JSB to play N.S schools

[Esau]

ECMAs bring local stars to schools

By MARILYN SMULDER

Friday, January 24, 2003

Some of the excitement of the East Coast Music Awards is spilling over into Nova Scotia schools.

The East Coast Music Association’s Soundwaves program will bring live music to more than 20,000 students throughout Nova Scotia, Feb. 4 to 13. It means top-notch acts such as The Jimmy Swift Band, Blou, and Hot Toddy will perform for kids from Yarmouth to Antigonish.

Organizers only wish the program could be more extensive. The target was to reach 15,000 people — “30,000 ears,” says Bruce Chapman — which the volunteer committee organizing the program quickly realized was a conservative number.

When an e-mail went out to schools in late November pitching the program, “in four days, we heard back from just about every school in the province,” says Chapman, vice-president of Music Stop. “We were overwhelmed, so we thought, how many more concerts can we schedule? So, we set up three concerts a day in the same venue. And we asked schools if they could double up with a nearby school.”

It’s not just kids and teachers who are excited about Soundwaves. Musicians are enthused about it, too.

“I think there’s a hunger on the part of musicians to perform for an audience which wouldn’t normally be able to hear them. They jumped at this,” says Chapman.

Other acts participating include Scott Parsons, Jonathan M., fiddler Troy MacGillivray, Madhat, Shyne Factory, Rick Gunn, Rebeka Reed, Buck 65, and Charlie A’Court. More than 40 shows have been set up in 26 schools and churches, showing a marked growth over last year’s Soundwaves program in Saint John, N.B.

Soundwaves has a $30,000 budget. Parents are asked to provide their children with a dollar to help with expenses — “although no child will be turned away,” says Andree Gracie, event chairwoman of the East Coast Music Awards.

Cheers boys!

Esau13

[shainhouse]

couldn't have happened to a better bunch of guys.