SHOWCASE PEI 2009 DELEGATE GUIDE

Mark Ringwood Roots Around the World

[email protected] www.rootsaroundtheworld.info Agent Agent running both Roots Around the World (agency) and live gigs. Currently working on tours in 2010 for Nudie & The Turks, and Christina Martin. Previous tours for PEI Artists include many for Richard Wood, and Teresa Doyle. Programming various venues and festivals in the UK and overseas.  2001 – December 2007 Presented ‘Roots Around the World’ on Spirit FM (coverage throughout West Sussex) which started as being a non- presenting guest invited to play music for one hour per month and ended up presenting and producing a 3 hour show every week often with special guest live interviews: Linda Gail Lewis, Martyn Joseph, Debbie Bonham, Richard Durrant, Dave Pegg, Mike Sanchez, , Duncan McKenzie, John Otway, Nuru Kane, Ann Peebles, etc.  Production Director for the UK’s largest outdoor Festival ‘Blues on the Farm’ (2000-2007).  Founder and Artistic Director of ‘HI-There’ Festival on Hayling Island (1996-1999) a multi-arts festival in a small community but which brought: Eric Bibb, Eliza Carthy, Bert Jansch, Alvin Youngblood-Hart (first UK show), Baka Beyond, Gesuino Deiana, George Melly, , Merengada, Big Bill Morganfield (first UK show) and more to perform in makeshift but suitable venues on the Island.

Previously: Running Nico Polo record label, tour manager for Allan Holdsworth. Marketing and Programming Portsmouth Festival, and Portsmouth Bicentennial Festival. Programmer & Deputy Manager for The Bognor Regis Arts Centre. Marketing Manager and Programmer for The Hexagon, Reading, semi-pro footballer Programming and marketing Reading Arts Festival. Marketing Greenwich Festival, programming blues/folk/ at The Tramshed, Woolwich, regular presenter on ’s first community radio station ‘Thamesmead Insound’. Marketing Swansea Grand Theatre, regular guest slots on ILR Swansea Sound. Tour manager & on the road promotion for: , Nils Lofgren, The , Andy Fairweather- Low, Billy Connolly and others. Agent for LPG (Larry Page Group) touring The Troggs, ‘signed’ The 101’ers’ (Joe Strummer’s first band). Social Secretary for Sheffield Polytechnic.

Steve Butler Paquin Agency [email protected] Www.paquinentertainment.com Agent Toronto

Hailing from St. John's, Newfoundland, Steve was formally trained in Classical Music Program at Memorial University (NL) and Jazz studies at St. Francais Xavier University (NS). With 20 years of experience in the music industry as a musician and an agent, Steve’s duties at Paquin Entertainment has him overseeing North American theatre and festival touring as well as developing some of the finest singer-songwriter, world and roots artists from around the world.

Sue Urquhart Atlantic Presenters [email protected] www.atlanticpresenters.ca APA Charlottetown Sue Urquhart is the Executive Director of the Atlantic Presenters Association which is the regional presenters’ network of Atlantic Canada consisting of 60 theatres & festivals. She has worked in the arts for the past 17 years as Executive Director of the Indian River Festival and Event Manager & Coordinator of Contact East 2005, 2007 and 2009.

Peter MacDonald OCFF [email protected] www.ocff.ca Conference Ottawa

Peter is the Executive Director of The Ontario Council of Folk Festivals, Canada’s largest member-based folk/roots music organization. The OCFF is a network of 32 member festivals, some 60 organizations (record companies, bands, venues, presenters, managers, booking agents, publicists and other industry folks…) and about 400 individuals, most of them performers. At showcase events, Peter meets with other industry professionals to increase the connection between them and OCFF members, and he gathers intel on showcase performers who might fit well at Ontario events. He also solicits participation in the OCFF’s various programs, like its annual conference (October 15-18, 2009 in Ottawa) and showcase program. If you are looking for a door to open into the Ontario scene, have a chat with Peter. Before becoming the OCFF E.D., Peter ran Nutshell Music & Event Management, a production and promotion company, putting thousands of artists on stages over a 12-year period. www.ocff.ca

Yvonne Matsell NorthbyNortheast [email protected] www.nxne.com Conference Toronto Co-founder of NXNE / director of music programming. Actively involved since inception . NXNE is now in its 16 year , bringing the best of both Canadian & International talent to the clubs & streets of Toronto.

