Manitoba Music
Manitoba Bands Turn Up the Heat at Toronto Music Fest
Manitoba will be heating things up in Toronto for the country’s largest music festival and industry conference next month. Thirteen Manitoba acts have been tapped for coveted showcase spots at North by Northeast (NXNE), which runs June 13-22, 2014.
Industry insiders and music fans can catch sets from the diverse crop of Manitoba acts, which runs the gamut from roots to soul-tinged pop to indie rock (and a minimum of two cellos), including several bands making their first appearance at the massive music fest.
Manitoba Music will return to The Cameron house for an eclectic showcase of critically-acclaimed new music from the prairie province on June 19. The event will feature Aporia Records’ indie rock act Federal Lights; Pipe + Hat Records’ bluegrass-tinged singer/songwriter Jess Reimer; Americana act Slow Leaves; indie pop/folk outfit Yes We Mystic; roots darlings Sweet Alibi; and high energy rock’n’roll siblings Sons of York.
Other talented Manitoba acts hitting the showcases include JUNO-winning soul/pop act Chic Gamine; energetic rap crew The Lytics; and the synth-streaked indie pop of Indicator Indicator. Winnipeg-based label and management company Pipe + Hat is bringing four of its acts to NXNE stages this year, including Reimer; pop/rock duo Mise en Scene, fresh from European tour dates including spots at The Great Escape; folk/pop newcomer Sc Mira; and electronic rock band The Revival. See the showcase schedule
Manitoba Music and Manitoba Film & Music will take over the Drake Hotel Sky Yard once again for the exclusive, invite-only Manitoba Party, one of the hottest at the conference, on June 20. The 19th annual event provides Manitobans at NXNE with the opportunity to network with some of the biggest names in the industry.
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 the Reeperbahn Festival, The Great Escape, North by Northeast, and more.
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 trade and business development project, which is funded by the Government of Canada through Western Economic Diversification Canada. Manitoba Music's market development initiatives are also funded by FACTOR and Manitoba Trade & Investment. Participants were able to access support through the Market Access Program, which is funded by the Province of Manitoba and Manitoba Film & Music.