News Article

Music PEI pleased to announce lineup for 2nd annual May Run Music Festival

Music PEI, the music industry association for Prince Edward Island, is pleased to announce the lineup for the 2nd annual May Run Music Festival. The festival is PEI’s largest annual celebration of Island music, and will take place May 18-22.

The lineup for the 2016 May Run Music Festival is as follows:

The festival will kick off with the Music at the Market, Saturday, May 14th, 10:00am – 1:00pm at the Farmer’s Market in Charlottetown and continues the following Saturday May 21 featuring Jenna Cyr, Julien Kitson, Nick Donneff, and Angelina MacKinnon.

The first major show of the festival will be the Songwriter’s Concert at King’s Playhouse presented in partnership with the PEI Mutual Festival of Small Halls in Georgetown, Wednesday, May 18th, 8:00pm – 10:30pm, featuring SOCAN Songwriter of the Year nominees Tim Chaisson, Nathan Wiley, Emilee Sorrey, Josh Carter, and a special guest.

Three shows will take place on Thursday, May 19th, including Music Mosaic, presented by La Fédération culturelle de l’ÎPÉ from 8:00pm – 10:00pm, featuring Julien Kitson and DOC and special guests, Art For Music at The Guild presented in partnership with the Festival of Small Halls from 7:30pm – 9:30pm, featuring Jenna Cyr, Angelina MacKinnon, Julia Dunn, and Emma Doucette, and the Loud Show at Hunter’s Ale House from 11:00pm – 2:00am, featuring O’Leary and Aron Scott and more.

Friday, May 20th, will feature the Songwriter’s Concert at the Florence Simmons Presented by Rodd Hotels and Resorts with participants of the Canadian Songwriter Challenge. The same night will also feature Country Jubilee at the Harbourfront Theatre in Summerside, presenting nominees of Country Recording of the Year Johnny Oliver, Dan Currie and Kelley Mooney in a songwriters circle and a special PEI Country Legends tribute.

As part of the Friday and Saturday Night Live, presented by Holland College School of Performing Arts, five shows will be happening in Charlottetown and one in Summerside on Friday and Saturday nights.

Friday, May 20th, the Pop Showcase at Fishbone’s will run 11:00pm – 2:00am and feature Big Tilda, Racoon Bandit, and Coyote. Hunter’s Ale House will run 10:30pm – 2:00am and feature Andrew Waite and the Firm as well as War Horses and a special guest. Open Eats in Summerside in partnership with The Summerside Lobster Festival will feature performances from 7:30pm – 9:30pm, including singer-songwriter Katie McGarry and guests.

There will be a blues & R&B showcase at The Pourhouse in partnership with the TD PEI Jazz & Blues Festival, from 9:00pm – 12:00am featuring Mercy, Please! and the Amanda Jackson Band. The Songwriter’s Showcase at Marc’s Lounge, from 9:30pm – 1:00am, will feature Jessica Gallant, Brian Dunn, and Fluffy Little Cowboys. Finally, on Friday night, the Traditional Showcase at The Olde Dublin Pub will run 7:00pm – 9:30pm and feature Jenna Cyr, among others.

Music at the Market will kick off Saturday’s events at the Farmer’s Market in Charlottetown and a second free show, Music at Kent at Kent Building Supplies in Charlottetown from 12:00pm – 2:00pm with Ryan Merry and Wayne Murnaghan.

Water’s Edge at the Delta will take place from 6:00pm – 8:00pm featuring two artists.

There will be a Classical Concert at the Florence Simmons Presented by the PEISO from 7:30pm – 9:30pm featuring the PEISO Brass, and nominees Dale Sorensen and the Atlantic String Machine.

There will also be a Songwriter’s Concert at The Shipyard in Summerside Presented by Summerside Lobster Festival and Credit Union Place from 8:00pm – 10:30pm featuring participants from the Canadian Song Challenge in a songwriter circle.

Saturday Night Live lineup, presented by the Holland College School of Performing Arts May 21st, will feature a multitude of shows in the downtown Charlottetown area. There will be the Dance Party at Fishbone’s from 11:00pm – 2:00am, featuring Lonely Kid, Whaleskin, and Ramzoid.

Hunter’s Ale House will run from 10:30pm – 2:00am, and will feature Royal North, Chaotically Zen, Mindwaves and special guest, all former participants and winners of the Q93 Battle of the Bands presented in partnership with the Guild and Music PEI.

