SaskMusic is pleased to once again be undertaking an export mission to the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, Germany under the BreakOut West Event brand, where in partnership with Alberta Music, Music BC and Manitoba Music, we will present receptions, networking events, attend business-to-business meetings and participate in Canadian Blast showcases on behalf of the Saskatchewan music market. This is SaskMusic’s fifth annual export mission to Reeperbahn.
Saskatchewan artists DGS Samurai Champs, Poor Nameless Boy, and Surf Dads were hand-picked by Reeperbahn organizers and will perform as part of the Canadian Blast-Canada House lineup. This is all three artists’ debut performance at the event. Surf Dads’ appearance is part of a 35-date European tour. Poor Nameless Boy will continue with a UK tour after the festival. In all, 29 Canadian artists are currently scheduled to perform at Reeperbahn.
Our events begin in Berlin on September 20 with a Pre-Reeperbahn event consisting of intensive panel discussions with the German music industry on distribution and marketing, sync licensing and brand partnerships, live music market, and the digital music market in Germany. The event is followed by a networking showcase. A second networking event with B2B (Business to Business) meetings with the German and UK music industry will follow on the morning of September 21 at the Canadian Embassy in Berlin. SaskMusic and representatives for each of the showcasing artists will be in attendance for these sessions. This event is presented in partnership with the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA).
We will then depart for Hamburg, where the group will present the BreakOut West Reeperbahn Reception on September 22 at Canada House (held at Kukuun) in Hamburg, followed by two days of showcases with Western Canadian acts. DGS Samurai Champs, Poor Nameless Boy, and Surf Dads will showcase on September 22 at Canada House as part of the Canadian Blast showcases.
Following Reeperbahn, we will continue on to Poland for a series of meetings with local music industry professionals, and where we will present “Canada vs Poland” for the second annual year, on September 26. The event presents a combination of Polish and Canadian artists together in an industry showcase. Representing Saskatchewan at the event at DZiK will be Surf Dads.
About DGS Samurai Champs
DGS Samurai Champs is a Canadian recording and performing R&B/hip-hop group from Regina. The group takes pride in their Canadian identity, taking influence from Canadian hip-hop and R&B contemporaries such as Drake, The Weeknd, and PARTYNEXTDOOR.
Showcase:
Thursday, September 22, 11:00-11:30pm: Canadian Blast - Kukuun, Spielbudenplatz 21-22, 20359 Hamburg
About Poor Nameless Boy
As Poor Nameless Boy, Regina-based indie folk artist Joel Henderson leaves a piece of himself on stage every time he performs. His mellow sound is personal, speaking honestly about love, life, and our changing hearts in a busy world. He has been described as a lighter version of John Mayer with the wispy sounds of Gregory Alan Isakov. The release of his third album “Bravery” has already turned industry and music lovers’ heads, debuting nationally at #2 on Canadian folk charts. Listen carefully and take note of the passionate range of vocals and songs with stories, sung from the soul.
Showcase:
Thursday, September 22, 2:00-2:30pm: Canadian Blast - Kukuun, Spielbudenplatz 21-22, 20359 Hamburg
About Surf Dads
Surf Dads is one of Canada's latest up and coming independent acts. Releasing three EPs over the span of three months, Surf Dads has proved to be a workhorse band. Touring relentlessly, they honed their skills on the road and have cultivated a live show that will have you dancing and leave you wanting more. Recommended if you enjoy Wavves, Bully, Cloud Nothings.
Showcases:
Thursday, September 22, 10:00-10:30pm: Canadian Blast - Kukuun, Spielbudenplatz 21-22, 20359 Hamburg
Monday, September 26, 7:00-11:00pm: Canada vs Poland, DZiK, Belwederska 44 A, 00-594 Warsaw
About Canadian Independent Music Association:
Canadian Blast is the business development brand under which CIMA promotes Canadian independent music in the US, UK-Europe, South Asia and other emerging markets. These international events provide global, collective, multi-faceted marketing opportunities which individual companies and artists would be unable to undertake on their own. CIMA is a not-for-profit national trade association representing the English-language, Canadian-owned sector of the music industry. CIMA’s membership consists of Canadian-owned companies and representatives of Canadian-owned companies involved in every aspect of the music, sound recording and music-related industries. CIMA’s mandate is to develop and advocate policies and services that serve to support a strong and economically stable Canadian independent music and sound recording industry, ensuring the long-term development of the sector and to raise the profile of Canadian independent music both in Canada and around the world.
About Reeperbahn:
Since its debut in 2006, the Reeperbahn Festival has grown to become one of the most important meeting places for the music industry worldwide, and, as Germany’s largest club festival, it boasts a broad spectrum of emerging artists. In addition to some 450 concerts by international artists held in a wide variety of venues, the festival programme includes events in the fields of fine art, film, and literature. The Reeperbahn Festival conference programme is designed for professionals active in the music and creative digital industries and features sessions, showcases, networking events, or awards ceremonies. It boasts an attendance of more than 32,000, including 3700 international delegates.
Follow along on SaskMusic’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts for live updates from the event.
We thank Creative Saskatchewan for their support of this initiative.
