‘Antigonish can be a creative arts hub’
Season two of Songs and Stories being filmed in Antigonish
After a successful pilot season, Songs and Stories is back. “Originally, Bell (Canada) TV wanted to do a feature on the creation of Nova Scotia Summerfest. COVID happened. That all stopped.
But because the actual festival did not happen (because of COVID), I pitched another idea,” said Ray Mattie, founder and executive director of Nova Scotia Summerfest and host of Songs and Stories.
That thought was to interview bands and delve deep into the background of their most well-known songs. And Bell TV loved it.
“In their programming they don’t have anything tied to a festival. They don’t have anything along this line that is bringing in artists who have won Junos …,” said Mattie.
The first Songs and Stories aired last May. The pilot had three episodes, each featuring a band: Mattie’s band, Ocean Playground; The Ennis Sisters from St. John’s, N.L.; and Neon Dreams from Halifax. The main production team came from Toronto, with a partial crew from Halifax and some from Antigonish.
“It was my first stab at producing a TV show. Each episode length was about 22 to 25 minutes,” Mattie said.
It was filmed at Crystal
Cliffs, which is part of the St. F.X. property in Antigonish. The community is also Mattie’s hometown. Season one is now streaming on Bell Canada’s On Demand.
Now season two will be filmed in Antigonish from Nov. 3 to 5. This installment will focus on Juno award winners Good Lovelies from Toronto; Celtic sister duo Cassie and Maggie from Halifax, with roots in Antigonish; and Cape Breton’s Jimmy Rankin.
“They all have new recordings coming out and they’ve all played at Nova Scotia Summerfest in the past,” said Mattie, who will again be the host.
It’s anticipated season two will air in March 2023.
“We are trying to have it on air around the time we really pick up steam for (Nova Scotia Summerfest) because they are linked,” said Mattie, adding next year’s festival is scheduled for Aug. 18 and 19 on Columbus Field in downtown Antigonish.
In addition to showcasing more talent, Mattie hopes Songs and Stories will send an important message.
“I want the broader industry to know that Antigonish can be a creative arts hub. We hope through time we become a player in bringing film sets here. That’s the long term. That will not happen overnight. The competition is brutally fierce. We’re at least in the game. The foundation is in place.”
Mattie also wants to show young people that operating in Antigonish is a valid option. To help spread that message, the upcoming filming will include an audience of about 25 to 30 high school and St. F.X. students in music programs.
“I want the students to see how it sets up; to show them there’s a career in this and … you don’t have to travel to Toronto … you can learn and plant seeds here.”
The project is also a tourism attraction for Antigonish and area.
“This is a boon because the festival itself is a tourism attraction and this is a film and music/business attraction,” Mattie said.
He said this will “provide an immediate cash spend in Antigonish of approximately $25,000. This includes hotel block bookings, local wages, local industrial and sound staging rentals, catering, supplies, photography and much more.”
Mattie has asked the town and county of Antigonish to each consider a $2,500 contribution to the project.
“We would use it directly toward Antigonish expenses so it stays right in the community,” said Mattie, adding the town/ county logo would be featured in Songs and Stories.
“It would also provide an opportunity for Antigonish to be featured in additional media coverage on CTV, Bell ON Demand, news print, digital media outlets and more,” Mattie told a recent town council meeting.
Mattie said, as of press time for The Casket, he was awaiting an answer.
And what about the future? Mattie is hopeful there’s a season three.
“There is talk of it. I’m confident we will do well in season two. If we keep doing well, I can’t see why they (Bell) wouldn’t continue,” he said, believing it could potentially happen in late May or early June.