Manitoba Artists Build UK Markets at The Great Escape Festival

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Micah Erenberg
The Secret Beach
Warming
Yes We Mystic

Boniface, Micah Erenberg, Yes We Mystic, and Warming to Showcase at UK Festival, May 10 & 11

Manitoba artists are heading out across the Atlantic for one of the UK's premier music industry events, The Great Escape Festival. Manitoba Music will be on the ground at the annual festival, which features over 500 bands from around the globe tearing up venues across Brighton. 

Hitting the Canada House stage at The Green Door Store on May 10 and 11 for Manitoba this year are indie pop poet Boniface, captivating singer/songwriter Micah Erenberg, art pop outfit Yes We Mystic, and synth pop artist Warming. All four acts have been steadily building buzz in European markets and inking deals for labels and reps across multiple markets. 

Erenberg and Warming will also play London music haunt The Slaughtered Lamb on May 8 alongside stellar acts from across the Western Canadian provinces for a BreakOut West showcase co-hosted with Alberta Music, SaskMusic, and Music BC. 

The UK has been a key market for Manitoba acts, offering opportunities to build important business relationships with labels, festivals, and agents through export showcases and networking events.

Signed to Canadian label Royal Mountain Records and UK's Transgressive Records, Boniface, aka Micah Visser and his band, have forged a sound that would take an indie sensibility and make it glisten, that found its way to a new kind of 21st century pop. Spending much of the last year on the road, including multiple European tour dates, Boniface recently signed to Red Line Management, works with Paradigm Agency in North and South America, and International Talent Booking for the EU, Asia, and Australia.

Diversely talented multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer Micah Erenberg is now releasing new music via Sleepless Records, and has signed with manager by Daniel Keir, Paquin Artist Agency for bookings, and publicist Killbeat Music. His music is charming, witty, and authentic. His full disclosure style of writing makes for captivating, poetic and gracefully heartbreaking songs that display an honesty and talent that doesn’t take itself too seriously. 

Signed to Germany's lauded DevilDuck Records, Yes We Mystic was one of the first bands to be released worldwide by the label after it opened offices in Canada and the US, and releases its latest album, Ten Seated Figures, in April. With booking agents and publicists in Canada, the UK, and Germany, the band has stayed busy on the road. Their maximalist live show packs stages with equipment; their rich, knotted orchestration seem to indulge their every instrumental whim; and their album releases resemble large scale performance art projects. 

Brady Allard is the multi-instrumentalist behind Winnipeg’s Warming. His music began to take form of an obsession after he left his job and his house. While living out of a van, he wrote a 12-song LP, a driving mix of new wave, merseybeat, twisted synth noises, and lonely arrangements inspired by memories of his former life. His debut self-titled full length was launched in April. 

Local hip hop acts will also make their way to industry festivals Europe in May. Malcolm-Jay will land at Focus Wales in Wrexham for two showcase spots. Rotterdam's New Skool Rules will feature sets from Charlie Fettah, Chris Bxnnxtt, Dele O, HAVS, and Shea.

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 activities. 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.

Manitoba Music's market development initiatives are funded by the Province of Manitoba, Manitoba Trade & Investment, and FACTOR through the financial support of the Government of Canada and Canada's private radio broadcasters.

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