Building New Markets: Manitoba Music Heads to Nashville to Launch Busy Showcase Season

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Ruth Moody (Photo: Art Turner)

Manitoba Music is gearing up for a busy fall season of market development events that will connect homegrown talent to influential industry contacts in major music markets in Canada, the U.S., and Germany. 

First up is the latest in Manitoba Music's series of collaborations with prairie counterparts, SaskMusic and Alberta Music, to present the BreakOut West Backyard Party at the Americana Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee. It's Manitoba Music's first showcase at the 14th annual event, which features thousands of artists, fans, and top industry pros from Nashville and around the world.  

The September 19 showcase at East Nashville haunt, The Groove, will feature performances by three acts that are poised to break into the hot Americana market: internationally-acclaimed Manitoba roots darling Ruth Moody (also of The Wailin' Jennys), Saskatchewan’s J.J. Voss, and Alberta's Joe Nolan. The prairie triumvirate will also co-host a networking event with Nashville-based music publishers on September 17 featuring Manitoba country duo Keith and Renee, Alberta's Pear, and Saskatchewan's Codie Prevost.

Manitoba Music has been working with its counterparts on the prairies to strengthen our combined exporting power, including a packed event at The Great Escape in the U.K. in April. These industry events are vital to the market development and career advancement of Manitoba artists and music companies.

Next up, Manitoba Music will head across the ocean to Germany for its third event at Hamburg's massive music festival, Reeperbahn, on September 25 with indie rockers Les JupesMise en Scene, and Federal Lights

On the horizon, Manitoba Music will present showcases at Folk Music Ontario in Mississauga, October 17-20; M for Montreal, November 20-23 in conjunction with a Native American North event at Mundial Montreal, November 19-22; Toronto, November 26; and New York City and Brooklyn, November 28-29. Details and performer lineups will be announced prior to each event.

Bringing Manitoba music to new geographic areas and finding new markets to intensify trade activity in existing markets is a key component of Manitoba Music's newly-launched trade and business development project, which is funded by Western Economic Diversification Canada. Manitoba Music's market development initiatives are also funded by FACTOR and Manitoba Trade & Investment.

Through events like these, Manitoba Music is able to increase the level of awareness and connection between our province’s music industry and the broader national and international industry, which is vital to the career advancement of Manitoba artists and industry professionals. Over the years, Manitoba Music has presented successful showcases throughout Canada, the U.S., England, and Germany, including at major music events like South by Southwest, The Great Escape, North by Northeast, International Folk Alliance, and more.

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