Manitoba musicians among winners at Junos

Big Dave McLean poses for photos after winning Blues Album of the Year during the Juno Awards Gala in Vancouver, on Saturday, March 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

A legendary Winnipeg blues musician and an Indigenous songwriter originally from Manitoba have taken home Canada’s biggest music prize.

Big Dave McLean and Sebastian Gaskin were honoured during Saturday’s Juno Award Gala.

McLean took home Blues Album of the Year for his album This Old Life, while Gaskin won in the Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year Category for their song “Brown Man.”

This Old Life marks McLean’s first ever Juno award after six nominations.

Gaskin, originally from Tataskweyak Cree Nation but now based in Toronto, has also won their first Juno.

Eight Manitoba musicians were nominated in categories at this year’s Junos, including Boy Golden, The Secret Beach, Jocelyn Gould and Loreena McKennitt.

The remaining Juno Awards will be presented Sunday night.