(Winnipeg, March 23, 2009)  Musicians from Vancouver, to Whitehorse, to Winnipeg, are invited to experience the 2009 Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMAs), taking place September 17 to 20, 2009 in Brandon, Manitoba.

Well-established as a musical hotbed, Brandon is home to a world-class entertainment venue (Keystone Centre), and live music venues like The 40, The Roadhouse, and Clancy’s.

The WCMAs are well-known as western Canada’s largest music festival and awards ceremony. The event honours the outstanding achievement of Western Canadian recording artists and industry talent. Past winners include internationally acclaimed artists such as Nickelback, Ian Tyson, Nelly Furtado, Jann Arden and Corb Lund.

The submission deadline for the 2009 WCMAs:

When: 11 p.m., April 19th, 2009
What: deadline to apply for the WCMA festival and/or artistic awards
Why:  to have your music recognized as the best western Canada has to offer
How:   apply at www.sonicbids.com/wcma

With 60 festival showcase spots, 21 artistic awards, and 11 industry award categories, this is the year your music should be celebrated and recognized. Selected festival acts and nominees will have the opportunity to perform in front of music industry professionals from North America, Europe and beyond at the September festival and awards ceremony.

The WCMAs are made up of five Industry Associations: Alberta Music, Manitoba Music, Music BC, Music Yukon and SaskMusic. The four-day event is comprised of a music industry conference, a multi-genre music festival, and two awards shows.

All awards submissions must be for works released between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009.

For category and eligibility information go to www.westerncanadianmusicawards.ca/awards.

For more information, contact:
Lisa Saunders, 2009 WCMA Publicist
Sound Strategy Communications
204.237.9120
lisa@soundstrategy.ca
www.soundstrategy.ca

2009 JUNO Awards Broadcast
Sunday March 29th / View flyer here

For a listing of all 2009 JUNO Awards Events, including JUNO Cup & JUNO Fanfare, please visit: www.junoawards.ca

WESTJET STREET PARTY!

Watch Granville street transform into Vancouver’s music hot spot as two city blocks are closed to include a 300’ long performance tent on the 900 block of Granville, plus street performers, exhibitors, vendors, DJs and an outdoor stage. Buy tickets at: ticketmaster.ca

Full WestJet Street Party Schedule – Click here.

WestJet Street Party / Thursday March 26th – Free show!
Presented by 100.5 The Peak FM & Best Buy
Hey Rosetta!, Hot Hot Heat, Said The Whale, Jon & Roy

Get tickets from Best Buy March 21st, or by listening to 100.5 The Peak FM OR by RSVPing for your free pair of tickets to rsvp@musicbc.org by March 24th at midnight with your full name and email address. 19+ Only. View flyer here

WestJet Street Party / Friday March 27th
Presented by 99.3 The Fox, and Best Buy
Daniel Wesley, The Arkells, Incura, The Trews
19+ only. $15 / View flyer here

WestJet Street Party / Saturday March 28th
Presented by The Beat 94.5 FM
Elise Estrada, Divine Brown, Eva Avila
All ages! $15 / View flyer here

WestJet Street Party / Sunday March 29th
Presented by JRfm 93.7
Jaydee Bixby, Doc Walker, Damian Marshall
All Ages! Plus licensed! $15 / View flyer here

JUNO FEST 2009!
Friday March 27th- Saturday March 28th

JunoFest is a two-night music extravaganza that showcases the talents of over 100 local, regional and national artists representing the diverse spectrum of Canadian music. Wristbands $30 / View flyer here

JUNO Fest 09 Schedule (PDF) or JUNO FEST 09 Schedule (JPG)

Now Accepting Applications!

www.peakperformanceproject.com

The PEAK Performance Project is a seven-year, $5.29 million contest open to all musicians in British Columbia. The project was created by 100.5 The PEAK and Music BC to develop BC based emerging artists.

Every year, twenty finalists from BC will receive an intensive, one week training program in the music business, live performance, songwriting, marketing and promotion. Artists will benefit from mentorships from some of the music industry’s top professionals and performers. All of these artists will have the chance to perform live in Vancouver on the PEAK Performance Stage.

Of these twenty artists, five will receive professional demos to be released under the project. From these, the top three will be crowned as the PEAK Performers of the year and will share $275,000 in cash for career development.

First place receives $150,000 | Second place receives $75,000 | Third place receives $50,000