Canadian Music Week: Canada's biggest music celebration

For the 26th consecutive year, Canadian Music Week will be heating up the streets of Toronto from March 5-8.
Combining award shows, informative business conferences and hundreds of live bands from around the world performing at more than 40 different venues, it is unmistakably Canada's biggest and most important music and media event.
Paul Quigley, festival director for Canadian Music Week, has the year-round job of booking the tremendous amount of artists and locations.
"We're set at about 450 acts right now, and there will be about 500 when it's all said and done," said Quigley. "We've got 41 venues at the moment, there may be another few that come in the last days."
Amongst the list of artists is great Canadian talent such as k-os, Hawksley Workman, Jason Collett, the Meligrove Band, Sloan, and plenty more. Independent bands will also be spotlighted at the Royal York Hotel for The Indies award show with Spirits, Young Galaxy, Attack In Black, The Cliks, Lowest of the Low, The Besnard Lakes, Tokyo Police Club and The New Pornographers.
"The Indies are showcasing Canadian talent that's not on a big record label, and who's not necessarily getting radio play," said Quigley. "It's just a way to show the wealth of Canadian talent that's doing very successful in its own right."
Other award shows taking place as a part of Canadian Music Week include The Crystals for Canada's best radio, the Canadian Radio Music Awards, and the Canadian Music Industry Awards featuring an induction into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame for Alanis Morissette's lifetime achievement.
Furthermore, Canadian Music Week features an international convention at the Royal York Hotel, with seminars from music industry experts worldwide. These conferences are meant to help artists promote themselves, as well as make connections with industry specialists and other musicians.
"The festival is tied in with a conference that happens at the Royal York Hotel, which is specifically geared so that the younger generation who are just starting to get into the industry meet musicians, promoters, and press," said Quigley. "All of the acts that are selected to perform at the festival receive a pass that allows them access to the conference aspects as well. It gives them a chance to learn some of the behind the scenes of the industry that they might not know, and also to network with professionals in different fields."
One band that will be performing and experiencing the benefits of Canadian Music Week firsthand is a female folk-trio called The Good Lovelies, from Toronto. After only two months together as a band, The Good Lovelies eagerly applied to be a part of the festival and were accepted right away.
"We're being showcased with other bands we've heard of but not had the chance to play with. We'll have a chance to listen to some really super music from across the country," said vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Kerri Ough. "There's also going to be seminars about the business at the Royal York Hotel. It's just a great networking opportunity and that alone is enough to want to be a part of it."
For most people involved in Canadian Music Week, the festival is only a reflection of the great state of Canada's music industry. With the possibility of seeing more artists in one night than ever possible over the course of a month, and a gathering of music business representatives from across the globe, this festival proves the booming quantity and reputation of Canadian artists.
"I've never felt like there has been a better time for an independent Canadian band to get out and promote themselves," said Ough. "As a kid I would've never thought it would be possible to do this without the help of a record company to support you. We're in a healthy spot, and we're really grateful for it."
The success of Canadian artists is largely thanks to the dedicated fans that come to concerts, and the development of local music across the country. Without the thousands of attendees for Canadian Music Week, the opportunity to see hundreds of bands with only one wristband would not be available. The Good Lovelies, along with the rest of the festival's line up, invite you to fill the streets of Toronto with a passion for Canadian music.
"I know it's the middle of winter and freezing cold, but it will be worth it."
Canadian Music Week takes place in Toronto from March 5-8. Visit www.cmw.net for more information.