Music PEI – Fall Update
Music PEI Fall Update
This will be our busiest season in a while. We kicked off the fall season with Showcase PEI September 18 to 21st. Our 10th-anniversary edition was 50% larger than any in the past with 58 delegates from 13 countries including buyers from Brazil, Morocco, Israel, across Europe, the UK, US and of course Canada. Showcase PEI focuses on live performance opportunities for our export ready and exporting artists. Twenty-Two Island artists performed in 20 minute showcases at Harmony House, Trailside Café, Florence Simmons Theatre, St Mary’s Church, PEI Brewing Company and Fishbones.
Music PEI also created 2 new partnerships with the music industry associations in England and Denmark, British Underground and ROSA respectively, resulting in another Artist Exchange Program. Jake Morley from the UK was partnered with Dylan Menzie and Ida Wenøe from Denmark was paired with Nick Doneff. The program included co-writing and recording, a short maritime tour and showcasing. Nick will go to Denmark in 2018 as part of the program and Dylan will go to England.
The final piece of Showcase PEI coordinated by Music PEI was close to 200 one on one business meetings between the artists and the delegates. Post event surveys have been sent out to both delegates and artists to collect data and analyse results from the conference.
Next up in the calendar is a Music PEI showcase at English Folk Expo in Manchester England October 19th to 21st. Prince Edward Island is the spotlight region for the event this year and Vishten, The East Pointers and Irish Mythen will be showcasing to buyers from the UK and Europe. Following EFEx, Music PEI has created a showcase in London for industry professionals. Dennis Ellsworth and Kinley Dowling will be added to the lineup in London.
In November, we turn our focus to a Canadian conference, M for Montreal. Music PEI will present Sorrey, Dennis & Kinley and Meaghan Blanchard at a stage takeover November 17th in Montreal. This is a great multi-genre event with international delegates from around the globe.
In between EFEx and M for Montreal, the Music PEI Investment/Funding Program deadline is October 30th. Up to $40,000 will be awarded for projects ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.
With the recent announcement of the Music PEI Awards celebration, Credit Union Music PEI Week being moved back to January 2018, the deadline for the music award submission is October 27th. Submission guidelines and forms can be found here.
