Feist, Bublé to perform at Juno gala

Capping a phenomenal year in which she garnered four Grammy nominations and was featured in a high-profile Apple iPod ad, Feist is set to take the stage at Canada's upcoming Juno Awards.

The indie chanteuse behind the hit album The Reminder is among the first slate of performers announced for the annual celebration of Canadian music, scheduled to take place at Calgary's Saddledome on April 6.

Feist and performers from the Cirque du Soleil will also be among the Canadian contingent slated to take the stage at the upcoming Grammy Awards on Feb. 10.

Juno organizers also unveiled on Tuesday that award-winning crooner Michael Bublé and rock band Finger Eleven will join the Juno gala lineup.

"Having artists such as Feist, Finger Eleven and Michael Bublé perform on the same night will be an incredible experience for the fans and audiences watching worldwide," said Melanie Berry, president of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which organizes the awards each year.

"What a great way to show off our homegrown talent."

Additional performers will be revealed on Monday, with the nominees for the 2008 awards to follow on Tuesday.

This year's festivities will also feature tributes to broadcasting mogul Moses Znaimer and country star Paul Brandt, each of whom is set to receive a special honour.

Znaimer, the creative force behind Toronto-based news network Citytv and music channel MuchMusic, will be recognized with the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award, which honours an individual who has helped contribute to the growth and development of the Canadian music industry.

Brandt is this year's recipient of the academy's Allan Waters Humanitarian Award, which recognizes a Canadian artist who has "positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada" through his or her charitable endeavours.

Since 2002, the Juno Awards — Canada's most prominent musical honours — have been held in a different host city each year, including St. John's, Ottawa, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Winnipeg.

The roving festivities allow organizers to shine the spotlight on local musicians during musical events and showcases leading up to the main awards broadcast.

Calgary will host a three-day weekend of Juno celebrations — set to a theme of the "Wild West," organizers have said — beginning April 4, 2008.