Black History Month Concert Call
Submission Deadline 5pm, Thursday January 26/2023

We are looking for a number of artists who are interested in performing 15-20 minute sets at our celebration concerts taking place February 24 in Saskatoon and February 25 in Regina. This opportunity is for solo artists, duos, and bands who identify as Black or of African heritage.

Performances will be paid at a rate of $150 for the first member and $100 for additional musicians, plus mileage will be compensated for out-of-town travel. We are planning to film these concerts for later sharing and promotional use by the artists. All genres are welcome to apply.

We are also soliciting new release tracks for our priority features and playlists during the month.

Check out the submission form!

SaskMusic at Folk Alliance 2023
Congratulations Berk Jodoin and Ellen Froese!

We'll be attending Folk Alliance 2023, February 1-5 in Kansas City to present showcases in partnership with BreakOut West, Manitoba Music, Alberta Music, and Music BC, presenting Berk Jodoin and Ellen Froese from SK along with partner artists. Jodoin has also been selected by Folk Alliance for an official showcase. Stay tuned for further details.

The Folk Alliance International Conference, presented by Folk Alliance International, is the world’s largest gathering of the folk music industry and community (crossing a diverse array of genres including Appalachian, Americana, Blues, Bluegrass, Celtic, Cajun, Global Roots, Hip-Hop, Old-Time, Singer-Songwriter, Spoken Word, Traditional, Zydeco, and various fusions). 

Welcome Zaïde Masich!

This month we welcome Zaïde Masich as Administrative Assistant, based in Saskatoon. Zaide will be joining us for a co-op work term from the University of Saskatchewan, through til September.

Music has been a part of Zaïde’s life well before she was born. With parents who taught music, it didn’t take long for Zaïde to pick up an instrument (or three!). She has been playing cello for nearly two decades, acquiring her RCM ARCT certification in 2017. She has had multitudinous opportunities in Canada’s classical environment, playing with the North Battleford Kiwanis Music Festival for many years, opening for various acts hosted at the Dekker Centre in North Battleford, appearing as a guest for the Amati String Quartet in Saskatoon (2014, 2015), sitting as principal cellist for the Thomastik-Infeld Canadian String Orchestra (2017, 2018), and more. Most recently, she has been appointed principal cellist in the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra for the fifth year in a row, and the principal cellist in the University of Saskatchewan Symphony Orchestra since its founding two years ago. She has also recently had the opportunity to play with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra as a substitute cellist and was part of the orchestra pit for the Eagles’ 2022 Hotel California Tour for their Saskatoon show. Zaïde is also the cellist for a student-run piano quintet.

Currently, she fills her time as a student at the University of Saskatchewan, pursuing a B.A. in French language and a B.Comm. in Marketing. She is also a tutor, teaching mainly courses in French for immersion and Francophone students under her personal label Education Garden. She is an avid collector of art and oddities. Zaïde is incredibly excited for the opportunity to work with SaskMusic and is thrilled to apply her skills and learn more about the local music communities!

FACTOR Artist Development Program
Deadline February 2/23

FACTOR's Artist Development program is now open for submissions! The Artist Development program (AD) offers a $2,000 subsidy toward a year of artist development activities including your needs which can include sound recording, touring, showcasing, video content production, and marketing. This program is intended to provide development support to emerging artists and would often be an artist's first entry point into the FACTOR grant system.

Do you have a project which would benefit from this funding? Visit factor.ca for more information, to start by creating a profile for yourself if you haven't created one yet, and to view the program guidelines! The deadline is February 2, 2023 at 5pm ET. You'll want to start on this quickly if interested! 

SaskMusic is the FACTOR representative for Saskatchewan and we also encourage those who are established in the music scene to sign up to become a juror and add your voice to their decisions. 

Hookups & Breakups Playlists
Deadline February 6/2023

Valentine's Day can stir a mixed range of emotions, depending on whether you're madly in love, suffering through heartbreak, or ambivalent about all the fuss. Whatever way you're feeling this year, SaskMusic is curating playlists that might help - coming from two opposing points of view.

