WINNIPEG - Randy Bachman has two words for Sun readers: Thank you. In the wake of a massive protest by Sun readers and music fans over the Guess Who guitarist’s exclusion from the Juno Awards, organizers announced yesterday that Bachman will indeed perform at the ceremony April 3.

He won’t be alone — much as Bachman and his supporters wanted all along, he’ll be joined by bandmate Burton Cummings and fellow Winnipeggers Chantal Kreviazuk, Nathan, The Wailin’ Jennys, Fresh I.E. and The Waking Eyes in an all-star tribute to Winnipeg’s rich musical legacy.

After the announcement, Bachman told The Sun he believed the outpouring of local and national support helped sway Juno organizers who had neglected to invite him to play.

“I’m grateful how it turned out — how the velvet glove of support moved things along,” he said. “I’m sure they felt the support and desire of the people about the show and what it should represent to the world and the people watching.”

Supporters certainly made their desires clear to Juno organizers. After Bachman told The Sun of his frustration at not being invited weeks ago, more than 1,100 readers wrote or e-mailed the paper to demand he be included. All those votes were passed on to organizers before yesterday’s announcement.

“I was really quite amazed” at the volume of support, he said. “I can’t put into words how touched I was by the fans.”

Bachman and the other local acts will play a two-song medley during the huge jam, with each musician taking turns on vocals, he said.

“I’m kind of envisioning some sort of waving-the-flag, We Are the World-sort of thing. We are Winnipeggers and we all get along and we all rock out together.”

Even though Bachman wasn’t invited until after the protest, CARAS president Melanie Berry claimed yesterday there was always a plan to honour Winnipeg’s musical legacy during the Junos — it just took a bit of time to put together.

The local contingent will join previously announced performers Young, Billy Talent, k-os, k.d. lang, Simple Plan and The Tragically Hip on the April 3 show at MTS Centre. Additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Bachman will also be part of the lineup at a Manitoba Social on March 31 to kick off Juno Week. The cumbersomely named Flatter the Land, The Harder the Rock! It’s Great to be From Here! Manitoba Social at the Winnipeg Convention Centre will also feature live performances by Doc Walker, Waking Eyes, C-Weed, Rudimental and Joey Gregorish. Tickets go on sale for $20 Monday at Ticketmaster.

Juno events officially kick off this weekend with a show by Aboriginal group Burnt at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People on Sunday at 2 p.m. The free performance is the first of the Flatter the Land, The Harder the Rock! Juno Countdown and In for Lunch events which will feature local artists performing free noon-hour sets at cityplace, Portage Place and the MTS Centre.