Canadian Music Week 2011 ran from the 8th – 12th March this year and SOUNDS AUSTRALIA was in amongst it all, offering up a variety of platforms for Australians to gain greater exposure on a global scale.
Representing Sounds Australia for the very first DRYS-A-BONE was Eli Wolfe, Kim Churchill, Jack Carty, Adrian Wilson and the Beside Lights and Alana Cherote. It was a night full of original tunes, electrifying guitar solos, haunting ballads, a couple of covers and very enthused audience members. In our first outing as SOUNDS AUSTRALIA at Canadian Music Week 2011 (CMW), there was not a spare seat in the house with the Library Bar rapidly filling with delegates from all over the world. As the rest of Toronto braved the cold, those that were lucky enough to nab a spot at the hottest showcase of the night nursed their drinks and basked in the warmth the talented Aussie artists brought to the room.
SUITE MATE took us in to one of the York Hotels larger rooms (but smallest CMW showcase venues). Blue King Brown, Birds of Tokyo and The Jezabels performed beautiful stripped back sets to a completely captivated audience. This invite only event saw key power players in the music industry turn to putty as they hung on every note. And of course, it wouldn’t be a suite without sweets, so we brought in the big guns; crumpets, scones, brownies, tarts and more, all devoured in between the trio of powerful sets. The harmonies each act filled the space with were thrilling, and the genuine excitement that our guests experienced was palpable.
The Business to Business matching session was our version of speed dating for corporates. With no more than seven minutes apiece, the art of the pitch was put to the test as Australian delegates met with their international counterparts. A room full of heavyweights locked in deep conversation; who they are, what they do, what they can do for one another, common aspects of their industries and the business elements that ultimately define them and mark a point of difference. At SOUNDS AUSTRALIA we understand how vital networking between nations truly is; as the world becomes smaller, (thanks to the Internet and ongoing digital developments), we can’t underestimate just how valuable this kind of face time is.
SOUNDS AUSTRALIA thought it fitting to follow these meetings up with an Australian reception at the International Market Place. Together with the Consulate General of Canada, Sydney, we invited all CMW delegates to meet the Australians. Beer was flowing and new alliances were formed as we celebrated all the great Australian/Canadian relationships that had come out of CMW in the past, and the potential for future outcomes moving forward.
Capping off our experience of CMW was the first Canadian Aussie BBQ. Held at The Horseshoe Tavern, one of Toronto’s most renowned live music venues, SOUNDS AUSTRALIA and Stage Mothers presented a line up that got the Canadians literally jumping up and down and chanting for more. With a free BBQ thanks to our friends at ‘Study in Australia’ and killer sets from Blue King Brown, Drawn From Bees, Hungry Kids of Hungary, Mayfield, Rocket Surgery, Stone Parade, The On Fires, The Resignators and Wagons there was something for everyone. Hard rock, metal, ska, folk and music that simply defied all genres. The Aussie BBQ was the perfect farewell to Toronto, a city that offered incredible opportunities for artists and delegates alike, and even threw in a five minute downpour of snow for good measure.
And like all good things, our time had come to an end all too quickly. Thanks for the great ride CMW – see you next year!
Check out all our CMW pics here, and stay tuned for all the SXSW 2011 activities.