Two bands whose origins are intrinsically tied to Victoria have received numerous nominations for this year’s Juno Awards, which will be hosted in Vancouver next month.
Both Spiritbox and Mother Mother have received nominations for Canada’s most prestigious music prizes, but will have tough competition among the other nominees.
Spiritbox is nominated for both ‘Group of the Year’ and ‘Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year.’
The metal band was originally established in Victoria by now-husband and wife duo Mike Stringer and Courtney LaPlante.
They used to play in Victoria venues more frequently with the band Iwrestledabearonce before establishing Spiritbox, moving out of Victoria and putting out a number of now-acclaimed albums.
Spiritbox’s 2023 EP release The Fear of Fire is up against bands such as Kittie, Devin Townsend, Season of Mist and Striker for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year.
For Group of the Year, their competition is Crash Adams, Sum 41, The Beaches and fellow Vancouver Island band, Mother Mother.
Preview The Fear of Fire below:
Mother Mother has been nominated not only for Group of the Year, but also for ‘Rock Album of the Year’ for their 2024 release Grief Chapter.
This band had its humble beginnings in the small community of Heriot Bay on Quadra Island, where frontman Ryan Guldemond and his sister Molly still reside.
They have always had a massive following in Victoria and the fact that they are playing a massive show later this month, on February 18th, at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre shows how far they’ve come.
Mother Mother’s Grief Chapter is up against JJ Wilde, Big Wreck, NOBRO and Sum 41 for the Rock Album of the Year award.
Preview Grief Chapter below:
The Juno Awards ceremony will be held in Vancouver at Rogers Arena on Sunday, March 30th.
