George Street sizzles despite damp weather

Billed as a broadcast from the city's "legendary" street, the crowd on George Street didn't disappoint.

And if the ominous weather forecast kept the crowd a bit below the 4,000 that organizers expected, even the bit of rain that fell did nothing to dampen the energy.

When people started showing up at 5 p.m., all of the TV cameras, lights and other equipment were already wrapped in protective garbage bags.

But when the rain came a few hours later, it didn't last too long, and people found cover under umbrellas, hoods and Canadian flags.

"If our flight can't get off the island, we'll be here all week," Max Kerman of the Arkells shouted at the end of their set, pointing at the fog.

The evening began with Ricky and Bubbles from The Trailer Park Boys getting screeched in, alongside members of the Arkells.

Then, as the crowd started to filter in, Bubbles led about 1,500 people singing along to his famous ballad, "Liquor and Whores."

About 40 minutes before the main Junos broadcast started, the entire audience was conscripted as extras in rapper Classified's opening performance.

Doing his rendition of O Canada, Classified walked down a corridor of people, with screaming fans carefully instructed to remain at least two feet behind him.

Throughout the JUNOs broadcast, hosts Kim Stockwood and Damhnait Doyle did live segments from various places in the crowd.

Stockwood and Doyle were joined by electronic artist Deadmou5, and Olympic gold medal winner Jon Montgomery.

Every so often, the crowd on the street would be split by a phalanx of security guards, spiriting the two hosts from one location to another

Newfoundland's own rockstar politician - Premier Danny Williams - also made an appearance, sporting a rolling stones t-shirt, signing autographs and posing for pictures.

But while people pressed to be in the shot when Doyle and Stockwood did their live segments, most of the evening boiled down to watching the JUNOs broadcast on one of the three giant screens set up on George Street.

The crowd shared the broadcast, singing along with Michael Buble doing "Haven't Met You Yet" and K'Naan performing "Wavin' Flag."

As Johhny Reid sang "Dance With Me" on screen, one couple managed to carve out enough room for a tender moment, dancing together.

And if everyone's spirits were high through the evening, it might be partly because not all of the smoke was for theatrical purposes - pockets of marijuana smoke punctuated the crowd.

One group of people noticed the Telegram reporter taking notes while they passed a joint.

The man holding the joint chuckled, "Newfoundland hospitality, there you go."

jmcleod@thetelegram.com

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