Saskatchewan artists who have recorded songs in any genre that relate lyrically or in mood to either topic are invited to submit for consideration. All songs submitted will be considered, however inclusion is not guaranteed. We are looking for material released or recorded within the past 3 years.

Submit Here

Bill S-208, An Act respecting the Declaration on the Essential Role of Artists and Creative Expression in Canada, passed its third reading in the Senate in October of 2022! This Act calls on government to develop an action plan to recognize the essential role and contribution of the arts, culture and heritage to the health and the social and economic well-being of everyone in Canada, including all aspects of social justice and reconciliation.

Read the Bill at https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/bill/S-208/third-reading

Thank you to Sask Arts Alliance for sharing this update.

Showcasing at BreakOut West 2023
Early bird deadline February 6/23

This year BreakOut West Festival submissions and Western Canadian Music Awards submissions are now separate. Submissions are being accepted through a new portal, which means you'll create a new profile even if you've applied in the past. 

BreakOut West is open to submissions from artists of any genre. BreakOut West is a music industry showcase, designed to match export-ready artists based in Western Canada with industry professionals at their level. Artists are selected based on their goals, recent experience, and the likelihood of which they would find concrete business at the BreakOut West conference. WCMA recommends that submitting artists meet at least two, but ideally all four of FACTOR’s criteria for export readiness. 

BreakOut West is a juried showcase festival that takes many details into consideration. These may include; diversity of genre, language, gender and cultural identity. The festival also strives to represent all Western Canadian Music Alliance geographic regions. Gender-non-conforming artists, Indigenous artists, and artists of colour are strongly encouraged to apply.

Awards submissions will open in March 2023. 

Learn More

ARTIST SUBMISSIONS OPEN
Deadline February 11/2023 5pm

Saskatchewan artist applications for the 36th Annual SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival are now open. Please note: This form is for Saskatchewan artists ONLY. 

Saskatchewan artist applications now require a video of the artist’s work. Live performance videos are strongly preferred but music videos will also be accepted. This pertains to all applicants, including those who have played the festival in past years. Links to videos on artist websites, social platforms, YouTube channels, etc. are sufficient. In-person/hard copy applications are not accepted.

Programming decisions for Saskatchewan artists will be made in February and March 2023. Only Artists receiving a performance offer will be contacted.

Learn More

SHOWCASE OPPORTUNITY: NXNE 2023 in Toronto
Deadline January 20, 2023

5 days and nights of live music. Over 200 bands and performers. 18 of Toronto’s best clubs. Hundreds of gigs!

The festival returns to its roots, embracing its initial concept, to create a discovery music festival where emerging artists are valued and presented under optimum conditions at tightly run shows in Toronto’s best live music venues. All acts are presented at an affordable price with clear showtimes to encourage audiences to club-hop and discover new artists.

NXNE remains committed to being an accessible festival with few financial barriers to perform or attend.

More info

Showcase at the International Indigenous Music Summit
Deadline January 23, 2023

Showcase applications are officially open for the 2023 International Indigenous Music Summit (IIMS). IIMS can’t wait to lift your voices up and celebrate how amazing this community is!

The showcases will shine a spotlight on artistic excellence in the Indigenous music community. IIMS facilitates building meaningful and mutually beneficial bridges and partnerships between artists, professionals, and key players in both Indigenous and mainstream music industries. Let’s move the needle forward in terms of sustainable, long-term change in the music community! Submissions are open to Indigenous artists across Turtle Island.

More info

Ness Creek Music Festival Seeking Artist Applications
Deadline February 1, 2023

The Ness Creek Music Festival offers incredible live music from Saskatchewan, across Canada and around the world. Join over 3,000 people in the forest of northern Saskatchewan, be part of a tent-city community and enjoy Indie, Roots & Folk music from across the globe and close to home, along with over 100 environmental, artistic and cultural activities woven through our many festival venues.