As a club talent buyer , Yvonne has been extremely active in supporting Toronto's for many years. Has been the talent booker for such well known Toronto venues as : Ultrasound Showbar, the Horseshoe, Ted's Wrecking Yard & others . Involved in helping the early careers of such current established artists as: BNL, Lowest of the Low, Ron Sexsmith, The Headstones, Broken Social Scene, Sum 41, Jason Collett, Sarah Slean & many, many, others.

For the past 8 years has been the music booker of the famed El Mocambo, under its current new ownership, and, has re-established it as a prime music venue, where, well know bands such as QOTSA , Daniel Lanois, Kaiser Chiefs, Jet, Hawksley Workman, the Weakerthans, have played.

Jonas Coltier Evolve Festival [email protected] www.evolvefestival.com Festival, Antigonish, NS

The Evolve Music and Awareness Festival is an annual 3-day summer celebration of music, culture, and social awareness. From its start in 2000 as a grassroots music and awareness festival featuring local bands, the festival has grown to showcase world-class performers from around the globe. Evolve also plays host to workshops that inform spectators about social issues such as personal wellbeing and environmental awareness.

Waye Mason Halifax Pop Explosion [email protected] www.halifaxpopexplosion.com Festival, Halifax, NS I am a business person, educator, strategic planner, event organizer, and opinionated so an so who lives in Halifax, , Canada. The HALIFAX POP EXPLOSION is a five day music, culture, and media festival and conference taking place October 20-24, 2009, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. This is the music festival's 17th anniversary.

Josh Grady Salty Jam [email protected] http://www.saltyjam.ca/ Festival, St John, NB Saltyjam - Saint John’s Festival of Music’s roots date back to 1996 as the Saint John Jazz & Blues Festival. From humble beginnings as a small, modest festival the event has grown quite significantly in recent years.

James Boyle Harvest Jazz & Blues [email protected] http://www.harvestjazzandblues.com Festival Fredericton A 10 year veteran of the Fredericton Music community and Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival programming committee, James has also worked as a musician, music teacher, promoter, sound technician, and artist manager. As a sound technician and tour manager, he as toured with high profile Canadian artists throughout North America and Europe. His most recent and notable endeavour to date is the establishment of Forward Music Group Inc. The label and artist management company, which James is both president and founder, works to advance the careers of east coast artists, all the while, continuing to put Fredericton on the map as a music leader across Canada and worldwide.

Russell Easy Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival [email protected] www.folkharbour.com Festival, Lunenburg NS Russell Easy has been involved in the artistic direction of the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival for 8 years. He has gained considerable experience in this role playing an integral part in the festival’s success leading to East Coast Music Association (ECMA) and Music Nova Scotia nominations as Event of the Year. During Russell’ tenure several new initiatives have been developed at the festival including a local musician’s stage, instrument workshops, an extended tutorial workshop on the history of and a songwriting competition now in its fifth successful year. Russell has acted as a mentor for the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals (OCFF) and the ECMA and as a member of the buyers program for both Music Nova Scotia and ECMA conferences. Russell is also co-Chair for the society’s year-round concert series where he is responsible for arranging the outstanding talent that has appeared at the event. His tireless efforts to develop new musical initiatives have helped draw a continuous stream of both committed and new folkies to the festival which in 2010 will celebrate its 25th anniversary.

