BY WGO Staff
When the last notes of Port Cities’ performance closed the 2019 edition of Sydney Credit Union Makin’ Waves last summer, folks were already starting the countdown for this summer’s live music gatherings in Wentworth Park. But now with a global pandemic looming, travel and gathering restrictions in place, and the health and wellbeing of the community in consideration, organizers have formally announced the cancellation of Sydney Credit Union Makin’ Waves 2020.
All is not lost, however, as the last few months have allowed the Makin’ Waves team to reinvent and redevelop plans on how to offer musical experiences to the community. Always with the goal to produce unique, high quality presentations, they have announced three programs that will blend live and digital mediums and fill the gaps that the many event cancellations have created.
First will be the Cape Breton University Songwriters Studio: Isolation Edition. Four intimate episodes will delve deeply into the songs and careers of four Makin’ Waves alumni: Carleton Stone of Port Cities, Jah’Mila of Jamaica/Halifax, Rosanna Burrill of Halifax’s Hillsburn, and Cape Breton born songwriter Greg MacPherson. The weekly series will launch June 25th on makinwavesfestival.ca and will be followed by a two part live/digital edition later in the year.
Secondly, the CBMIC Front Stage Program returns to focus on the development of young songwriters in Cape Breton. This program has brought 14 performances to the Makin’ Waves stage since its implementation in 2017. For 2020, artists selected for the Front Stage Program will work to develop a live performance video as well as an introduction video to use in promotion of their work. In addition, the Makin’ Waves team will work with the artists on career development over the summer months.
Finally, CBRM Recreation will host a two night live and livestreamed concert on August 22nd and 23rd from the Cape Breton Drive-In. A limited audience will be given the opportunity to watch live from their vehicles as artists bring excitement to the stage, while a global audience will be able to watch from home as the concert is presented online. This event will be free, with ticketing information and lineup to be announced in July.
Sydney Credit Union Makin’ Waves and these programs are brought to you by Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Cape Breton Music Industry Cooperative (CBMIC), Sydney Credit Union, Cape Breton University, Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canadian Arts Presentation Fund, and the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, & Heritage.
