Emerging artists flourish
Both familiar and unfamiliar faces to the Fredericton music scene graced the Charlotte Street Arts Centre auditorium stage on Nov. 16 and 17 for the seventh annual music festival Fest Forward.
Fest Forward gave emerging artists real-life experiences to help them develop the professional side of their music business, by providing workshops and a showcasing opportunity.
The goal, is to move New Brunswick musicians forward. Any musician or band in New Brunswick who creates original material is eligible to apply.
Amy Stone from the band Amy Stone & The Veneers, a pop-rock band based out of Moncton, applied to be a part of this festival because her other band, The Galpines, is taking a break while their band mate welcomes a new baby.
“So, it just feels like the perfect time to inject a little love and attention into developing The Veneers,” said Stone.
Artists who are selected for Fest Forward work with professionals from the New Brunswick music industry. They provide advice on how to improve grant applications, music festival applications and teach what it looks like to have a professional looking brand for their band.
They also get to record a demo track, have professional band photos taken, participate in professional development workshops and are awarded with a slot at an East Coast music festival. Each band’s live showcasing performance in the CSAC auditorium is also paid.
Stone, the lead singer and rhythm guitar player in her band, enjoyed all the opportunities they received at Fest Forward.
“We walked away from Fest Forward with some sharp new press photos by Kelsey Cassidy, a lovely, intimate video recording of one of our tracks, captured by Jay Merril at Marshall Studios, and a slot at Paddlefest in Saint Andrews next year, so we’re thrilled with the little bump this festival has given our band.”
The showcasing slot gives artists a new audience to perform in front of. Crowd-drawing bands are chosen by the festival organizer, Eva George, to headline the evening to ensure a large crowd of people will attend to see the showcasing artists – ones that haven’t necessarily made a name for themselves yet.
This year’s headlining bands included Stephen Lewis and The BIG Band Of FUN and The Hypochondriacs.
The Hypochondriacs are a well-known Fredericton band led by front-man Josh Bravener (guitar, vocals).
It also includes Kelly Waterhouse (saxophone, vocals),
Jeannine Gallant (trombone, vocals),
Jamie Guitar (bass),
and Aaron Bravener (drums).
The Hypochondriacs started in 2012. They’re a multiple award-winning rockabilly band based out of Fredericton with 2,400 likes on Facebook, a large following for a small town artist.
Stone enjoyed having the showcasing opportunity.
“Showcasing is great because it lands you in front of some industry folks and puts you on their radar, which for emerging bands is invaluable… And on a personal level, getting to share a bill with The Hypochondriacs is always an absolute treat,” she said.
Catherine Kennedy was another showcasing performer. She’s a singer-songwriter and story teller from Saint John, N.B. who sang songs about life experiences and shared intimate stories with the crowd.
Kennedy’s in her last year of the music therapy program at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. She feels as if she’s lost some of her connections at home since she’s been away for school.
“Honestly, I just feel like I don’t have a super strong connection with music in New Brunswick, and so I’m just really excited to grow connections with people here and musicians here,” said Kennedy.
At Fest Forward, she hoped to meet New Brunswick musicians to work with in the future.
“I think meeting people to collaborate on projects with would be huge, and also just like the practical business side of music that I have no idea how to even handle, [I’m] really excited to get a chance and see into that world a bit.”
Musicians came from all over the province to be a part of this festival. Performers included Amy Stone & The Veneers, Catherine Kennedy, CA Jackson, Chill Teens, Heat $heets, Jaguar Knight, McKinley Morrison & Williams, Melonvine and Skinny Leigh.
The Arts Centre auditorium was filled with music lovers excited to get the first glimpse at the next new act.
Stone was glad she got to be a part of Fest Forward and got to bond with some other up and coming New Brunswick musicians.
“For me, getting a small taste of Fredericton’s supportive and thriving music scene was really enlightening. Eva George and the CSAC are programming some wonderful opportunities for artists, you can really feel the love they’re putting into their work,” said Stone.
“Living on the east coast and being pretty isolated from the rest of Canada makes it all the more important we keep cultivating strong, loving bonds between all our hometowns.”
