Saskatchewan Music Community Rallies Together To Promote Local Talent, Offer an Alternative to ‘Pay to Play’ Showcases, and Raise Funds to Support Northern Communities Affected by Forest Fires.
Val Halla Music and The Regina Cultural Exchange present “Friends With Benefits”: The Saskatchewan Music Showcase, featuring 26 local acts on August 13th, 14th, and 15th.
After quite a backlash in the local Saskatchewan music scene over “Pay to Play” style shows that were scheduled in both Saskatoon and Regina by Montreal based company Landmark Events, the local music community came together to put on a regional showcase event as an alternative. At the locally run “Friends With Benefits” showcases, not only will the artists get paid 50% of all ticket sales (instead of artists being asked to sell 35 tickets at $13 to $15 each, just to be eligible to perform at the Landmark Events showcases and then being asked to hand all ticket income back to Landmark), but there will also be great prizes from sponsors up for grabs in a draw for the musician’s participating, and all other proceeds will stay in the province and be donated to assist Northern Saskatchewan communities affected by the forest fires.
The event will showcase 26 different bands, trios, duos, and solo artists spanning many different types of musical genres. The Thursday night showcase has a focus on singer/songwriters, roots, folk, and indie rock; Friday night is going to be a rock ‘n roll and alternative rock showcase; Saturday night will be the metal and heavy rock showcase.
Tickets will be available from all artists participating, as well as at Vintage Vinyl, and are being sold for $10 in advance. Tickets will also be available at the door on the night of each show for $15. Each act participating is entered into the prize draw, as there will be no competition between bands or “judging” for the prizes. The winners will be pulled by random. Each act will receive one entry just for participating, but will receive an additional entry for every extra 10 tickets they sell.
The event will run August 13th, 14th, and 15th, with doors opening at 7:00pm each night, and music beginning at 7:30pm sharp.
Each band performing at the showcase will automatically be entered into the performer’s draw for prizes, with each act receiving an additional entry into the draw for every 10 tickets sold. The prizes include 3 days of studio time at Blue Door Recordings with Justin Bender Engineering and Producing, 15 hours mixing time at B-rad Studios, Sask Music 1 year band memberships, a free night’s rental of The Exchange venue, a professional band photo shoot by Kamiki Pics, & an in-depth feature articles with MusicReginaLive.ca, and much more.
There will also be door prizes for audience members to have a chance at winning through participation in a raffle that will also see all proceeds going to Northern Saskatchewan communities. Anyone who may have prizes to donate or would like to contribute is asked to please contact info@valhallamusic.ca
Val Halla Music and The Regina Cultural Exchange Present Friends With Benefits: The Saskatchewan Music Showcase
Sponsored by Blue Door Recording, B-rad Studios, Sask Music, 104.9 The Wolf, Prairie Dog Magazine, Kamiki Pics Photography, and MusicReginaLive.ca
Thursday August 13 - 7:00 pm (Roots, Singer/Songwriter, Acoustic & Indie Grooves Night!) (this night will also alternate performances immediately one after another between The Club and Exchange sides of the venue)
Hello, Lady - Keiffer McLean - Sweet Saturday - Amy McDade - The Empire Associates - Annora - The Ben Winoski Project - Kendal - The Stillhouse Poets - Ava Wild
Friday August 14th - 7:00 pm (Rock N Roll & Alternative Rock Night!) (Exchange side only)
Whiskey Manner - Bad Comrade - Sleeping Suns - Kinder Scout - Ryan Hicks - Below The Tempest - Commonwealth - Matt Polsfut
Saturday August 15th - 7:00 pm (Metal and Heavy Rock Night! With some acoustic and blues flavours to kick it off) (Exchange side only)
Newera - Maxstone - Circles & Revolution - Magnetic - Braindead Romeo - Whiteboy Slim - Tyler Gilbert - Adam Holmes
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/667944143340496/
