Manitoba Roots Acts Take Over Ontario

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Nine Manitoba acts are heading east to Kingston to take part in the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals (OCFF) Conference October 13-16. MARIA has organized showcasing opportunities for the Manitoba acts to present themselves both on-stage and off to some of this country’s most influential members of the national folk and roots music scene. Manitoba’s delegation is the strongest yet, and the line-up of performances promises to wow the industry. The showcases are all in Kingston’s Ambassador Hotel.

Showcasing acts include some of Manitoba best up-and-coming as well as established artists. 2005 Western Canadian Music Award nominee Romi Mayes will participate in the annual Manitoba Showcase on October 15 along with bluegrass misfits D.Rangers, Six Shooter Records recording artist Christine Fellows, and world music a capella septet Madrigaia. Also on the bill are bluegrass buzz band House of Doc, bluesy roots act Scott Nolan, and singer/songwriter duo Twilight Hotel.

MARIA is also presenting a Late Night party on Friday, October 14 to provide the artists with additional showcasing opportunities. Performing that night are singer/songwriter Steve Schellenberg and Matt Epp along with Madrigaia, Scott Nolan, and Twilight Hotel.

Many of the Manitoba artists performing at OCFF have accessed the Market Access Program - a shared program of MARIA and Manitoba Film & Sound - which provides funding to local acts that are showcasing in markets outside Manitoba. Since its inception in 2001, the Market Access Program has supported 1034 Manitobans with 347 events around the globe.

OCFF is a member-based, not-for-profit association representing 1600 members working in the folk, roots, world, and traditional genres across Ontario. The annual conference features four days of performances, workshops, special events and panel discussions covering every topic from marketing tools to education, performance tips, and health. Organizers of this year’s conference promise that this year will be OCFF’s most comprehensive, most in-depth and fun gathering of roots, folk, traditional and world music industry to date.

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