Troy Greencorn Stanfest [email protected] http://www.stanfest.com/ Festival Canso, NS

Some of the finest songwriters and performers in North America gather at this festival, to celebrate Stan's lasting contributions to folk music. A new generation of powerful songwriters also come together with Stan's family members, friends and associates not just to share remembrances - but to create new songs and stories

Phyllis Stenson Harrison Springs Festival [email protected] http://www.harrisonfestival.com/ Festival Harrison Hot Springs

Phyllis has been the Executive & Artistic Director of the Harrison Festival for the last 27 years. The festival is a ten day event that takes place in the small resort town of Harrison Hot Springs, BC. The organization also presents ten concerts during the year. Programming focuses on the diverse cultures of the Canadian landscape and also includes international performers. The audiences have enjoyed many performances over the years by the talented artists from the East Coast.

Mike Hill Mariposa Folk Festival [email protected] www.mariposafolk.com Festival Toronto I am currently the Vice President and Artistic Chair of the Mariposa Folk Festival in Orillia, ON, positions I have held for the past three years. Since the festival settled in Orillia in 2000, I have served a number of other volunteer roles with Mariposa, acting as Site Coordinator and Festival Organizing Group chair. I am a retired teacher (with instrumental music as a specialty) having taught every grade from kindergarten to university level. I reluctantly claim to be a musician of sorts, having played guitar in folk duos, bass in a jazz band and in musicals and a local wind ensemble.

Linda Tanaka Vancouver Folk Festival [email protected] http://thefestival.bc.ca Festival Vancouver

Linda has worked in the “roots” music industry for the past twenty-five years. She has worked as Artistic Director of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival for the past two years. She is an active member of the Western Roots Artistic Directors and is part a national network of festivals. She has served on many juries and is a recipient of a 2006 British Columbia Achievement Award.

Jill Duvnjak Sound of Music [email protected] www.soundofmusic.ca Festival Burlington

After six years as a member of Burlington’s Sound of Music Festival’s programming committee, Jill Duvnjak successfully chaired the committee for the Festival’s 30th Anniversary celebrations in 2009. Burlington’s Sound of Music Festival is a free 4-day event celebrating local and Canadian musical talent, staffed almost entirely by volunteers. It features a unique blend of new and emerging artists as well Canadian icons; presenting a diverse selection of musical styles. This year over 90 musical acts were featured on 6 stages and 4 additional performance areas. The Festival also includes a Streetfest and Grande Parade. For the 9th year in a row, Burlington’s Sound of Music Festival has been voted one of Ontario’s Top 100 Festivals by Festivals & Events Ontario.

Robert Hicks Loopallu Music Festival & Belladrum [email protected] www.loopallu.co.uk http://www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk Festival- I started off by promoting club shows across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in 2000. We operate in the most remote part of the UK, but despite this in the past nine years our business has gone from strength to strength. We promote 150+ shows a year from 50 to 2500 capacity. My partner and I started the Rock Ness festival in 2006, which is now the second largest festival in Scotland at 35,000 people per day. I’m the co-promoter of the Belladrum Festival which we’re in our 6th year (12,000 capacity per day), the promoter of the Loopallu Festival (3,000 per day). At the end of last year, two colleagues and I also took over the 1000 capacity Ironworks venue in Inverness.

Helen Chalmers The Wickerman Festival [email protected] http://www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk Festival- Scotland Full time Festival Coordinator for The Wickerman Festival, a two day music and arts affair held annually in July near Kirkcudbright in Dumfries & Galloway. Has held this role since September 2007 but has been involved in organising the event since 2003. Helen’s role includes but is not limited to booking acts for the Summerisle main stage and Scooter Tent (punk & ), booking all infrastructure and coordinating all site activities. The eighth festival was held on 24th & 25th July 2009 and with over 8000 weekend ticket holders it has been one of our most successful events. Acts playing in 2009 included The Human League, The Zutons, The Magic Numbers, Idlewild, Candi Staton, Billy Bragg, O’Death, Zion Train, Bad Manners, , Utah Saints, Dreadzone amongst others.

