March
1 , 2006
Halifax
Play Hard Builds Local Excitement for 2006 Juno Awards Celebrations
March
1, 2006 -- Halifax, NS- Halifax Play Hard, the local host committee
for the 2006 Juno Awards, is creating a buzz in the region with
exciting music programs leading up to the 2006 Juno Awards weekend.
All programs will culminate into an energetic Juno Awards launch
in Halifax’s Grand Parade on Thursday, March 30.
Currently,
Musicstop Music in Schools, the host committee’s legacy
project, is well on its way to raising up to $135,000 for Nova
Scotia school band programs.
On
March 3rd, Tunes at Noon will kickoff at Halifax North Memorial
Public Library with a performance by Jordan Croucher. Tunes at
Noon, presented by FACTOR, is a noon concert series featuring
well-known Nova Scotian artists. The artists will perform at Halifax
Regional Municipality (HRM) libraries across the region as well
as four HRM shopping malls, including Sunnyside Mall, Mic Mac
Mall, Halifax Shopping Centre and Scotia Square. Thirteen Nova
Scotian artists will be showcased every Friday in March, along
with daily concerts from March 27th to 31st building up to the
Juno weekend. Those who attend this concert series will have the
opportunity to win two tickets to the 2006 JUNO Awards to be broadcast
nationally on CTV. (Artists performing at Tunes at Noon are listed
at the end of this release.)
The
excitement builds with Halifax on Parade -- Halifax Play Hard’s
feature concert that launches the Juno weekend. This night of
free music for all ages promises to be one of the most exciting
nights in Halifax’s Grand Parade. Halifax on Parade will
run from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and will feature an impressive lineup
of Nova Scotia talent including, Garrett Mason, Jimmy Rankin,
The Joel Plaskett Emergency, Matt Mays & El Torpedo and The
Trews.
“We
invite everyone to join us as we launch this national music celebration
with some of Nova Scotia’s best. It promises to be a night
to remember,” said Stuart Jolliffe, chair of Halifax Play
Hard.
In
keeping with Halifax’s reputation as an event city, volunteers
were quick to commit their time and energy to the 2006 Juno Awards.
Over 2,000 volunteers have signed up to help make this event a
success.
Halifax
Play Hard is currently working with local businesses and the Halifax
International Airport to dress up the city with pageantry programs
including Juno in a Box -- a delivered package of themed items
to create in-store displays; and Adopt an Artist -- a fun, creative
program where restaurants name dishes after Juno nominees and
retailers decorate in celebration of these artists. Plans are
underway to welcome visitors with true Nova Scotia hospitality
as they arrive at the Halifax International Airport. Visitors
will be met by an outstanding Maritime welcome with a contemporary
flare. It will include Lobsters of the City, the impactful SQUID
with their unique precision drumming, sampling of Nova Scotia
products and a few surprises yet to be announced. Visitors and
residents alike will be encouraged to Play Hard!
Sponsors
of Halifax Play Hard include Nova Scotia “Come to life”,
FACTOR, Musicstop, XM Radio, Halifax Regional Municipality, the
Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, the Extreme
Group and Atlantic Digital.
