THE CHARLATAN - April 3, 2003
by Mike Rifkin
Ottawa is gearing up to be the centre of the nation’s attention this weekend when it welcomes the 2003 Juno Awards.
Hosting what is arguably the biggest event in Canadian music promises to attract not only stars, fans and industry types but also a lot of media attention.
"Our objective is to generate the same impact that [the Junos] had in St. John’s," says Guy Laflamme, the chair of the Juno host committee. "We’re expecting in excess of $13.7 million of media coverage. That’s the highest level ever for the region. We hope that will translate into more Canadians visiting the capital region in the summer and in the coming years."
But aside from the tourism dollars, the Junos will also bring attention to an aspect of life in the capital that is often ignored, says Eugene Haslam, owner of Zaphod Beeblebrox.
"Along with [the Junos] comes a lot of media and a focus on a different part of the city, not just sports, not just politics," says Haslam.
"This time it focuses on the quality of life, the entertainment, the music scene. We’re more than happy to reflect ourselves to the
rest of nation and hopefully part of the world."
While the country is already familiar with the big names the city has produced, like Alanis Morissette and Kathleen Edwards, an entire scene continues to thrive, often ignored by the national media.Haslam says the Ottawa scene is stronger than some people outside the city think. Hosting the Junos, he says, is a chance to dispel any lingering myths.
"All they think of is government and the misconception that this is a boring old town," he says.
"Every single night of the week, if you’re looking to go have some fun, there’s fun to be had. It’s important that people look for it."
Part of the problem, Haslam says, is not just people outside Ottawa, but also residents of the city who are unaware of what the music scene has to offer.
"There’s a general kind of feeling sometimes that I get from people when they go ‘Well, Ottawa’s not like Toronto,’" says Haslam. "But it’s so stupid having that inferiority complex. The people who’ve lived here for a long time and make an effort know that it’s wrong, that kind of thinking. We’ve come a long way."
A variety of clubs in the region are participating in the Juno weekend festivities, from the blues-based Rainbow Bistro to the eclectic Zaphod’s. Haslam says he hopes Juno weekend will allow people to see the diversity of the Ottawa scene.
"The neat part about Ottawa is no matter what you’re into you can go out and find it," he says. "The whole idea of us getting the Junos is for us to reflect ourselves."
However, Haslam says many local bands were ignored by the organizers of JunoFest, the weekend-long club crawl.
"There’s so many bands in Ottawa that have been overlooked during this whole JunoFest," says Haslam. "They’re booking bands into nightclubs that aren’t Juno nominees and displacing local bands and I think that’s not fair."
To that end, Haslam organized ‘Poparazzi: The Ottawa Indie Showcase.’ The free show will take place at Zaphod’s on Sunday night. Local acts GordonGartrell, Freudhammer, The Setbacks, Fan Belt Seven and The Fully Down will perform.
"We’re showcasing some of the bands that aren’t in the showcases," says Haslam.
He says that while the Junos will bring increased exposure for the weekend, the Ottawa scene will continue to thrive with or without the media attention.
"The Junos are going to come and the Junos are going to go but our scene remains," he says.
"We’ve been here long before the Junos and we’ll be here long after."