ROB MURRAY: I’m speaking with Sue Panning, Artistic Director for the Canmore Folk Music Festival. Tell us a little bit about this artist development mentorship project you have going on.

SUE PANNING: It has five spots available for local Bow Valley musicians, anywhere between Lake Louise and Stoney Nakoda. People can apply now. We have five well-established touring artists that are the mentors, and we will select the five locals to take part. The project starts with a virtual Zoom-style workshop day, probably in early September. It’ll have such topics as music Business 101, Stagecraft, Getting the Best Sound from a Sound Tech, so stuff related to music beyond how to play your instruments. Then all the artists will be featured in a four hour music revue-style concert on Saturday, September 18th in Canmore. We’re going to have it downtown – we’re bringing in a stage in front of the Civic Centre facing Main Street, and it’s with two-time Juno winning artist Steve Dawson and his band plus the four other mentors. I’m just working out the contracting for those. It’s going to be a really awesome opportunity. Apply by this coming Monday, August 16th, and you can find the application on our website.

RM: It sounds like you’re looking for musicians who are maybe wanting to take things to the next level.

SP: Absolutely. I mean, some of the people that are applying are quite successful touring artists already, but it’s just a way to help. This came from a grant, and the grant is for helping artists that are wanting to be touring artists. There are a lot of people that I can think of that this would be perfect for. There are a lot of talented musicians in town that are gigging around here but maybe want to take it to the next level. I really hope we get a good intake. It’s such a great opportunity. These artists I’m going to hire as mentors are seasoned artists and they’ll have a lot of experience to share.

RM: While we have you on the line, we should probably remind people as well about the other online offering you are presenting right now, the DIY Folk Festival.

SP: We put together a temporary website that features 12 concerts, six workshops, and a family area with some concerts as well as crafts – that was a partnership with artsPlace. There’s an artists and vendor page, a food vendor page, and a page for volunteers. That’s open until September 25th. It’s totally free. You can see one video if you want or binge watch a whole bunch.

Filed under: Canmore, Canmore Folk Music Festival, Local Music