The Company

(Sydney, NS) – After months of close competition, the winners were finally announced for the 2010 ‘One Big Opportunity’ Soundwaves Program. Justin Boutilier - Ill Fella, The Bachelor of Art (hip-hop), Blue Lights (instrumental), Dakota Rideout (singer/songwriter) and The Company (Rock Band) emerged victorious at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre last night before a turnout of several hundred supporters.

The competition saw school-aged talent from across Cape Breton open for ECMA acts in an attempt to qualify for the final evening. The winners were whittled down to two per category, and these acts all performed before judges Christina Martin, JP Cormier and members of The Tom Fun Orchestra last night to determine each category’s top talent.
“Throughout this competition, we saw tremendous growth in these aspiring musicians,” said Laura Mercer, Soundwaves co-ordinator. “By the time the final decisions were made, these musicians weren’t on their way, they had officially arrived as fantastic performing acts.”
Last night’s winners now open for the same folks who judged them the night previous, as Soundwaves hosts One Big Show tonight at the Savoy Theatre. Hip-hop act Justin Boutilier - Ill Fella, The Bachelor of Art (hip-hop) will get things started, and each of the Soundwaves winners will get a chance to open for Martin, Cormier, and The Tom Fun Orchestra.

This concert begins at 7 p.m. Cost is $20 for adults and $10 for students.

“Tonight’s show is the culmination of these young acts’ hard work, but also features show-stopping ECMA talent,” said Mercer. “ECMA stars of both the present and the future will share the stage and treat the audience to One Big Show.”

The 2010 Cape Breton event is an annual event organized by the East Coast Music Association as a critical part of its mission statement. The 2010 event will take place in Sydney, NS from March 4-7, 2010.

The East Coast Music Association would like to acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada’s private radio broadcasters.
- East Coast Music Awards

(Sydney, NS) - The finalists for ECMA 2010 Soundwaves Program's 'One Big Opportunity' have been chosen and eight young musical talents have been selected to perform at the competition held at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre on Wednesday, March 3rd.

A selection committee of music industry professionals viewed all of the video performances taken during the recent Soundwaves concerts across the region and had the difficult task of narrowing it down to two from each category.

The finalists are, Dakota Rideout and Danielle Bueno(singer/songwriters); The Company and Tanglewood (band); Blue Lights and Maggie Beaton (instrumental) and Justin Boutilier - "Ill Fella, The Bachelor of Art" and Dylan Googoo - " Kloud 9" (hip-hop).

"There was a wildcard that the jury did not foresee," said Laura Mercer, chair of the Soundwaves Program. "Originally, we had three categories, singer/songwriter, instrumentalist and band. But when the judges heard hip-hop artists Justin Boutilier and Dylan Googoo, they were so impressed we added a hip hop category."

The These artists will be performing at the One Big Opportunity Competition at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre this Wednesday March 3rd at 7pm. They will be judged by the One Big Show headlining acts, Christina Martin, JP Cormier and members from the Tom Fun Orchestra. The competition show will be $5 for adults and $3 for students, with admission taken at the door.

The grand prize will be the opportunity to open for these ECMA award-winning acts at the One Big Show the following evening at the Savoy Theatre at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale at the Savoy Theatre box office and will also be for sale at the competition show Wednesday night. Along with the performing prize, the winners will have the opportunity to have a recording on the 2011 CBU Soundtracks CD produced at the Rotary Music Performance Recording Studio.
- East Coast Music Awards

The East Coast Music Association is proud to announce the 11 finalists for its Soundwaves Program. These up-and-coming young artists were selected to open for acclaimed East Coast artists at the Soundwaves concerts attended by students across the region. A jury of music educators and music industry professionals worked hard to narrow down 25 candidates, which consisted of local students who sent in demos under the categories of instrumental, band, and singer/songwriter.

“On behalf of the Soundwaves team, I applaud all of our entries into the One Big Opportunity Program for the impressive work they have done,” said Laura Mercer, Soundwaves chair. “ECMA would like to thank all the applicants for these impressive submissions. They gave the jury an enjoyable experience listening to some great talent.”

The final Soundwaves schedule is as follows, with music professional listed first, followed by the One Big Opportunity finalist:

Feb 15 – We'koqma'q Mi'kmaw School, Waycobah– Aaron MacDonald – Dylan Googoo
Feb 18 – Dalbrae Academy, Strathspey, Place – Forever – Unholy Aggressors
Feb 19 – Thompson Jr. High, North Sydney – Carmen Townsend – Brittany Coombs
Feb 22 – Rankin School, Iona – Dawn & Margie Beaton – Maggie Beaton
Feb 23 – Riverside Elementary, Mira – Pink Thunder – Danielle Bueno, Dakota Rideout
Feb 24 ¬– Savoy Theatre, Glace Bay – Carleton Stone Drive the Big Wheel –Tanglewood, Ill Fella, BYG.
Feb 25 – Étoile de l'Acadie, Sydney – Bette & Wallet – Blue Lights
Feb 26 – Memorial High School, North Sydney – Alert the Medic – The Company
Mar 1 – Sherwood Park, Sydney – Mardeen
Mar 2 – Holy Angels, Sydney – The Keats
Mar 3– Membertou Trade & Convention Center – Tim Chaisson & The Morning Fold

Mar 3- 7pm One Big Opportunity Final Competition
Mar 4 – 7pm – 9pm Savoy Theatre – The Savoy Theatre and the ECMA 2010 presents One Big Opportunity’s final show. – “One Big Show”
- East Coast Music Awards

