Award shows can be a great excuse to discover an artist you haven’t spent enough time with yet. This year’s Alberta Juno nominees and winners showcase just how much great music is coming out of the province right now. From established favourites to artists making their first appearance on your radar, these are the records, songs, and voices that stood out to us. If you’re looking for something new to queue up, this is a great place to start.
MURIEL BUCKLEY
Origin: Calgary, AB
Track Name: Vending Machines | Vending Machines
Unapologetically genuine, wry and soft-hearted, Mariel Buckley has planted her flag firmly as a songwriter who’s in it for the long haul. Never one for following the rules, she aims to find herself squarely on the fringes and exactly where she belongs: writing songs for the underdogs. Raised in the heart of Canada’s rodeo and country music scenes, she was destined to challenge the boundaries around her, both in life and in song. With a fearless spirit that’s consistently broken through both genre and personal barriers, Buckley’s unique blend of angst-driven alt-folk has made her a standout artist, offering a fresh and dynamic perspective on modern Americana music.
Buckley has been nominated for the Polaris Prize, charted on Sirius XM, NACC/Earshot charts and CBC. She’s toured Canada, America and the EU/UK, including SXSW, Americanafest, The Philadelphia Folk Fest, and Folk Alliance International. She’s shared stages with Orville Peck, k.d. lang, The Bros Landreth, Frazey Ford, Matt Andersen. Strange Trip Ahead has been reviewed by Line of Best Fit, No Depression, Americana UK, Bandcamp and more.
NOMINATION CATEGORY: Contemporary Roots Album of the Year (2026 WINNER)
ALBUM: Strange Trip Ahead
ARDN
Origin: Edmonton, AB
Track Name: Retail Therapy | Retail Therapy
Breaking expectations with lyrical honesty and melodic flow, ARDN has positioned himself as one of Canada’s most promising voices in hip hop and R&B in 2025. Born in South Africa of Burundian descent and raised in Edmonton, ARDN first made noise with his 2018 project Goodwill, notably via tracks like Paper and Til the Morning which gained traction on streaming platforms and TikTok. His signing to Capitol Records marked a major milestone, followed by the release of Plain Jane—a song showcasing autobiographical verses and smooth vocal delivery.
On the Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow album ARDN explores topics like faith, relationships, identity, anxiety and growth while leaning into genre bending production that blends rap, R&B and melodic soul. With millions of streams, standout tracks like TMTK, Spare, Bullseye and recent EPs such as Humble Pie, ARDN continues building momentum live and online as a genre defining artist whose authenticity and emotional depth draw in listeners across the world.
NOMINATION CATEGORY: Rap Album/EP of the Year (2026 Nomination)
ALBUM: Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow
NOELINE HOFMANN
Origin: Bow Island, AB
Track Name: The Bullfighter | The Bullfighter
From bittersweet ballad to gritty barn burner, Noeline Hofmann brings the glowing expanse of the Plains to the stage- a voice with the golden charm of a meadowlark and lyricism with the strike of a rattlesnake. As observed by Whiskey Riff, “this girl walks the walk and talks the talk.” Between a history of working in honky-tonks and punching cattle across the Canadian Prairies, Hofmann’s sage songwriting and live show bleed a head-turning authenticity through her sterling brand of ‘wild rose’ country music.
Named one of Holler Country’s 24 New Country & Americana Artists for 2024, the notoriety of 20-year-old Hofmann’s musical prowess has extended far beyond her home in the Badlands of Southern Alberta, Canada since emerging onto the scene in early 2023.
Hot off of the release of a live video recording of her song ‘Purple Gas,’ episode number seven of Zach Bryan’s iconic video series, ‘The Belting Bronco,’ Hofmann hit the ground with the pedal down into 2024, and with tour dates supporting Charley Crockett and Wyatt Flores approaching in the coming months as well as plans to make her debut to streaming services within the year, has no intentions of letting up.
NOMINATION CATEGORY: Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year (2026 Nomination)
ALBUM: Purple Gas
