ECMA 2010

(Sydney, NS) – The East Coast Music Association announced today at the Capri Cabaret, Sydney, the artists who will perform on the official ECMA showcase stages as part of the 2010 East Coast Music Awards, Festival & Conference set for Cape Breton from March
4-7.

“The artists announced today represent the premier up-and-coming, export-ready acts in our region,” said Su Hutchinson, executive director of the East Coast Music Association. “The well-earned reputation of our East Coast artists will be on display in a weekend full of exceptional talent here in Cape Breton. The lineup is deep and diverse - there will be something for every musical taste at the biggest party of the year.”

Showcase performers submitted their names to the East Coast Music Association in September, with the selections determined by six separate juries of industry professionals representing the ECMA’s five regions: New Brunswick, mainland Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.

“This event is all about showcasing the best we have to offer,” said Eric Favaro, Event Chair for ECMA 2010 Cape Breton. “We’ve assembled a fantastic range of musicians to entertain both the people of Cape Breton, and visitors and delegates from around the world. From March 4th to 7th, the best in East Coast music come together for one incredible weekend.”

Below are the artists selected for the official Molson Canadian ECMAFest Stages. Please note that the Rising Star Stage will be announced at a later date:

ECMA BLUEBIRD NORTH SHOWCASE (Presented by The Songwriter’s Association of Canada) – Smooth Hermans
Erin Costelo, NS
Tim Chaisson, PE
Kevin Fox, NS
Graeme Walker of the Olympic Symphonium, NB
Chris Kirby, NL

ECMA CONCERT SERIES – Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion
Dr. Zoo, NL
In-Flight Safety, NS
Jessica Rhaye, NB
Joel Plaskett, NS
John Campbelljohn, NS
Jimmy Rankin, NS
Keith Hallett, NB
Matt Andersen, NB
Two Hours Traffic, PE

DISCOVERY STAGE The Capri Cabaret
Chris Picco, NL
Aislin House, NL
Molly Rankin, CB
The Hupman Brothers, NS
Telfer, NS
Anna Ludlow, NS
Andrew Doyle, CB
Mike Wadden, CB
Kelly Sloan
The Danks PE
Marc Boudreau, CB
Sharona Clarke, NL
Matthew Hornell and the Diamond Mines, NL
Thor Kristinsson, NS
Ladybird, PE
Chapter Four, NB
Twin Bridges, NS
Andrew James O’Brien, NL
Carmel Mikol, NS
Bay Town Connection, NL
JD Clarke, NS
Milks & Rectangles, PE
The Grass, NS
The Subtitles, NL
David Bradshaw, NS
Big Game Hunt, NS
Pat Watson, NS
Dawn and Margie Beaton, CB
Mike Biggar, NB;
Anchor Heist, NS
Chad Tetford, NS
Crowdis Bridge, CB
Roundelay, NL
Sheist, NL
Andy Brown, NB
Babette Hayward, NB
Andy Stevens, NB
Buck and Kinch, CB
Jimmy Lee Howard, NL
Darrell Myers, NS

INTERNATIONAL EXPORT STAGE
Amelia Curran, NL
Catherine MacLellan, PE
In-Flight Safety, NS
Jenn Grant, NS
Joel Plaskett, NS
Jimmy Rankin, NS
Lennie Gallant, PE
Ron Hynes, NL
Rose Cousins, NS
The Novaks, NL
Tom Fun Orchestra, CB
Two Hours Traffic, PE

ECMA ROCK STAGE Smooth Hermans
Alert the Medic, NS
Carleton Stone Drives the Big Wheel, CB
Dwight Deon, NS
Jon McKiel, NS
Paper Lions, PE
Sleepy Driver, NB
The Easy Bleeders, CB
The Evelyn Room, NL
The Sidewalks, PE
Weak Size Fish, NB

ECMA ROOTS ROOM Membertou Trade and Convention Centre
David Myles, NS
Colette Cheverie, PE
Duane Andrews, NL
The Once, NL
Steven Bowers, NS
Meaghan Blanchard, PE
The Keats, NL
Ryan LeBlanc, NB
Pascal Lejeune, NB
Andrea Beaton, CB

SOCAN SONGWRITER’S CIRCLE – Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion
Amelia Curran, NL
Catherine MacLellan, PE
Coco Love Alcorn, NS
Melanie Morgan, NB
and SOCAN Special Guest, TBA

SOUNDWAVES Membertou Trade and Convention Centre
Alert the Medic, NS
Bette & Wallet, NS
Carmen Townsend, CB
Dawn and Margie Beaton, CB
Mardeen, CB
Pink Thunder, CB
Telfer, NS
Tim Chaisson & Morning Fold, PE
The Keats, NL
The Olympic Symphonium, NB

The complete list of ECMA 2010 showcase performers is included in the attached schedule. For photos and bios of these artists, please visit www.ecma.com.

The 2010 East Coast Music Awards, Festival & Conference will take place in Sydney, Cape Breton, N.S., from March 4th to 7th. It is an annual event organized by the East Coast Music Association, whose mandate it is to foster, promote and celebrate East Coast music locally and globally.