Ich Bin Ein Manitoban: Les Jupes and Greg MacPherson Head to Germany

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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 Berlin and Hamburg in September for a series of networking and business events and a prominent showcase with acclaimed local indie rock acts, Greg MacPherson and Les Jupes.

Building on the success of Manitoba Music’s participation in MUSEXPO EU 2010 in London, Popkomm 2008 in Berlin, and a long history of successful export marketing events at MIDEM in France, this mission will focus on high-level networking and business development opportunities for Manitoba companies and showcases for artist.

It's not all weinerschnitzel and weissbier for the Manitobans, though. The trip will include a networking event at the Canadian Embassy and a Canadian Blast showcase in Berlin with Les Jupes on September 20, in partnership with the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA). It will also take the Manitobans to the Reeperbahn Festival and Campus conference in Hamburg, which includes conference sessions, individual meetings, and networking events. MacPherson and Les Jupes will showcase in Canada House for invited delegates on September 24. Last year, the festival hosted over 1,500 music industry professionals and media from 24 countries and attracted 17,000 visitors.

In addition, company representatives Michael Petkau Falk of Head In The Sand Productions (Les Jupes, Record of the Week Club, Royal Canoe, The Liptonians) and Cam Loeppky of Disintegration Records (Greg MacPherson, Cannon Bros, Haunter, Nova, Slow Dancers) will be in attendance to promote their companies and roster of artists.

Deepening connections to Germany’s music industry is an important step for Les Jupes and MacPherson, as well as their labels. Les Jupes recently inked a deal with Germany’s Instrument Village label for the release of its critically-acclaimed debut, Modern Myths, and will also open up for Montreal’s Handsome Furs on a handful of German dates while overseas. MacPherson, who just released his latest album, Disintegration Blues, will also do an extensive tour of Germany supported by German label Grand Hotel Van Cleef and publicist One in a Billion. 

“Europe is a vital market for Manitoba’s innovative artists and companies,” says Sara Stasiuk, Manitoba Music’s executive director. “Through this mission, we can develop and engage important business connections, not only for the Greg and Les Jupes, but for our entire music industry. Opportunities like this have far-reaching effects for both established and emerging music entrepreneurs.”

In recent 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.

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