Performers make music and connections

Nova Scotia Music Week opens up a wealth of opportunities

The lobby of the Holiday Inn became the setting of some impromptu music as four musicians in Truro for Nova Scotia Music Week hauled in their instruments and provided entertainment.

“I’m part of a project called Shadow, and not all of our regular members could come,” said singer and guitarist Bethany Fulde. “Shadow can be very fluid. Sometimes I perform solo, sometimes I’m with one or two other musicians, and sometimes there’s a six-piece band.”

She was joined on Friday by Andrew Jackson, a trombonist who performs with Shadow, as well as with Roxy and the Underground Soul Sound; Seamus Erskine, a drummer who performs with The Brood, and Dave Fultz, a bassist with Beach Bait.

“This is my first time here in three years, but I attended five or six years in a row before,” she said of NSMW. “Shadow has been performing in Halifax for about a year, and has a double EP coming out in March. Because we’re quite new, I’m not looking at anything international. I’m meeting with people from Maritime festivals.

“With Nova Scotia Music Week, everything is available and it’s up to you to reach out.”

Graham Ereaux, who performs as Devarrow, did make some valuable international connections through Music Week.

“It’s been amazing,” he said. “I got a European booking agent through it two years ago, and I’ve been there four times now. I’ve performed in most of the countries in the EU.”

He hoped to make connections that will help him get a song included in a movie or TV show.

“This is a great opportunity to get a grasp on how the industry works,” he said. “As musicians, we can get focused on music and art, but we have to look at this business side, and this is a good reminder of that.”

FRAM DINSHAW/ TRURO NEWS Singer Cameron Nickerson expresses himself through traditional roots music, as seen here at the Holiday Inn Truro during his performance. Originally part of a band called The Rockabillys, Nickerson went solo and released his debut album Detours in January.

FRAM DINSHAW/ TRURO NEWS Pop-rock duo Cameron took the Nook and Cranny by storm with their mix of intense vocals, guitar riffs and catchy lyrics. Barbara Cameron, left, is playing guitar, and singing in the background is her sister Victoria.

LYNN CURWIN/TRURO NEWS Graham Ereaux, who performs as Devarrow, took part in Nova Scotia Music Week. He’s made valuable connections through attending the event.

FRAM DINSHAW/ TRURO NEWS Halifax-based rockers The Stanfields brought the house down at the Truro Legion with their fierce folk-punk sounds. The band first formed in 2008 and started by playing country, rock and folk cover songs at the Seahorse Tavern in Halifax.

LYNN CURWIN/TRURO NEWS Makayla Lynn performed to a packed house at the Nook and Cranny. She also did a show at the Royal Canadian Legion. She won this year’s award for Entertainer of the Year.