Manitoba Music Escapes Across the Pond for UK Industry Events

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John K. Samson & The Winter Wheat
John K. Samson
Slow Leaves
William Prince

Manitoba Music is packing up and heading out across the Atlantic this month for a slate of industry events in England and Wales. 

Teaming up with fellow Western Canadian music industry associations SaskMusic, Alberta Music, and Music BC, Manitoba Music will co-host BreakOut West events at Focus Wales in Wrexham, The Great Escape (TGE) in Brighton, and a showcase in London.

Fresh from tour dates in Germany, roots troubadour Slow Leaves will hit the stages at Focus Wales on May 13. JUNO-winning singer/songwriter William Prince will play London hotspot The Slaughtered Lamb for a “Made In Canada” showcase on May 16 before joining indie rock poet John K. Samson at The Green Door Store on May 20 for TGE.

All three acts have built significant international buzz with recent album releases and steady touring, Both Samson and Slow Leaves will have other European dates throughout May, including several shows in Germany before and after TGE for Samson and dates in the UK for Slow Leaves. The UK and Germany have been key markets for Manitoba acts, with important business relationships with labels, festivals, and agents developing out of recent export showcases and networking events.

Now celebrating its 12th year, The Great Escape is the UK’s premiere music business conference, bringing together thousands of music industry professionals for three days of talks, panels, showcases, and business-to-business events. The convention runs alongside The Great Escape festival, Europe’s leading festival for new music, which showcases 400 bands at 35 venues during its run. The UK is the largest music market in Europe and acts as a barometer for buyers, media, and music partners around the world.

Bringing Manitoba music to new geographic areas and intensifying trade activity in existing markets is a key component of Manitoba Music's trade and business development initiatives. Manitoba Music's market development initiatives are also funded by the Province of Manitoba and FACTOR through the financial support of the Government of Canada and Canada's private radio broadcasters.

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, Reeperbahn Festival, and more.

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