Rock With Nova Scotia in 2010

One of Nova Scotia’s biggest exports is its people and music. From world-stage luminaries like Anne Murray to Grammy award-winning songwriter, Gordie Sampson, Nova Scotia musicians-  along with their counterparts from New Brunswick, P.E.I and Newfoundland – can be found all over the world.

Sydney, Nova Scotia, at the top of Cape Breton, is the home of this year’s East Coast Music Awards (ECMA). Yes, there are large, stage shows in the mix but a large portion of the talent is performing in smaller venues like malls and songwriter’s circles.

There are two reasons that the ECMA’s are held in March:

1. Travel is a little easier and accommodation is cheaper
2. Before the Juno Awards.

For those unaccustomed to Canadian music tradition the Juno Awards are Canada’s Grammies and bring many types of Canadian music to the stage. To reflect this, the ECMA’s spotlight traditional, aboriginal, folk and cultural types of music than fly under the radar in other parts of Canada.

For example, Acadian music – one of the building blocks of Canjun music in Louisiana – has its own stars who follow many of the old traditions of the original French immigrants who settled here in the early 1700’s. “Urban” performers as well as Nova Scotia’s own brand of blues is also showcased.

A highlight at this year’s ECMA’s is  Dave Carroll from the group, Sons of Maxwell. He wrote and recorded “United Breaks Guitars” after the airline damaged his own guitar last year.

The ECMA’s will wrap up tonight with a gala at Sydney’s Centre 200.