News Article

Music PEI will be presenting the 12th annual Showcase PEI, the flagship business development event for PEI’s music industry. Since 2008, Showcase PEI has helped create over $3,000,000 in work for Prince Edward Island artists.

Between September 30th and October 2nd, 24 Island artists will perform in 20-minute showcase sets for 50 music industry professionals who have been recruited from around the world. Delegates from Europe, the UK, US, Australia and Canada and representing festivals, venues, promoters and agencies, will see some of PEI’s top exporting and export ready artists perform.

The program also includes pre-arranged one on one business meetings and networking sessions. The showcases are for delegates only and are all about creating new business opportunities for the artists. Showcases will take place at various venues across PEI including Victoria Playhouse, Trailside Music Café, The Mack, Watermark Theatre, Beaconsfield Carriage House and Peakes Quay.

Showcase PEI also includes the Artist Exchange Program. This year Music PEI has partnered with Wales and will be bringing internationally touring duo to PEI. They have been partnered with PEI’s Acadian powerhouse Vishtèn. Catrin, the former royal harpist for the Prince of Wales, is one of the UK’s most highly regarded harpists. Her playing partner Seckou Keita, originally from Senegal, is also considered one of the leading practitioners of the African kora. They have been steadily winning fans across Europe and the UK. This will only be their second time to perform in North America. “They are now one of the most popular world music acts of this decade.” Tim Cumming, SONGLINES MAGAZINE-UK

Vishtèn have made their mark from France to Australia, Louisiana to England. For well over a decade, the power trio of twins Emmanuelle and Pastel LeBlanc along with Pascal Miousse have been bringing their brand of Acadian traditional music to audiences around the globe. Each an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, they bring a contemporary approach to both their original music and tunes that are hundreds of years old. “Rhythms, melodies, voices, musicianship… a near perfect ensemble. Vishtèn, what a world!” Le Petit Douchynois, France

The Artist Exchange Program includes 3 days of collaborating, co-writing and recording between Vishtèn and Catrin & Seckou, a showcase during the conference and a public concert at the College of Piping in Summerside Thursday October 3rd. These 2 internationally respected artists are considered innovators and at the top of their respective genres. The concert will be a unique opportunity to see multiple cultures and styles come together to create new sounds. Tickets are available at the College of Piping website.

Vishtèn will travel to Wales, England and Scotland in 2020 to showcase and tour with Catrin and Seckou as part of the exchange.

The 2019 Showcase PEI artists are:

Ailcia Toner
Andrew Waite
Atlantic String Machine
Calm Baretta
Catherine MacLellan
Dennis Ellsworth
Dylan Menzie
Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys
Inn Echo
Irish Mythen
Lawrence Maxwell
Lennie Gallant
Little Cities
Logan Richard
Rachel Beck
Richard Wood
Russell Louder
Sarah Hagen
Sorrey
Tara MacLean
Teresa Doyle & Patrick Bunston
Vince The Messenger
Vishten

For Additional information contact:
Rob Oakie
Executive Director
Music PEI
[email protected]