Feist, Blue Rodeo double winners at early Junos

Toronto-based singer Feist beat out the likes of Céline Dion, Michael Bublé and Avril Lavigne to capture the artist of the year prize as well as the songwriter award at the Junos.

Many awards honouring the best in Canadian music were handed out at a gala on Saturday night in Calgary. And for the viewing public, there is still a glitzy, televised gala on Sunday night where several more awards will be given out.

Feist, whose full name is Leslie Feist, is up for three more honours on Sunday: single, album and pop album of the year for The Reminder. 

The awards cap a stellar year for the 32-year-old musician, who grew up in Calgary. She had four Grammy nominations in February and a Brit Award nomination for best international female.

She shot to international fame with the tune 1 2 3 4  and accompanying video, which were featured in an IPod commercial

Other major winners on Saturday night included industry veterans Blue Rodeo, who snatched best adult alternative album for Small Miracles, and best video for C'mon. They're also up for best group on Sunday.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

JUNO AWARDS - Saturday	ARTIST
Artist of the Year	Feist
Songwriter of the Year	Feist
New Artist of the Year	Serena Ryder
Alternative Album of the Year	Neon Bible, Arcade Fire
Rock Album of the Year	Them vs. You vs. Me, Finger Eleven
Vocal Jazz Album	Make Someone Happy, Sophie Milman
Classical Album: Vocal or Choral	Surprise, Measha Brueggergosman
Rap Recording of the Year	The Revolution, Belly
R&B/Soul Recording of the Year	Revival, Jully Black
Roots & Tradition Album	Right of Passage, David Francey
Blues Album of the Year	Building Full of Blues, Fathead
Music DVD of the Year	666 Live, Billy Talent
World Music Album of the Year	Agua Del Pozo, Alex Cuba

Other winners included Montreal's Arcade Fire for best alternative album (Neon Bible), Toronto jazz singer Sophie Milman in the vocal jazz album division and Jully Black for R&B/Soul recording of the year.

Finger Eleven from Burlington, Ont., beat out Matthew Good, Sum 41, The Saint Alvia Cartel and Pride Tiger for the rock album trophy.

Violinist James Ehnes, conductor Bramwell Tovey and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra won classical album of the year for large ensemble or soloist(s) with large ensemble for Korngold, Barber & Walton Violin Concertos. The same piece took home a Grammy award in February.

Still, songbird Dion and crooner Bublé both have four nominations heading into Sunday while punk princess Lavigne is up for three trophies.

Comedian Russell Peters hosts Sunday's televised ceremony from the Saddledome, with performances by nominees Anne Murray, Feist, Hedley and Lavigne, as well as a country tribute featuring Paul Brandt, Shane Yellowbird and Aaron Lines.