Manitoba Music's Indigenous North Has A Global Focus

By FYI Staff

Indigenous artists from Canada will take centre stage at Indigenous North events in international markets next month. Supported through the Indigenous Music Export Program at Manitoba Music, export-ready music entrepreneurs will head to Australia and Germany to perform for and connect with key industry players to build their music businesses beyond borders.
 
The initiative is part of a new emphasis on Indigenous music export at Manitoba Music, building on an existing slate of Indigenous music development programs. The program is made possible through the support of Western Economic Diversification Canada, FACTOR through the financial support of the Government of Canada and Canada's private radio broadcasters, and Manitoba Film & Music.
 
Three artists will soon head Down Under across oceans to the BIGSOUND Festival & Conference in Brisbane, Australia. Manitoba Music will host an afternoon showcase on September 6 at X-Cargo featuring bilingual Métis artist Renée Lamoureux, award-winning hip-hop outfit Snotty Nose Rez Kids, and contemporary folk duo Twin Flames.

Program coordinator Jade Harper will participate in BIGSOUND’s Sovereign Sounds forum featuring the voices of Indigenous women discussing the cultural resurgence of Indigenous peoples throughout the music industry.

Harper will then travel to New Zealand to present and participate in the Waiata Māori Music Awards & Conference in Hastings on September 13. The annual event aims to develop and promote the diversity of all Māori music and is part of a growing network of Indigenous music celebrations worldwide.
 
Manitoba Music then heads to Germany for a series of export events, including Indigenous North Showcases and business development events in Berlin on September 17 and a reception and showcase at Canada House at the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg on September 21.

The eclectic lineup will feature soul/folk songstress Celeigh Cardinal, rapper Joey Stylez, roots-rockers Midnight Shine, and Innu reggae singer Shauit, with Juno-winning singer/songwriter Leela Gilday joining for Reeperbahn. This event is a kick-off to the year of Canadian initiatives in Germany leading up to the 2020 Frankfurt Book Fair where Canada will be the Guest of Honour.

 NCI FM general manager and radio personality David McLeod will emcee the Indigenous North events.

“We’re excited to make new industry and community connections through Indigenous North and support these inspiring and innovative artists as they build their businesses and share their music in international markets,” says Jade Harper in a press release.
 
Learn about these and other initiatives at indigenousmusic.ca