The most memorable moments at the 2023 Junos

The Juno Awards are taking over Edmonton for the first time since 2004, and CBC Music is on the ground to catch every thrilling moment. From speeches that leave us speechless to performances from Canada's rising stars, behind-the-scenes hijinks to Junofest showcases that tear the house down, this Juno Week will be one for the books.

There's a lot happening, but we'll make sure you'll feel like you're there. 

Scroll down for the highlights, and for more Junos coverage, head over to cbcmusic.ca/junos.

The Juno Awards Opening Night began with a moving land acknowledgement, performed by Dougie Rain and followed by a gorgeous performance by the Bearhead Sisters, from Paul First Nation, Treaty 6, Alberta, who would go on to win a Juno for traditional Indigenous artist or group of the year. 

"The First Peoples spoke and sang about our history. The stories and sounds of our past will never fade from these lands," Rain said. 

The first award of the night went to an Albertan: Tenille Townes for country album of the year for Masquerades, which is her second Juno win ever.

"There's just a spirit of home for me that you can't run from around here … there's just such a strong love for [country music], it's in the fabric of who we are," Townes said in the media room, answering a question about what is so special to her about Alberta's country music scene.

The Sadies won the Juno Award for adult alternative album of the year, and Travis Good paid tribute to his late brother Dallas Good, who passed away on February 17, 2022, when receiving it: "It's very bittersweet, this is. I humbly accept this on behalf of my brother Dallas… we love and we miss him and we wish he was here." 

Montreal artist Rêve won her first Juno for dance recording of the year thanks to her platinum-selling track "Ctrl Alt Delete," that's been featured on the 2022 FIFA soundtrack and on Canada's Drag Race. Dance music has long been a boys' club, and as more women reclaim their space in the genre, it's still an uphill battle. When asked what it's been like for her as a woman navigating this industry, she said "You can't let anybody tell you no. You can't be intimidated to be a woman in a room full of men. Let your voice be heard no matter how scary it is." 

The Bros. Landreth, who won the Juno for contemporary roots album of the year, reminisced in the media room about the recent Grammy Awards, where Bonnie Raitt won a Grammy for covering their song "Made up Mind." Joey Landreth set the scene, when he and his brother, David, were supposed to be together to watch it.

"I think it was a great example of how the universe will humble you," he said. "We were hosting a dinner at my house, and 20 minutes before the category was announced [David's son] Finn started projectile vomiting … it was an incredible moment, but very grounding."

Digging Roots, made up of married duo Raven Kanatakta and ShoShona Kish, won the Juno Award for contemporary Indigenous artist or group of the year, their second Juno Award ever. It's been a big year for Digging Roots, as Kish founded Ishkodé Records with close friend and artist Amanda Rheaume last summer, and their first label signee, Aysanabee, was nominated in the same category as Digging Roots for his first Juno year.

"Chi migwech to our community who are, in my opinion, making the most inspired and cutting-edge music right now… we make music for dreaming and this is a room full of artists and changemakers and I just want to put to all of you that we can become our greatest selves," Kish said, during her acceptance speech for the Juno Award for contemporary Indigenous artist of the year.

"And I want to dedicate this to all of the little babies who never made it home… we don't just need allies, we need co-conspirators so that we can begin the healing journey," Kanatakta added.