Ness Creek brings you cutting edge Saskatchewan, Canadian, and international music, while keeping you grounded with the bedrock of its traditional roots – from blues to bluegrass, folk to funk, and nearly everything in between. Music speaks a universal language and is the best way we know to get people to smile at their neighbours, shake what their mama gave them, and feel connected.

Submit to perform at the 2023 festival: CLICK HERE

More info about the festival at: www.nesscreekmusicfestival.com

Equity X Production Mentorship Program
Deadline: February 15/2023, 11:59pm EST

The Equity X Production Mentorship Program was developed in response to research conducted by the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, identifying that women make up only 2.1% of producers throughout the top 100 hundred Billboard songs annually 2012-2018. That report also validated that women producers are underrepresented 47 to 1 by male producers.

Up to 25 women and gender minorities will be selected to participate in a six-course webinar series with small group mentorship sessions. This six-week program will take place virtually on a biweekly basis.

Learn More

Canadian Music Week Showcasing, June 5-10/23
Deadline February 15/2023

Each year Canadian Music Week attracts hundreds of artists and industry professionals from around the world who gather in Toronto for five days of live music, networking, and learning. Artist submissions are closing soon.

Congratulations to Regina's Shayla Souliere who is among the artists already announced for the 2023 event!

Spend three action-packed days attending panels, participating in one-on-one meetings and much more. All this before heading out for the evening to showcase in front of new adoring fans, fellow musicians and most important, industry leaders and dealmakers.

More info and to apply

Apply to Play The Great Escape Festival in Brighton, UK
Deadline February 15, 2022

Artist registration for The Great Escape 2023 is now officially open! Whether you are a band, singer-songwriter, rapper, DJ, collective or duo, it doesn’t matter, they want to hear from you.

The Great Escape welcomes artists from every genre across the globe to apply for a chance to play at a festival renowned for breaking new talent. You will be performing with the beautiful seaside backdrop of Brighton, where 450+ acts will be filling over 30 venues, making May 10-13, 2023 a great opportunity to meet key music industry figures who come to TGE looking for the next big thing.

More info and to apply

Jackie Kroczynski to showcase at Your Roots Are Showing
January 22-26/2023, Monaghan Ireland

Saskatoon songwriter/artist Jackie Kroczynski has accepted an official showcase invitation for a new music industry event being held Jan 22-26/2023 in Coolshannagh, Monaghan, Ireland.

Your Roots Are Showing is Ireland's newest and largest annual folk, roots, and traditional music conference. The conference will provide opportunities for showcasing, professional development, and networking for artists and music industry professionals in Ireland and the international Folk community, with tailored programming for people at all stages of their careers, from emerging to export-ready.

​Additionally, Your Roots Are Showing is proud to host discussion panels highlighting the impact of the Irish language, folklore, and storytelling on music and songwriting. Their aim is to preserve and advance Ireland's rich and varied culture for future generations, and they invite musicians from around the world to discuss how their own cultures and stories have impacted their music.

Over five days and four nights, Irish music industry delegates and international guests will take part in networking sessions, panel discussions, social gatherings, mentoring sessions and intimate showcases throughout the conference facilities.

Showcase artists will perform for members of the folk music industry from around Ireland and the world, from festival directors to house concert hosts and every type of live venue in between, as well as folk DJs, managers, agents, labels, performers' rights organizations, music supervisors, and others. As well as the Official Showcases, there will be many opportunities to perform and jam with musicians from around the world during lobby sessions going late into the night.

The Garrys selected for Keychange

Keychange, the pioneering international initiative for gender equity in the music industry, welcomes 74 new participants to its 2023 Talent Development Programme. Comprising artistic and music industry professional talent who are already leaders in their field (in production, management, synch and beyond), participants are selected by industry experts as future leaders of the global movement for gender equity. 

The innovative year-long Talent Development Programme provides women and gender expansive participants with the skills, resources and pathways needed to unlock their full potential in their area of expertise. The programme launches with a Full Network Meet Up at the concert venue, Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, February 14-15/2023.