David Farrow Beautiful Days Festival [email protected] http://www.beautifuldays.org www.dmfmusic.co.uk Festival- England David Farrow runs DMF Music Ltd, an independent company based in South West England, with his wife and business partner Laura Farrow. DMF are the organisers of the annual 12,500 capacity Beautiful Days festival which takes place in Devon in August. 2009 was the seventh Beautiful Days festival and was another sell-out year with headliners including The Pogues and Levellers. The festival is a family-friendly weekend camping event with music covering a number of genres including roots, punk, reggae and folk. Past artists include Gogol Bordello, Willy Mason, Great Big Sea, Michael Franti and Flogging Molly. DMF are also an independent agency working throughout the UK and Europe and manage a number of artists. Their roster includes Seth Lakeman, Levellers, Dreadzone, Pama International, 3 Daft Monkeys and Easy Star All-Stars (US).

Mitch Podolack Home Routes [email protected] http://homeroutes.ca Home Concert series Winnipeg Bio: Mitch Podolak The Short Bio:

In the late 1960’s, Mitch Podolak began a dynamic relationship with CBC Radio as a freelance documentary maker, working into the 1970's for such shows as Five Nights, CBC Tuesday Night, Between Ourselves and This Country In The Morning. With CBC as a resource base, Podolak developed the first Winnipeg Folk Festival in August of 1974. It was an immediate success and within a few years, Podolak created the Vancouver Folk Festival and helped the Edmonton and Calgary Folk Festival’s open their doors. It was the successful transference of the model Mitch Podolak developed in Winnipeg that lead to the pre-eminent growth of the western Canadian folk festivals.

Podolak founded Barnswallow Records, the label that launched the career of Stan Rogers.

Podolak was the co-founder of the Winnipeg International Children’s Festival and was the originator of the idea and effort that created the West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg’s major music venue. For a period Mitch commuted between Victoria, BC and Canso, NS, producing a multicultural festival on the West Coast and assisting in the creation of the Stan Rogers Folk Festival on the East Coast. Over the last few years Podolak has acted as a consultant for the Northern Festival Borealis in Sudbury, the Roots & Blues Festival in Salmon Arm and the Ottawa Folk Festival.

Currently Podolak is recruiting artists for Home Routes, North America’s only house concert circuit with over 120 locations across Canada.

Holger Peterson Stoney Plain [email protected] http://www.stonyplainrecords.com Label Edmonton Holger Petersen has been a record producer, broadcaster, music industry board member, collector, and serious music fan for over 35 years.

He is the founder of in Edmonton, which now in its 33^nd year, has won ten Juno awards and been nominated for four Grammy Awards. Stony Plain was the Independent Record Label of the Year for eight years at the CCMA’s and six years at the Prairie Music Awards. Stony Plain artists include , , , David Wilcox, Long John Baldry, , , Tim Hus and many others.

Holger is also a Founder and past Artistic Director for The Edmonton Folk Music Festival. He continues to host two blues radio shows ( on CBC Radio and Natch’l Blues on CKUA). In 2008 he was presented with a Keeping the Blues Alive award in Memphis for his radio work. He is the recipient of an honorary ”Doctor of Letters Degree” presented to him by the University Of Athabasca in recognition of his contributions to Canadian Culture and Public Broadcasting. Holger has also been named to the Order of Canada.

Matt Smallwood Fontana North [email protected] http://www.fontananorth.com/ Distributor Toronto Matt brings over 13 years of experience in the Canadian and international music marketplace. Matt's first foray into the business was in 1996 where he started in sales for the fledging distributor, Page Music Distribution.

From there he continued to sharpen his sales, marketing and promotion skills working Canadian acts both domestically and internationally and bringing acts from overseas to perform and be promoted on Canadian shores.

In 2005 Matt joined the Maple group of companies to lead a new venture called MapleNationwide, the companies independent distribution arm. In March 2006 MapleNationwide was rebranded as Fontana North Distribution in a strategic partnership between MapleCore, Fontana US and Universal Music Canada. Fontana North Distribution has been named distributor of the year two years in a row (2008/2009) at the Canadian Music Industry Awards.

Over his years in the music business Matt has had the opportunity to work with both up and coming artists such as Neverending White Lights, Silversun Pickups and the High Dials and more established artists such as , Kiss and Radiohead.