JUNOfest 2022: Catch the final performances ahead of the awards

After two years of cancelled and virtual events, JUNOfest is back in Toronto music venues, showcasing performances from over 50 Canadian artists.

Over the past few weeks, JUNOfest has seen 14 different showcases and musical performances, with some raising money toward MusiCounts, a Canadian music education charity.

One of them was the jazz showcase on May 6, hosted by CBC Metro Morning host Ismaila Alfa, which featured 11 musicians nominated in the three jazz categories at the 2022 Juno Awards.

More recently, performers Dylan Sinclair, LTtheMonk, Shawnee Kish, & the della kit performed at Live Nation on Thursday.

CBC Toronto host and reporter Jessica Ng caught up with Shawnee Kish for a backstage interview on what it means to finally be performing in person after two years of singing to viewers on the other side of a phone.

"There's just nothing like it," said Kish, a Mohawk singer-songwriter who's from Welland, Ont. and is based in Edmonton. Kish has been nominated for the Contemporary Indigenous Artist award.

"You never know what the vibe is going to be. It depends on the time of day or night, it depends on who's in the room. There's nothing better than reading the room as a performer, and putting on a show based on that."

Most of JUNOFest wraps up Saturday with one last performance on Monday at the Toronto Pearson International Airport. Here's where you can check out the acts.

Date: Saturday, May 14 Time: 08:00 p.m. Venue: The Garrison | 1197 Dundas St. W Performers: Katerine Duska, Sarah MacDougall & Terence Jack                                                                                Tickets start at $10 and are on sale at junofest.ca.

Date: Saturday, May 14 Time: 08:00 p.m. Venue: Dine Alone Records Clubhouse  | 864 Eastern Ave. Performers: Nate Daviau, Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs & Snotty Nose Rez Kids                                                              Tickets start at $10.00 and are on sale at junofest.ca.

Date: Saturday, May 14 Time: 08:00 p.m. Venue: The Lounge at Live Nation | 2 Snooker St. Performers: Ammoye, Kirk Diamond & Lex Leosis                                                                                                      Tickets start at $10.00 and are on sale at junofest.ca.

Date: Saturday, May 14 Time: 08:30 p.m. Venue: Lee's Palace | 529 Bloor St. W. Performers: The Pursuit of Happiness with Vox Rea                                                                                                        Tickets start at $29.50 and are on sale at junofest.ca.

Date: Saturday, May 14 Time: 10:00 p.m. Venue: CODA | 794 Bathurst St. Performers: KOREA TOWN ACID, Sydney Blu & Alberto Jossue                                                                                Tickets start at $20 and are on sale at junofest.ca.

Date: Monday, May 16 Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.  Venue: Toronto Pearson Airport | Terminal 1  Performers: New Friends