind the governing authorities and the types that make these choices,” J.J. Hunter explained.
Jann Arden, who was to be inducted into the Canadian Tunes Corridor of Fame as section of Junos 7 days, referred to as the cancellation “completely the smartest, most practical decision that could have been designed,” in a video message.
“We are all listening to our group leaders, which is very vital correct now: to pay attention to what we need to do to be risk-free as a country, to remain risk-free, to preserve the numbers down,” Arden explained.
She extra that CARAS was “figuring out how to go forward” with asserting and distributing the many dozen Juno Award trophies to this year’s winners.
Working artists in ‘quite a predicament’
Pulling the plug on many times of Junos functions was a hard selection, but it was the correct a single, country artist Blake Berglund said.
In latest weeks, the distribute of COVID-19 to different international locations has prompted a developing range of cancellations, closures and postponements. Against this backdrop, deciding upon irrespective of whether or not to attend this year’s Junos set many Canadian musicians “in a tiny little bit of a pickle,” Berglund explained.
“We had these commitments to venues, we had commitments to promoters, we had commitments to the Junos,” he explained.
“For us to just take the responsible route and just pull out on our own … it would have compelled venues, it would have compelled fellow performers, it would have compelled staff members to select up our slack. So we had been in very a predicament.”
Berglund said that, as a musician, the existing condition bordering COVID-19 is one thing wholly new to him.
“I’ve hardly ever really had to encounter that: knowing that I are unable to get onstage simply because anyone in the crowd could be sick,” he explained.
Berglund also had a suggestion for admirers:
Reggae artist Jay Douglas, who acquired of the Juno Awards currently being cancelled while on a flight from Toronto to Saskatoon Thursday, took the information in stride.
“My mother taught me a single point: out of each and every poor condition, some superior is going to arrive. And we’re blessed in this gorgeous country. It can be all of [our] concern. We will get the job done jointly to wipe this adverse virus,” Douglas said after arriving at the Saskatoon airport.
However he famous his supervisor was hunting into return flights, the songs veteran explained he also wouldn’t brain remaining in city for a few times as initially prepared.
“The force has brought us listed here for a cause,” he explained, smiling. “The persons of Saskatoon have been hunting forward to this. We send them enjoy.”
Looking at the developing range of cancellations is disappointing, admitted Ty Hunter of the Hunter Brothers.
“It can be a single of people factors that is tough, but you gotta roll with the tides.”
His brother J.J. extra that it can be crucial for persons to aid every single other in situations like these.
“No matter if which is in the songs loved ones, irrespective of whether which is in the media loved ones, irrespective of whether which is in smaller communities or huge communities, it can be so crucial to stand side by side via tough situations.”