Shane Yellowbird, who went to school in Ponoka and grew up in Hobbema said he felt good being the underdog at the Junos which were held in Calgary on April 6.
Yellowbird, was nominated for Country Recording of the Year with winner Paul Brandt, Johnny Reid, Gord Bamford and Aaron Lines. The country nominees kicked off the evening singing Brandt’s song ‘Alberta Bound’ as a tribute to the Junos being in Calgary.
“It was great I mean this was my first Junos and I don’t know if I could ever top it now,” said Yellowbird. “I’m an Alberta boy and it has a lot of meaning having the Junos here in Calgary. I think that song has meaning for everybody who is going home you just have to change Alberta to where your home is.”
Yellowbird is currently on his third tour with Brandt and has nothing but praise for the veteran star.
“He is amazing; He totally deserves the humanity award he received Saturday night. I am proud to call him a friend and we get along great. He has invited me over for dinner and such it is pretty surreal,” said Yellowbird.
He said that when Brandt’s name was announce he went to find the other nominees to shake their hands. Brandt has also recently asked Yellowbird to go to Africa to help Bradnt with his charity work.
Before the show started on the red carpet, Yellowbird was signing some autographs and host Ben Mulroney subtly pushed him out of the way.
“I moved for him being polite and Paul [Brandt] grabbed me and pulled me into the shot, it’s just another example of how great of a guy he is.”
He was amazed by all of the great artists who performed such as Avril Lavigne and Michael Bublé, who he met backstage.
“To be a part of what they are involved with... I can’t believe I was on the same stage as these guys and Bublé is a great guy.”
He said that other than going to the actual show playing in the Juno Cup on April 5 was the best part.
“Having all of the NHL Hall of Famers know who I was just blew me away.”
Yellowbird scored a couple of goals during the game, which was won by the former NHL members including Doug Gilmour, Bob Probert and Paul Coffey. On the rocker side with Yellowbird was Theory of A Deadman, Tom Cochrane and Jim Cuddy.
Yellowbird is currently on tour with Brandt and will be in Rimbey on April 26 and in Ponoka on June 26. To follow Yellowbird’s successes surf to www.shaneyellowbird.com.