Manitoba Music

WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC AWARDS AND FESTIVAL SET TO DESCEND UPON KELOWNA IN 2010

August 24, 2009

City of Kelowna to welcome over 300 music industry delegates, and performances by some of Western Canada’s finest artists.

After much anticipation we are excited to announce that the 2010 Western Canadian Music Awards have been awarded to Kelowna.  This is an exciting opportunity as it is the first time Kelowna will host a major music event of its type. The event consists of three main components: a conference, festival and awards show, with all three components open to the public. Mark your calendars for this large scale music event to be held October 14 -17, 2010. 

The WCMAs provide participants opportunities to share knowledge of the music industry, enjoy the talents of Western Canadian artists and collectively celebrate great achievements in the industry. The festival will showcase local Kelowna and British Columbian musicians as well as those from the Yukon, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The next big musical acts are consistently invited to play the festival. Over three nights the festival will feature over 70 bands playing in venues across the city, making the WCMAs one of the hottest tickets in town. The weekend will be capped when the hardware is handed out at the WCMA Awards Gala.

The bid to host the awards has been in the works since January 2009. The momentum of the work first went public when the bid was unanimously supported by Kelowna City Council in June with a commitment of one third of the funds to be raised by the host committee.

"As a key supporter of the bid and the event, the City of Kelowna is looking forward to extending a warm welcome to all of the artists and industry professionals involved in the 2010 Western Canadian Music Awards. It’s a valuable opportunity to showcase our vibrant live music community and give them a chance to grow and learn from the best. Our performers, venues and volunteers are all eager to start pulling the details together," Sandra Kochan, Cultural Services Manager, City of Kelowna. 

The event will have a significant economic impact when more than 300 delegates from all of western Canada and the Yukon descend on the city for five days in a tourist shoulder season. Hosting the event will contribute to putting Kelowna on the map as a key music industry hub and tour stop, creating long term impacts. 

"We are very excited to be bringing the WCMAs to Kelowna for 2010. The community has shown an incredible commitment to the award show, festival and conference. For BC, the WCMAs is a great post-Olympics event," Bob D'Eith, President of WCMAs.

Western Canadian Music Awards
October 14 -17, 2010
Kelowna, BC

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Mike Petkau on Tuesday, August 25, 2009
This may not be a popular thought, but if the WCMA's actually want the national media (or even larger regional for that matter) to pay attention to the awards, I'd wager that they will need to be in the big cities. And not on the same weekend as the Polaris Prize. And that they'd put up the awards show performers in the hotel for the night.

Brandon, Moose Jaw and Kelowna are all great towns. But Vancouver barely paid attention when the awards were there, and will likely pay even less attention now. Toronto won't even blink. If that's not the goal, then my post is moot, but up to now that's what I've been led to believe.

jack shapira on Tuesday, August 25, 2009
I agree with Mike. Not sure what the direction in for this organization, but I also feel that this is taking a step backwards. I guess if the WCMA's are looking to go back to the grass-roots level of where they came from (The Prairie Music Awards) then maybe this makes sense.

One other thought. It is now less than a month away from the festival and there si still no indication publicly of who is playing. Since this would be a drawing card it seems strange on a marketing and promotional level that it is still a mystery as to what artists are playing!