P.E.I. Music Week promises 'as stacked a lineup as you'll find anywhere'

P.E.I.'s diverse music scene will be on display over the next five days, with lots of opportunities for everyone to enjoy some Island tunes.

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• Music PEI Awards nominees include Tim Chaisson, Meaghan Blanchard

The May Run Music Festival will feature more than 60 Island acts from Wednesday to Sunday, and will have workshops and learning opportunities for musicians and promoters at the Canadian Song Conference.

Come out and check out what's in your own backyard. Rob Oakie, Music PEI

"We're so fortunate here to have the quality and diversity of music that we have," said Rob Oakie, executive director of Music PEI.

"The artists are incredible some of them get accolades around the world, so we should support 'em here at home."

Last year, the organization moved its annual music week and awards show from January to May and re-branded it as the May Run Music Festival, adding the Canadian Song Conference.

'The move to a better time of year, I think everyone was pretty happy about," said Oakie, noting Music PEI surveyed attendees of last year's festivities and made some tweaks.

The Kings Playhouse in Georgetown will host the kickoff event Wednesday night, which features all the nominees for Music PEI's Songwriter of the Year award: Nathan Wiley, Josh Carter from Coyote, EmileeSorrey and Tim Chaisson. Irish Mythen is also nominated but is currently on tour.

Music Mosiac at the Watermark Theatre in North Rustico on Thursday will also feature nominees, for Francophone/Acadian Artist of the Year: Julien Kitson, DOC, The Ross Family and a spoken word artist from Ontario.

Art for Music at the Guild on Thursday will be played against a backdrop of artwork from nominees for Music PEI's Visual Artist of the Year, and includes an all-female under-20 lineup: Jenna Cyr, Julia Dunne, Angelina MacKinnon and Emma Doucette.

The Loud Show at Hunter's Ale House caps off Thursday's offerings, with O'Leary, Aron Scott and more.

One of the exciting sessions for artists is the Canadian Songwriter Challenge, which pairs four seasoned P.E.I. musicians Kinley, Dennis Ellsworth, Dylan Menzie and Tim Chaisson with songwriters from around the region including Brianna Gosse from Newfoundland and Carleton Stone from Nova Scotia.

Over a few days the duos will co-write a song, record demos and on Friday at the Florence Simmons hall at Holland College, they'll showcase the tunes to an audience that includes music labels and publishers.

Country twist

"This year we've added a little twist," said Oakie of the Country Jubilee at the Harbourfront Theatre in Summerside Friday night.

"We're doing a special P.E.I. legends of country tribute in the second half with Neil Matthews, Charlie Hansen, Kim Albert and Lester MacPherson," said Oakie. The first half of the program features three of the nominees for Country Recording of the Year:Dan Currie, Kelly Mooney and Johnny Oliver.

The weekend features six official venues one for the first time in Summerside, Open Eats.

"You can get jazz at the Pourhouse, trad at the Olde Dublin, rock at Hunters, Fishbones -- we're doing our first dance party on Saturday night with three electronic artists," Oakie enthused of the diversity of styles available for listening.

Another first a classical concert, at Florence Simmons hall.

Awards will be handed out at events throughout the five days, Oakie said, since Music PEI got rid of the gala they'd held for about a decade. Nominees and sponsors will also gather Sunday afternoon for aparty where many awards will be given.

Wrap it up

Two of the biggest awards, Album of the Year and Group of the Year, will be given at the closing concert Sunday night with Vishten, Tim Chaisson, Ten Strings and Goatskin and Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys.

"That is as stacked a lineup as you'll find anywhere," said Oakie, noting it was challenging to schedule four of P.E.I.'s top international touring acts to be home at once.

An after-party Sunday night features Sorrey, Wildcat and Dylan Menzie, who's in the final four of the CBC Searchlight national talent contest.

"Come out and check out what's in your own backyard," urged Oakie.

While all this music is going on, Oakie said, musicians are attending conference sessions to help them up their game professionally.

"We work really hard at putting together a conference that doesn't just talk about the same things all the time," said Oakie. Music PEI has been trying to help artists understand the importance of multiple revenue streams like licensing, publishing and royalties, "where you can actually get a cheque while you're sleeping."

Music PEI also arranges one-on-one meetings between industry officials and artists and networking opportunities throughout the week.

Listen to Mainstreet with host Karen Mairweekdays from 4 to 6 p.m. on CBC Radio.

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