The East Coast Music Awards celebrates its 35th Anniversary in Halifax, Nova Scotia, May 3-7.
The East Coast Music Awards: Festival and Conference (ECMA) is celebrating a monumental 35th anniversary this year with a five-day, non-stop musical event showcasing and recognizing a wealth of East Coast artists and music, Wednesday, May 3 to Sunday, May 7 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Kicking off ECMA 2023 is the Wije’winen (Come With Us) Cultural Circle. Together, the ECMA and the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre (MNFC) invite people to gather for an opening blessing at the Grand Parade on Wednesday, May 3 at 12 noon. Lit teepees, a sacred fire, and an on-site firekeeper and Elder will be present then and throughout the festival weekend. The Cultural Circle will also include a showcase of Indigenous dance, drumming and song on Saturday, May 6.
“We are especially pleased this year to be able to share, stage and highlight our rich Mi’kmaq culture in the centre of Kjipuktuk as we transform the Grand Parade into the Wije’winen Cultural Circle for the East Coast Music Awards,” says Pam Glode Desrochers – MNFC Executive Director & ECMA LEC Co-chair. “We applaud the organizers of ECMA 2023 and HRM for providing this incredible opportunity to showcase our community and our people.”
The opening celebrations continue at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel with the 35th Anniversary Kickoff Party. This year, ECMA will host a classic East Coast Kitchen Party, led by the Kitchen Party King himself – Rankin MacInnis. More special guests and performers will be announced soon. This event is for pass holders only.
On Thursday, May 4, the annual East Coast Music Awards will take place at the Scotiabank Centre. Red carpet arrivals begin at 5:30 p.m. and the show – which will be broadcast nationally and streamed around the world – will begin at 8 p.m. Recognizing some of the best and brightest of the East Coast’s artists and music, this year’s show will be hosted by comedian Trent McClellan of This Hour Has 22 Minutes and will feature performances by ECMA nominees Adam Baldwin, Aquakultre, City Natives, Deantha Edmunds, Dylan Menzie, Fortunate Ones, Les Hotesses d’Hilaire, Jah’Mila, Kellie Loder, Madison Violet, Natalie MacMaster, Neon Dreams and more.
The East Coast Music & Industry Awards Part II will take place at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel on Sunday, May 7 at 11 a.m. Performers include: XIA-3, JRDN, Isabella Samson, and Rawlins Cross.
“We have two incredibly exciting Awards shows planned,” says Andy McLean, CEO of ECMA. “We will hand out 14 awards at Thursday’s show and feature 13 performances and at Sunday’s show, we will present 36 more music, industry, and honourary awards with four live performances. Both events will represent artists in multiple genres and the diversity of today’s East Coast sounds.”
For a full list of events, venues, showcase performances, and the first annual ECMA All-Star Charity Basketball Game, visit ecma.com
