A highly eclectic bunch of new talents competed for the Best New Group Juno, with Sky emerging on top.

Vancouver punk rockers gob have actually been around for some years, and are veterans of serious road work, gigging around North America. They've recently gained extra prominence by having debut CD How Far Shallow Takes You picked up by Nettwerk and one video directed by Jason Priestley.

Toronto crew Len have also paid serious dues as an indie act. Major label debut You Can't Stop The Bum Rush (nominated for a Best Alternative Album Juno) furnished the international smash hit single, "Steal My Sunshine"(also nominated). The band fuse rock, metal, punk, hiphop and pop into one entertaining mishmash. "We can afford to take chances. This isn't life and death for us," states singer Sharon Costanzo.

A light-hearted approach also characterizes Prozzak. They began as a side project for Philosopher Kings members James McCollum and Jason Levine, (the alter-egos of cartoon characters Milo and Simon). The catchy electro-pop of their debut CD Hot Show and smash single "Sucks To Be You" (both Juno nominees) have proven highly popular, and Prozzak have become a real band via touring. Aggressive rockers Serial Joe may just be in their mid-teens, but they've won both young and old rock fans over. Debut CD Face Down has gone gold, and they got to play the last Woodstock.

Montreal duo Sky deliver sleek r 'n b pop that found an immediate audience. Debut album Piece Of Paradise sold double platinum, but musical differences recently led Sky to call it a day. That's a little ironic, given that they were, somewhat surprisingly, the Juno winners tonight. Look for future hits from the two talented principals, James and Antoine. Antoine told the Juno audience they may still write together, perhaps for Antoine's new project, Nice.