A Jazz Showcase at The Pourhouse in partnership with TD PEI Jazz and Blues Festival from 9:00pm – 1:00am will feature some of PEI’s jazz allstars, a Songwriter’s Showcase at Marc’s Lounge in partnership with the Festival of Small Halls from 10:00pm – 1:00am includes Jessica Gallant, Brian Dunn and Fluffy Little Cowboys, and a Traditional Showcase at The Olde Dublin Pub from 7:00pm – 10:00pm to round off the Saturday Night Live lineup.

Finally, on Sunday, May 22nd, our Closing Concert presented by the Cavendish Beach Music Festival will take place at the Delta Convention Centre from 8:00pm – 10:30pm and will feature four of PEI’s top internationally touring artists: Ten Strings and a Goat Skin, Tim Chaisson, Vishtèn, and Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys. This is an amazing lineup of some of Canada’s top roots artists and multiple Music PEI award nominees.

Following that will be an after-party in the Delta Convention Centre and featuring multiple Music PEI Award nominee Sorrey and a few surprise guests.

Sunday afternoon will be The Music PEI Awards Party at the Rodd Charlottetown, at which the majority of Music PEI Awards will be doled out.

Complete lineups for all shows will be available at our May Run Music Festival website, www.mayrunmusicfest.com. Tickets will be on sale at www.ticketpro.ca and through our May Run Music Festival Website.

Music PEI Recognizes Major Funders for the 2016 May Run Music Festival and Bell Aliant Canadian Song Conference

Music PEI would like to acknowledge the continuous support of its funders, which allow this organization to put on the annual Music PEI Week and host PEI’s largest annual celebration of Island Music through the May Run Music Festival.

Music PEI would like to thank its major funders, including: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA); The Province of Prince Edward Island and departments of Economic Development and Tourism, and Skills PEI; Special Events Reserve Fund (SERF), through the city of Charlottetown proudly supported by the Charlottetown Tourism Accommodation Levee.

Music PEI would also like to acknowledge and thank the Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Records (FACTOR), The Government of Canada and Canada’s private radio broadcasters for their continued support and funding toward the May Run Music Festival and Bell Aliant Canadian Song Conference.

The SOCAN Foundation has also provided financial support and we wish to acknowledge how much SOCAN does annually to support artists and musicians every year.

In addition we are extremely grateful to all of the sponsors and partners who have made these two events possible.

QUOTES

“Now in its second year, the May Run Music Festival helps drive the spring shoulder tourism season in Prince Edward Island,” Economic Development and Tourism Minister Heath MacDonald said. “Our government is pleased to partner with Music PEI, the City of Charlottetown and the private sector to enhance tourism during this important season by offering visitors a quality music experience.”

“Music PEI and our members are extremely grateful for the continued support from ACOA and the Canadian Government in our effort to grow PEI’s music industry,” said Rob Oakie, Executive Director for Music PEI. “The May Run Music Festival is the largest annual celebration of the Island’s music and features over 60 PEI artists in showcases and concerts as well as the Music PEI Awards. The Bell Aliant Canadian Song Conference is a valuable tool and experience for our members to connect with important industry professionals from around the world and learn about career development.”

Music PEI Announces Keynote Speaker For Bell Aliant Canadian Song Conference

The Bell Aliant Canadian Song Conference is an event presented in tandem to the May Run Music Festival. Title sponsor Bell Aliant has been instrumental in allowing Music PEI to present the Bell Aliant Canadian Song Conference for our music industry. It is a cornerstone to the week and provides education and business development opportunities.

The keynote speaker for the Bell Aliant Canadian Song Conference will be Bernie Finkelstein, an iconic Canadian music executive and talent manager. He has managed the careers of such established acts as Bruce Cockburn, Murray McLauchlan, and Dan Hill as well as founding one of Canada’s most successful independent record labels, True North.

Back as part of the Bell Aliant Canadian Song Conference is the Canadian Songwriter Challenge, during which Island artists are paired with artists from across Canada to collaborate in order to create new original songs. Artists from the Canadian Songwriter Challenge will also be playing at the May Run Music Festival.

Full details on Music PEI Week can be found at www.musicpei.com. Details on our May Run Music Festival can be found at our festival website www.mayrunmusicfest.com, and details on our Bell Aliant Canadian Song Conference can be found at www.cansongcon.com.