Toronto Showcase for N.S. Musicians

Nova Scotia musicians will again make their mark nationally and internationally by showcasing in Toronto at two conferences this month.

They will be performing at North by North East (NXNE) and the Canadian Organization of Campus Activities (COCA) national conference.

The Music Industry Association of Nova Scotia obtained funding through the International Years of Music program to assist the musicians with promotion and conference costs. The program is funded under the Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification, which is jointly managed by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Nova Scotia Economic Development and Tourism.

Nova Scotia artists performing at NXNE include Plumtree, Keith Adams, Shyne Factory and Knifey Moloko. PF Station and Kilt will play at the COCA conference, while Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra will perform at both events.

The Canadian Organization of Campus Activities, an institution developed to encourage activities for the educational and social enrichment of campus life, will hold its national conference June 6-10. North By North East, taking place June 11-13, has been called "Canada's leading new music festival and industry conference."

Participation in these two conferences is seen as an important opportunity for bands to make national and international contacts. The COCA conference is basically a block-booking opportunity for universities and colleges across the country and may result in national tours for bands. NXNE offers the potential of exposing bands to important international music business contacts.

For the seven Nova Scotia bands participating, the two events represent opportunities to get their careers moving nationally and perhaps internationally. But it's not a matter of just showing up. Most bands and their managers spend many hours beforehand on the telephone setting up meetings and inviting a who's who of the music industry to see them perform. Much attention to detail is necessary in producing promotional information, guest lists and the material they will perform.

John Wesley Chisholm and the other 13 members of the Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra are excited about the possibilities these two events hold. A U.S. record company will be attending specifically to look at them and the COCA conference could mean work for the full fall touring season.

Pam Gillies, manager for Keith Adams, has been stoking the Toronto fires heavily over the last months. NXNE will be their opportunity to schmooze with the people who could help Mr. Adams on his way.

Nova Scotia's International Years of Music program, providing partial funding to the artists, is a marketing and promotional campaign designed to build interest and awareness in Nova Scotia as a cultural tourism destination, and to expand and build upon Nova Scotia's music industry's already booming success.

This is the second time that the Music Industry Association of Nova Scotia, a non-profit organization, has been able to facilitate funding for artists to attend national events. In March 1998, 12 bands received funding to attend Canada Music Week in Toronto.