Calgary's Olympic Plaza

The event will be held at Calgary's Olympic Plaza -- the site of medal ceremonies at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games.

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"Twenty years ago the Olympics lit up that stage and on April 3rd Canadian talent is going to set it on fire. It's going to be amazing,'' Terry Rock, co-chair of the Juno host committee, told a news conference Wednesday.

"The lineup we've been able to get has just way exceeded our expectations.''

Although only 5,000 tickets are available for the Juno Awards, organizers expect the outdoor concert on the Thursday before Juno weekend to draw as many as 20,000 fans.

Taking the Juno Awards -- which honour the best in Canadian music -- from city to city since 2002 is paying off, according to the president of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

"All of these events are so great and it gives everybody an opportunity,'' said Melanie Berry. "If it was just about the broadcast then we could stay in one place. It's a Canadian celebration, a Canadian awards show and we want everyone to come out and support it.''

It's allowing each city to add its own particular flavour, and that has made the Junos more interesting, explained Rock.

"I've been to the last two Juno Awards and what I've discovered is through the Juno Awards and through the weekends you get to know Canadian talent,'' he said. "And I've become a much bigger fan of Canadian music than I was before because of the Juno Awards.

The weekend leading up to the awards on April 6 includes JunoFest, two night-music concert with several acts performing at various venues in downtown Calgary, a fanfest and the 5th Annual Juno Cup which will pit musicians against some members of the 1989 Calgary Flames Stanley Cup winning lineup.

Hockey legend Lanny McDonald will reunite with championship teammates Colin Patterson, Doug Gilmour and Jamie Macoun for a two-period match at Calgary's Stampede Corral.

They'll join veteran players Bob Probert, Brad Dalgarno, Mark Napier, Mike Pelyk, Paul Coffey and Russ Courtnall.

The musicians' team will be lead by Blue Rodeo singer Jim Cuddy, and include Sloan's Chris Murphy and Andrew Scott, singer Tom Cochrane, "Canadian Idol'' judge Zack Werner and country singer Shane Yellowbird.

"It's distinctively Canadian. Some of the musicians actually are quite good and a couple played when they were younger,'' said Topping.

"There's going to be some beginners and there's going to be some experienced skaters. It makes for a fun evening.''

The main event of the weekend, of course, is the Juno Award ceremony itself.

Quebec diva Celine Dion drew six nods, while indie darling Feist and pop star Avril Lavigne each racked up five nominations.

Performers will include Lavigne, Feist, Anne Murray and opera star Measha Brueggergosman.

Vancouver crooner Michael Buble also scored five nominations, while Montreal's Arcade Fire, Finger Eleven of Burlington, Ont., and Toronto's Blue Rodeo each earned three.

The best artist category includes Lavigne, Dion, Feist, Buble and Pascale Picard.