If you’ve been following our blog, you know we’ve been asking for something different. We met with the Mayor, shared what Hamilton musicians actually need, and were given the opportunity to create something meaningful for JUNO Week.
We didn’t want to organize just another show. We wanted to create workshops that could extend the impact of the JUNOs in a way that truly mattered to our local music community.
That led to three Juno Artist Masterclasses at Main Stage.
Jon Harvey of The Wild High and formerly Monster Truck spoke about touring, band dynamics, songwriting, and the realities of building a music career. Dan Fila of Sven Gali focused on drumming technique, control, power, and precision. Steve Strongman broke down blues guitar, tone, phrasing, and how to develop your own sound.
What Musicians Told Us
After the workshops, we asked attendees for feedback.
More than 130 musicians signed up. About half identified as emerging artists, and many shared that the sessions created real opportunities to connect with others in the room.
- 83.3% rated the workshop as extremely valuable
- 83.3% said they gained practical tools they could apply right away
- 91.7% said it helped clarify their direction as an artist
One musician shared: “Absolutely blown away with the experience… up close, great venue, and a chance to dig deep with the artist.”
What we learned
Musicians are not just looking for stage time. They are looking for real industry knowledge, practical skills, honest conversations, and guidance from people who have actually done it.
Most people experience the JUNO Awards as a show. We wanted to make JUNO Week relevant to the local music community — right where music is actually made.
We’re grateful to Mayor Andrea Horwath and the City of Hamilton’s Music Office for giving us the opportunity to bring this idea to life. We had been proposing workshops like these for some time, and it meant a lot to finally see it come to life.
Don’t give up on ideas you know matter — even if it takes time for others to see it.
Missed the masterclasses? Click below to watch the footage and see what happened.
Jon Harvey JUNO Artist Masterclass