ACHTUNG MANITOBA: Del Barber and Cannon Bros. Head to Germany with Manitoba Music

Manitoba Music is heading across the ocean for a trade mission to one of Europe’s biggest music markets: Germany. The Manitoba delegation will be hitting Berling and Hamburg in September for a series of networking and business events and a prominent showcase with acclaimed local indie acts, Del Barber and Cannon Bros.

Building on the success of Manitoba Music’s German trade mission last year, and a long history of successful export marketing events at MIDEM in France, this mission will continue the focus on high-level networking and business development opportunities for Manitoba companies and showcases for artists.

The trip will include a networking event at the Canadian Embassy in Berlin on September 19, in partnership with the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA). It will also take the Manitobans to the Reeperbahn Festival and Campus in Hamburg, which includes conference sessions, individual meetings, and networking events. Barber and Cannon Bros. will showcase in Canada House for invited delegates on September 21. Last year, the festival hosted over 1,500 music industry professionals and media from 24 countries and attracted 17,000 visitors.

Both acts are primed to tackle the lucrative European market. Award-winning singer/songwriter Barber has been making waves with his latest recording, Headwaters, after signing with Toronto indie label Six Shooter Records and management/agency Paquin Entertainment, snapping up considerable national buzz and critical acclaim. Indie pop/rock duo Cannon Bros. stormed onto the national scene with rave reviews and a coveted spot on the prestigious Polaris Music Prize long list for its debut on Manitoba label Disintegration Records, Firecracker/Cloudglow.

Manitoba-based company representatives Cam Loeppky of Disintegration Records (Greg MacPherson, Cannon Bros., Haunter, Nova, Slow Dancers) and Michelle Szeto of Paquin Entertainment Group (Del Barber, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Bachman & Turner) will be in attendance to promote their companies and roster of artists.

Industry events like Reeperbahn are vital to the market development and career advancement of Manitoba artists and music companies. The mission and showcase offer music entrepreneurs an important opportunity to connect with industry tastemakers and continue to build on their success on the international stage.

Over the years, Manitoba Music has presented successful showcases at South by Southwest, Musexpo, North by Northeast, International Folk Alliance, Canadian Music Week, and more. The trade mission to Germany is an initiative of Manitoba Music’s Market Development Program, which is funded by the Government of Canada and Province of Manitoba through the Canada-Manitoba Economic Partnership Agreement. This event is also supported by Manitoba Trade and Investment and Manitoba Film & Music.

Manitoba artists and industry professionals were able to access financial support for their showcases at Reeperbahn through the Market Access Program, a program jointly funded by Manitoba Music and Manitoba Film & Music.