Canada's most prestigious music awards ceremony will have a bit of a local flavour to it this year.
Dean Brody, originally from Jaffray, is among the nominees for this year's Juno Awards, being held in Regina on April 21, and his album "Dirt" has been nominated for Country Album of the Year.
As well, southern Alberta's Corb Lund is up for Roots Album of the Year, for his album "Cabin Fever."
Brody played a couple of sold-out shows recently at the Key City Theatre in Cranbrook, and Corb Lund is coming to town in May.
"It's great to see good people like Dean Brody and Corb Lund getting the recognition they deserve on both the national and international scene," said F.J. Hurtak of the Kootenay Concert Connection, who helped bring Brody to Cranbrook, and who's bringing Lund here too. "I'm certain there are big things ahead for both of them in the near future."
The two Canadian singers will be meeting prior to the Junos on the same stage in Australia.The pair will be representing Canada March 15 to 17 at Australia's biggest International Country and Roots Festival (CMC Rocks the Hunter) in the Hunter Valley. U.S. artists include Billy Ray Cyrus, and Rascal Flatts.