Bringing together a multitude of different skills and networks through the Keychange Pledge and Talent Development Programme, Keychange offers a unique ecosystem with international collaboration at its heart. Selected by industry and export specialists as future leaders, the participants mark the third cohort of artists and music industry professionals from 12 countries across Europe and Canada to take part in a year-long programme. It follows a highly competitive open call that received 830 applications.

2023 Canadian Keychange 2023 participants are The Garrys, Desiree Dawson, Liza, Meisha and The Spanks
Innovators: Roxanne Lemieux, Kingsley Swim, Nancy Lee, Gaby Gauthier-Durand

Learn More

Featured Singles/Videos: https://saskmusic.wufoo.com/forms/p1b5aft60baybgl/

Submit Albums/News: https://saskmusic.wufoo.com/forms/p1j5txnh11l7bht/

Have you recently released or will soon be releasing an official single, music video, or album, in any genre? Have some exciting music news to share? We want to know what you've got going on! Even if we follow your socials, we (and media outlets) don't see, or catch everything you post about. Please let us know your release date and/or other activities. Just follow the links above!

Musician Seeking Gigs?

The Saskatchewan Music Directory provides listings of freelance players available for live shows and studio recordings, and is our main referral point to those who call looking to hire musicians/singers. We want to know about you! Visit www.saskmusic.org to login to your existing account, or to join (free 'subscriber' option available) and add your listings. (Sask-based players only.)

The more information the better! Remember to include your specific instrument, styles you specialize in/techniques (ie fingerstyle, rhythm, lead), location, description of experience, and links to videos/examples if available for best results. You can create multiple listings with different descriptions if you play multiple instruments! Think about what people would want to know before reaching out to a player, and include that information in your entry.

Got gigs? Whether they're streaming concerts, live club dates or festivals - please send your show details to gigs@saskmusic.org so we can add them to our calendar!

