Media Release
For Immediate Release
February 22, 2010

 
(Sydney, NS) - The East Coast Music Association is thrilled to launch "Sydney Meets Sydney" - an initiative to facilitate new reciprocal business and touring/ export opportunities for both Atlantic Canadian and Australian artists.

The program will feature several collaborations between the like-named cities. While in Sydney, Nova Scotia, for the 2010 East Coast Music Awards, Festival and Conference, Australian artists Dead Letter Chorus and Fergus Brown will team up with Canadian artists such as Carmen Townsend for collaborations during the International Export Buyer's Showcase. During the conference, a panel discussion entitled Touring Down Under: 'Sydney Meets Sydney' - A Case Study on Australia will take place on March 6th from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Membertou Trade and Convention Centre.

"We are committed to developing a musical collaboration between Australia and Canada and we hope that this will mark the beginning of a longstanding relationship between our two markets," said Su Hutchinson, executive director of the East Coast Music Association. "Just as we strive to show the world the caliber of our East Coast artists, it is wonderful to bring these talented musicians from across the oceans and exemplify that, regardless of distance, music is a universal connector."

The collaboration doesn't end when the curtain closes on ECMA weekend. From June 19-21, East Coast artists Carmen Townsend, along with Two Hours Traffic and more will travel to Sydney, Australia for the Song Summit, featuring individual and collaborative performances, along with a 'Sydney meets Sydney' reception and case study.
 
"The synergies that present themselves with the Sydney Meets Sydney partnership are undeniable," said Sally Howland, director of APRA/Song Summit. "Sometimes, you stumble upon a relationship and a match that is so perfect, you'd think it had been created deliberately. Both the ECMA and Song Summit are innovative music conference/showcasing events that ensure the writers and creators are at its core. The timing for such a tailored cross-cultural collaboration is
ripe and we are extremely pleased to have partnered with the ECMA in delivering this inaugural and unique initiative."
 
East Coast music lovers in Sydney, Australia, can also watch the spectacular Music Awards Gala when Bell Aliant Brings ECMA Live to the World on Sunday, March 7th at 7 p.m. Atlantic Time.
  
The 2010 Cape Breton event is an annual event organized bythe East Coast Music Association as a critical part of its mission statement. The 2010 event will take place in Sydney, NS from March 4-7, 2010.
 
The East Coast Music Association would like to acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada's private radio broadcasters.
 

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