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Nice Horse
FYI
Music News Digest: Folk Alliance International Rolling Out In Montreal, Country Music Alberta Awards Approach
Also this week: Le Phoque OFF fest in Quebec City is in full swing, dates for NLMusic Week announced, and a musical salute to Dallas Good.
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Awards News
The 14th edition of the annual Country Music Alberta Awards will be held on March 1 and 2 at Grey Eagle Resort & Casino in Alberta. The weekend will include an annual general meeting, gala dinner, open mic session, after party and more. Leading the list of nominees with are Nice Horse, Noeline Hoffman, Kyle McKearney and Drew Gregory. A high-calibre list of performers at the awards comprises Gord Bamford, Hall of Fame inductee Danny Hooper, Noeline Hofmann, Aaron Goodvin, Tommy Charles, Devin Cooper, Morgan Klaiber, Foxx Worthee, Mariya Stokes and Julia Vos. See the full list of artist and industry nominees here. Info re delegate passes and tickets here.
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– MusicNL has announced November 12 to 16 as the dates for its 2025 conference, awards, gala and showcasing festival, which will return to St. John’s. Held at downtown venues, the event will focus on export and industry development under the brand of MusicNL Week. It will feature an export-focused business conference, four nights of venue programming, artist showcases, one-on-one business meetings, two awards shows and a return of the popular songwriter’s circle. More info here.
Festivals News
Regarded as the biggest annual conference and showcase festival for the international folk and roots music community, Folk Alliance International (FAI) is now ready to launch in Montreal. The 37th edition runs Feb. 19-23 at Sheraton Centre, and it features over 300 panels, roundtables, discussions, film screenings, Official Showcase performances, meet-ups, and other programs. 175 Official Showcase Performances are scheduled alongside more than 125 other events.
Opening the conference on Feb. 19 are the International Folk Music Awards (Read about the nominees here), and other anticipated highlights include hometown hero Allison Russell, who gives a keynote address and appears in conversation with Ann Powers (NPR), the third annual Black American Music Summit, with panelists and facilitators including Canadians Kaïa Kater and Shakura S'Aida and special programming in partnership with the International Indigenous Music Summit. FAI2025's Pocket Guide here.
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– Known as a discovery festival via its adventurous booking policy, Le Phoque OFF fest in Quebec City is now in full swing. Running Feb. 14-22, it features over 100 artists, domestic and international, playing showcases and public shows. The festival’s second weekend (Feb. 20-22) includes album launches, such as SCARE at L’Anti Bar & Spectacle and LaF at Le Pantoum, plus a triple bill featuring Crachat, Taxi Girls, and Chou at L’Anti (Feb. 21). Other artists performing across various venues in Quebec City include Aysanabee, Biird, Billie du Page, Fernie, Silvasolum and Valence. Le Phoque OFF is now in its 11th year, and you can check out the full lineup here.
Industry News
Alberta Music is now accepting applications for their Black Music Mentorship Program until Feb. 21. Eight participants will be selected by a jury based on applications and partnered with three mentors in the music industry. Successful applicants can expect to be partnered with influential industry members. Factor and the Government of Alberta support this initiative. Apply here
– The Canadian Songwriter Sessions (formally known as the Canadian Songwriter Challenge) is a component of the CSC (Canadian Song Conference) and was created by Music PEI through a partnership with other provincial music industry associations. This project puts artists from PEI together with artists from across Canada to collaborate and co-write in pairs under the mentorship of a prominent Canadian producer. Each pair of artists will write and record two songs in demo form, first meeting for co-writing sessions online beginning in March and then meeting in person in Charlottetown, PEI, May 28-30. Deadline to Apply is Feb 20, 5pm (AT). More info here.
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– Alberta Music is looking to hire an Interim Executive Director for a 12-month term, April 2025 through April 2026. Applications here will be accepted until Feb. 23.
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– On Wednesday, April 9, Toronto jazz impresario/radio personality Jaymz Bee will host the Caravan of Music, an annual charity event in support of The Unison Fund, which provides financial assistance to musicians and other music industry professionals facing times of crisis. The concert will feature over 100 artists from many genres performing (from 8 p.m. to midnight) at 9 different rooms in the historic Old Mill Toronto. Tickets are just $48 and can be purchased here.
A VIP pass is also available, providing access to a special dinner concert, plus all other performances. Appearing at the dinner concert are soul singers John Finley and Simone Denny (Love Inc.), jazz vocalist Gigi Marentette and the legendary songwriter Andy Kim. Tickets here to purchase.
Artists News
Errol Eats Everything is a Canadian hip-hop artist now based in New York City and creating an industry buzz. He is keeping his identity hidden (no photos available), but that didn't stop his recent EP, NYAM!, from reaching #1 on the NACC (North American College and Community Radio Chart). A self-titled album was released last week, accompanied by this animated video for the title track.
– "Now That You're Gone," a new single by 8x Juno-winning country/bluegrass veterans
The Good Brothers, is a heartfelt homage to the greatly missed Dallas Good, from The Sadies, who passed away in 2022 (read the Billboard Canada tribute here). He's the son of Bruce Good, and nephew of Brian and Larry Good, the three principals of the family band, and brother of Travis from The Sadies, who guests on the track.
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