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Idiots’ guide to the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards

Arcade Fire at Pacific Coliseum Sept 28 2010.

Arcade Fire at Pacific Coliseum Sept 28 2010. Ashley Tanasiychuk photo

The 53rd annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast this Sunday. Why should you care?

53rd Grammy Awards performers

Well, for one thing, the Jim Henson Company Puppets will be among the performers. We can only hope they’ll be Katy Perry‘s backup band.

The show will also feature performances by Bob Dylan and Eminem. Dr. Dre will join the latter “for a historic collaboration, along with Maroon 5 frontman and current Grammy nominee Adam Levine,” according to the official Grammys website. Gaaah. Best New Artist nominee Mumford & Sons (the British act also accompanied Ray Davies on a version of the Kinks‘ “Days”/”This Time Tomorrow” on Davies’ recent album See My Friends; see video) as well as the Avett Brothers will back Dylan “in a special salute to acoustic music”. Double gaaah.

https://www.thesnipenews.com/thegutter/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Mumford-Ray-Days

Also appearing: Lady Gaga, Drake and Rihanna, B.o.B, Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe, Lady Antebellum, and Justin Bieber with Usher and Jaden Smith, as well as Arcade Fire, Miranda Lambert, Muse (up for Best Rock Album), and Cee Lo Green with Gwyneth Paltrow. Also, Mick Jagger will do something.

Muse at the Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, April 1

Muse at the Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, April 1. Michael Caswell photo

Best of all, Black Eyed Peas are not scheduled to perform.

Grammy-nominated Canadian acts

A few Canadian acts are nominated, although they are the obvious ones of course. Arcade Fire is up for Album of the Year and Best Alternative Album (for The Suburbs). Justin Bieber and Drake are in the Best New Artist category – up against Florence and the Machine, Esperanza Spalding and Mumford and Sons.

Florence and the Machine at the Commodore, Vancouver, April 14 2010. Lana Maytak photo

Florence and the Machine at the Commodore, Vancouver, April 14 2010. Lana Maytak concert photo

Best Alternative Music Album

This is the most interesting category, if only because we have photo galleries of all five acts, including Band of Horses, Black Keys, Vampire Weekend, Broken Bells and Arcade Fire.

Band of Horses at Toronto Island, June 19 2010

Band of Horses at Toronto Island, June 19 2010. Amber Anne Dawkins photo

Black Keys at the Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, Oct 3 2010

Black Keys at the Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, Oct 3 2010. Ashley Tanasiychuk photo

Broken Bells at the Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, May 26 2010. Jason Statler photo

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