(Charlottetown) - The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) announced today at the Delta Prince Edward in Charlottetown the artists who will perform on the official ECMA stages as part of East Coast Music Week 2011 taking place April 13-17.
Showcase performers submitted their names to the ECMA between August 23 and October 1, 2010 with the selections determined by juries of industry professionals representing the four Atlantic Provinces plus one National or International juror.
“East Coast Music fans are in for a really big treat come April,” says Campbell Webster, chair of the ECMA 2011 Event Committee. “The talent and diversity featured on these stages is really incredible and there is so much more to come with partnered stages being announced in the New Year.”
Below are the artists selected to perform on the official ECMA stages during East Coast Music Week 2011:

Songwriter’s Association of Canada (S.A.C.) BLUEBIRD NORTH STAGE presented by the Charlottetown Airport Authority – Venue: The Guild
The S.A.C. gratefully acknowledges the support of The SOCAN Foundation and the Government of Canada through the Creators' Assistance Component of the Canada Music Fund
Host: SAC Special Guest Dan Hill
Chastity (PE), Terry Penney (NL), Thom Swift (NS), Tanya Davis (NS), The Mountains & The Trees (NL), Alex Madsen of The Divorcees (NB)
Molson Canadian ROCK STAGE – Venue: Delta Prince Edward
Mark Bragg & The Butchers (NL), Ross Neilsen & The Sufferin’ Bastards (NB), Carmen Townsend (NS), Three Sheet (NS), English Words (PE), The Stanfields (NS)

RISING STAR SHOWCASE – Venue: Delta Prince Edward
Andy Brown (NB), Rik Reese & Neon Highway (NB), Meaghan Blanchard (PE), Haunted Hearts (PE), Jay Smith (NS), Ryan MacGrath (NS), Matthew Hornell & The Diamond Minds (NL), Sherman Downey & The Ambiguous Case (NL)

MRSB ROOTS STAGE – Venue: Delta Prince Edward
Jimmy Rankin (NS), The Navigators (NL), Ian Sherwood (NS), Kim Dunn (NS), Ian Janes (NS),
Cynthia MacLeod (PE), Richard Wood (PE)

SOCAN SONGWRITER’S CIRCLE – Venue: Delta Prince Edward
Rose Cousins (NS), Lennie Gallant (PE), Jessica Rhaye (NB), Brooke Miller (PE), Jenn Grant (NS)
SOCAN special guest artist will be announced at a later date.

INTERNATIONAL EXPORT STAGE – Venue: Delta Prince Edward
Jimmy Rankin (NS), Matt Andersen (NB), The Trews (NS), The Once (NL), Ruth Minnikin (NS), Vishtèn (PE), Dave Gunning (NS), David Myles (NB), Christina Martin (NS), The Olympic Symphonium (NB), Paper Lions (PE)

‘TWO FOR THE SHOW’ INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM -– Venue: Delta Prince Edward
Lennie Gallant (PE), Chris Kirby (NL), Dwayne Côté & Duane Andrews (NS & NL), Erin Costelo (NS), Charlie A’Court (NS), Chuck & Albert (PE)

RBC DISCOVERY STAGE presented by The Murphy Centre
7 Mile Stare (NS), Alana Yorke (NS), Andrew Doyle (NS), Arrows in the Air (PE), Ashley Condon (PE), Back Pocket Material (NS), Banded Stilts (NL), Becka deHaan (NB), Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers (NS), Bethany Bible College Chorale (NB), Big Deal (NS), Breagh MacKinnon (NS), Breagh Potter (NS), Chris Boudreau (NB), Clinton Charlton (NB), Cody Westman (NL), Connie Saulnier (NS), Craig Mercer & the Will Be Gones (NS), Cyndi Cain (NS), Dan Doiron (NS), David Wills (NB), Derrick Paul Miller (NB), Devil’s Elbow (NS), Drumlin (NS), Eleanor McCain (NB), Emmy Alcorn (NS), Fleur Mainville (NS), Godsent (NS), Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys (PE), Heather Allison (NB), Jaclyn Reinhart Band (NB), Jacquie Drew & The Crew (NB), Jared Lutes (NB), Jason MacDonald (NS), John Morgan (NS), Julia Halfyard (NL), Katherine Moller (NB), Katie McGarry (PE), Kendra Gale (NB), Kristina Trites (NS), Marko Simmonds (NS), Matthew Byrne (NL), Meggie Lou (NS), Melanie D (NB), Moonshine Ramblers (NS), Naming The Twins (NS), Oh No, Theodore! (NB), Papilio (NS), Patrick Molloy & The Manifest (NL), Phil Flowers (NB), Plain Dirty Blues Band (PE), Quiet Elephant (NL), Rachel Davis (NS), Remedy (NS), Repartee (NL), Silver Wolf Band (PE), StahMeNah Vybz (NS), The Belle Comedians (NS), The Company (NS), The Disengagement (NS), The North Lakes (PE), The Repercussionists (NS), The Terry Whalen Band (NB), The Wax (NS), The Wynnes (PE), Tom Terrell (NS), Tradition (NB), TWRP (NS), Waif & The Spade (PE), ZWERG (NB)

Artists for the Soundwaves program and partnered stages will be announced in the New Year.
Tickets are now on sale for East Coast Music Week 2011 at www.ecma.com or ticketpro.ca.
ECMA Week is an annual event organized by the ECMA as a critical part of its mission statement. The 2011 event will take place in Charlottetown, PEI, from April 13-17. The ECMA is a not-for-profit organization whose mandate it is to foster, promote and celebrate East Coast music locally and globally. The ECMA currently has over 800 members.
-30 -

Media Contact:
Stephen MacDougall, Communications Coordinator
(902) 892-7553
communicationcoord@ecma.com - East Coast Music Awards