• OSAC - Sheldon Casavant, January 19, 2023, Maurice Taylor Performing Arts Theatre
• Justin LaBrash & True North - The Winter Warm Up Tour, January 19, 2023, Shurniak Art Gallery
• B.C. Read Big Band , January 20, 2023, Bassment (The)
• Regina Hungarian Club: Acoustic Night w/ Dave Grandel, January 20, 2023, Regina Hungarian Club
• OSAC - Sheldon Casavant, January 20, 2023, Station Arts Centre
• Emo Night Saskatoon -- Blink-182, January 20, 2023, Amigos
• Justin LaBrash & True North - The Winter Warm Up Tour, January 20, 2023, PumpJacks
• Art's Birthday Event @ Neutral Ground!, January 21, 2023, Neutral Ground
• Regina Symphony Orchestra Pops: Golden Age of Hollywood, January 21, 2023, Conexus Arts Centre
• Ellen Doty, January 21, 2023, Bassment (The)
• 10-Year Celebration with Jackie Guy -- Chocolate Bean Café & Flowers, January 21, 2023, Chocolate Bean Café
• Saskatoon Chamber Singers Benefit Concert, January 21, 2023, Knox United Church
• Cupid's Heart Single Celebration with The Great Fuss, January 21, 2023, Rock Trout Events
• OSAC - Sheldon Casavant, January 21, 2023, Dekker Centre
• After two am @ Makerspace, January 21, 2023, Saskatoon Makerspace
• Dancing Queen: The Music of ABBA, January 21, 2023, TCU Place (Saskatoon Centennial Auditorium & Convention Centre)
• Bushwakker & Robbie Burns' Birthday Bash!, January 21, 2023, Bushwakkers
• Bluegrass Brunch w/ The Local Group @ The Capitol, January 21, 2023, Capitol Music Club (The)
• "Where?" AM I Show & Fundraiser, January 22, 2023, Chocolate Bean Café
• Cecilian Chamber Series: Andrew Wan & Charles Richard-Hamelin, January 22, 2023, Darke Hall
• Cecilian Chamber Series: Artist Dinner & Fundraiser, January 22, 2023, Darke Hall
• Bushwakker Presents: Shane & Colin (Terraplane), January 23, 2023, Bushwakkers
• Open Auditions @ Malty National!, January 24, 2023, Malty National Brewing Corp.
• Bushwakker Presents: Dara Schindelka, January 25, 2023, Bushwakkers
• Winterruption -- Pierre Kwenders w/ Beau Nectar, January 26, 2023, Broadway Theatre
• Winterruption -- Joe & The Shitboys w/ Sgt. Papers and Off The Top Rope, January 26, 2023, Black Cat Tavern
• Winterruption -- Two in the Kink, January 26, 2023, Black Cat Tavern
• Winterruption -- Tempers w/ Immateria and Jordan Perry, January 26, 2023, Amigos
• Winterruption -- THE AUNTY SHOW, January 26, 2023, Exchange/The Club
• Winterruption -- Prairie Network Showcase, January 26, 2023, Cure (The)
• Winterruption -- Cups N Cakes Network Showcase, January 26, 2023, Exchange/The Club
• Winterruption -- Fucked Up w/ Home Front and Soul Mates, January 27, 2023, Louis' Pub
• Winterruption -- Jasmyn w/ Elle Froese and Actor Director, January 27, 2023, Amigos
• Winterruption -- Bibby Fibb, Jacob Audrey Taves and Knar, January 27, 2023, Refinery Arts & Spirit Centre (The)
• The Randy Woods Band, January 27, 2023, Bassment (The)
• Tenille Townes: Side A & B Tour, January 27, 2023, Coors Event Centre
• The People - Show, January 27, 2023, Revival Music Room
• Winterruption -- Anna Haverstock, January 28, 2023, 9 Mile Legacy Brewing
• Winterruption -- The Big Band Theory 'Latin Nights'!, January 28, 2023, Broadway Theatre
• Winterruption -- Holy Fuck w/ 3 Moonjask, January 28, 2023, Amigos
• Winterruption -- Polkarama with Walter Ostanek!, January 28, 2023, TCU Place (Saskatoon Centennial Auditorium & Convention Centre)
• Winterruption -- Raeburn, Extra Flavour and Sohka, January 28, 2023, Refinery Arts & Spirit Centre (The)
• Hannah Georgas for Winterruption, January 28, 2023, Lyric Theatre (The)
• Winterruption -- Dump Babes, The Garrys and Grimelda, January 29, 2023, Amigos
• School of Rock Show @ Darke Hall!, January 29, 2023, Darke Hall
• Bushwakker Presents: The Jazz Band-Its, January 30, 2023, Bushwakkers
• Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys, January 31, 2023, Broadway Theatre
• OSAC - Luke McMaster, February 1, 2023, Vic Juba Community Theatre, Lakeland College
• Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys, February 1, 2023, EA Rawlinson Centre for the Arts
• Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys, February 2, 2023, Dekker Centre
• OSAC - Luke McMaster, February 2, 2023, Majestic Theatre

Grants Administrator, SaskCulture Inc

SaskCulture Inc. is a non-profit, community-based, volunteer-driven organization that works with its membership and other community partners to build a culturally vibrant province, where all citizens of Saskatchewan celebrate, value and participate in a rich, cultural life.

Are you ready to be a part of an inclusive work environment and engage with diverse peoples, worldviews, traditions and experiences? SaskCulture is seeking a Grants Administrator to support the work of the Program Team to deliver a variety of grant programming and services designed to actively engage communities and increase participation in cultural activity in Saskatchewan.

Learn More

Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Saskatchewan Jazz Festival Inc. 

Saskatchewan Jazz Festival Inc. (SJF) is seeking to fill the position of part-time Marketing and Communications Coordinator.

Reporting to the Executive Director and working collaboratively with the Operations & Program Manager, the Marketing and Communications Coordinator plans and executes market-appropriate communications, promotions and advertising for the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival Inc. (SJF).  In alignment with SJF’s mandate, strategic pillars, and resources, this position will focus on festival visibility, sponsorship fulfillment, and audience engagement, with an aim to drive the gate through the use of diverse and strategic media.

Learn More

Check out more careers in culture on the SaskCulture website!