SaskMusic and two Saskatchewan artists, Dump Babes and Grimelda will be attending The Great Escape Festival & Conference 2025 (TGE) in Brighton UK, May 14-17. The two artists have been invited to perform official showcases at TGE, as well as an industry showcase event in London on the way to TGE. SaskMusic will be on the ground participating in B2B meetings, roundtable discussions, and facilitating connections on behalf of the Saskatchewan music industry.
On May 13, with local assistance from our export consultant/strategists Enki Music, and in partnership with music industry associations the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA), Music Ontario, Music BC, Manitoba Music, Music Nova Scotia, Alberta Music, Music Yukon, and Quebec Creates, we will present 14 Canadian artists on 2 stages for a pre-TGE showcase and networking event at the historic Strongroom Bar (Curtain Road, London), 4-11:30 p.m. Performers for this event include Bad Buddy, CJ Wiley, Declan O’Donovan, Dump Babes, Field Guide, Geneviève Racette, Grimelda, Leanne Hoffman, NADUH, Rich Aucoin, Sam Tudor, and The Jins.
Then from May 14-17, we will take part in The Great Escape in Brighton. TGE is described as “the UK’s premier new music and industry gathering, where sectors from the entire UK music industry come to network,” showcasing 500 emerging artists from all over the world in 40+ walkable venues across Brighton UK plus a pop-up festival site on Brighton Beach.
Working in partnership with Canadian music industry partners CIMA, Alberta Music, M for Montreal, Manitoba Music, Music BC, MusicOntario, and SODEC under the established Canada House brand, we will be networking and representing Saskatchewan music at international meetings and events, as well as taking in international industry discussion topics during the conference. CIMA helps facilitate entry into international music markets by working closely with key personnel from the Canadian music scene and enabling international export and import opportunities. 18 Canadian artists have been selected for Canada House performances over 3 days (May 15-17) at venue The Green Door Store.
Artists performing at Canada House this year are: Bad Buddy, Billianne, CJ Wiley, Declan O’Donovan, Dump Babes, Field Guide, Geneviève Racette, Gloin, Grimelda, Malika Tirolien & Caulder Nash GeminiCrab, NADUH, Rich Aucoin, Sam Tudor, Sebastian Gaskin, The Jins, and zouz.
TGE represents SaskMusic's primary market development event for the UK market, consisting of business-to-business networking events, an industry conference with key international music topics, and artist showcases.
The Artists' U.K. Shows (local times):
Dump Babes
May 13 – Strongroom, 8:30 p.m., London UK
May 15 – Green Door Story, 12:15 p.m., (Canada House, The Great Escape), Brighton UK
May 17 – Prince Albert, 8:30 p.m., Brighton UK
Grimelda
May 15 – Three Wise Cats, 8:30 p.m., (Canada House, The Great Escape), Brighton UK
May 17 - Green Door Store, 1:35 p.m. (Canada House, The Great Escape), Brighton UK
May 21 – New Cross Inn, London UK
May 22 – The Peer Hat, Manchester UK
May 23 – Gold Lion, Bristol UK
May 24 – Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff UK
May 25 – The Bunkhouse Swansea, Swansea UK
About Canada House:
CIMA's Canada House creates a physical space during major international music festivals and conferences for Canadian artists can perform, network, and gain exposure to key players in the global music industry. One of the primary goals of Canada House is to promote the export of Canadian music by facilitating connections between Canadian artists and international industry representatives, including talent buyers, promoters, agents, and media outlets. By providing a dedicated space for Canadian talent, CIMA aims to increase the visibility and success of Canadian artists on the global stage.
About the Artists:
Grimelda: From the barren ditches along the endless Trans-Canada highway crawls Grimelda – two children nurtured beneath majestic skies, in dank basements, and on Melt Banana records. Eyes vacant … ears ringing … hands perpetually sticky, they stretch their creaky arms towards the rising sun. Deep within their slowly decaying bodies a mischievous flame begins to flicker. This flame is their burning desire to blend the best/worst elements of noise rock, art-punk, hyperpop, nu-metal, and maybe even bossa nova if you happen to be in the right place at the right time (follow the sound of kazoos, farm animals, and home-schooled math-rock).
Dump Babes: What do garbage-eating seagulls and your local bar-star have in common? They both listen to Dump Babes. Formed in 2019 on the foundations of garbage, glitter, and friendship, this group delivers irresistibly danceable and surprisingly heavy psych-pop tunes. Hailing from Treaty 6 Territory (Saskatoon, SK), Aurora Wolfe and her well-rehearsed dirtbag pals serve sex appeal for the entire family.
How were the Sask. artists chosen?
The Great Escape posts a ‘call for artists’ each year, which SaskMusic shares to our members. CIMA also posts a call for submissions for Canada House at TGE, which we share to our members. SaskMusic does not run these intakes nor select the artists.
Following TGE’s official selections, the pre-TGE London showcase was curated by its presenters (including SaskMusic). From Saskatchewan, we automatically included the two artists who received TGE invites. As partners of Canada House events at TGE, we facilitate additional plays and connections for the Sask. artists who have been selected for official showcases.
SaskMusic thanks and recognizes Creative Saskatchewan and FACTOR – The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings for their support of our export mission activities.
