Media Release
For Immediate Release
November 20, 2009

(Sydney, NS) - The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) is pleased to announce several key additions to the lineup that 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.

With thanks to our jury comprised of representatives assigned by all four of our Music Industry Associations, the 2010 Rising Star Showcase is now official. Artists taking the stage include Gillian Boucher, CB; Rich Aucoin, NS; Grass Mountain Hobos, PE; Share, NS; Mardeen, CB; The Subtitles, NL; Kim Wempe, NS; Radio Radio, NB; Gypsophilia, NS; and The Monday Nights, NL.

Also, additional artists have been added to four showcase stages. They include Dave Gunning, NS and J.P. Cormier, CB, Roots Room; Slowcoaster and The Tom Fun Orchestra, CB, Molson Canadian Rock Stage; Matt Andersen, NB, International Export Stage; Intoxicado, PE; Jerry Stamp, NL; Johnny Oliver, PE; Jon Cornwall, NS; Kick, NS; and Pink Thunder, CB, Discovery Stage.

"These great artists further add to the already talented and diverse group of musicians that will be performing in Sydney that weekend," said Su Hutchinson, executive director of the East Coast Music Association. "The additions provide even more entertainment and value to the showcase events, while also allowing for a greater number of artists to gain maximum exposure on one of our core stages."

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.

Below are the artists selected for the official Molson Canadian ECMAFest Stages:

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; 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 Minds, 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; Young River, NS; Chad Tetford, NS; Crowdis Bridge, CB; Roundelay, NL; Shiest, NL; Andy Brown, NB; Babette Hayward, NB; Andy Stevens, NB; Buck and Kinch, CB; Jimmy Lee Howard, NL; Darrell Meyers, NS;Intoxicado, PE; Jerry Stamp, NL; Johnny Oliver, PE; Jon Cornwall, NS; Kick, NS; and Pink Thunder, CB.

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

ECMA RISING STAR STAGE - Delta Sydney - Gillian Boucher, CB; Rich Aucoin, NS; Grass Mountain Hobos, PE; Share, NS; Mardeen, CB; The Subtitles, NL; Kim Wempe, NS; Radio Radio, NB; Gypsophilia, NS; The Monday Nights, NL.

MOLSON CANADIAN 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; Slowcoaster, CB; The Easy Bleeders, CB; The Evelyn Room, NL; The Sidewalks, PE; Tom Fun Orchestra, CB; Weak Size Fish, NB.

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

SOCAN SONGWRITERS CIRCLE - Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion - Amelia Curran, NL; Catherine MacLellan, PE; Coco Love Alcorn, NS; Melanie Morgan, NB; and SOCAN Special Guest, TBA.

SOUNDWAVES - Various schools and community venues - 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.

Media Contact:
B.J. Grechuk
The Joseph Scott Entertainment Agency
902.577.5115
bj@josephscott.ca