Music P.E.I. cancels concerts, takes awards party virtual

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Music P.E.I. has cancelled its Music P.E.I. Week occasions for 2022 as a result of rising instances of COVID-19.

“Owing to the variety of optimistic instances and shut contacts amongst our employees and performers, the board of administrators decided that cancelling the dwell concert events was one of the best of numerous unhealthy choices accessible to us,” stated Iain McCarvill, president of Music P.E.I., in a information launch on March 3.

The pageant was scheduled for March 2-6 with eight performances, together with an awards gala.

Alicia Toner, one of many artists nominated for album of the 12 months for her newest launch, Joan, stated it has been an extended winter for artists like herself.

“I feel we had been all wanting ahead to getting collectively and celebrating,” stated Toner in an interview with SaltWire Community shortly after the cancellation was introduced.

Moreover, due to the eligibility interval, the cohort of artists nominated for this spherical of awards gained’t be taking part within the subsequent 12 months’s music week in the identical method.

“That’s type of the heartbreaking factor about this specific occasion being cancelled is that subsequent 12 months, none of those identical artists will probably be up for awards once more as a result of we gained’t have albums popping out, so that is type of this group of artists’ flip to have a good time. Subsequent 12 months it gained’t be that, so it’s laborious that we don’t get to get collectively and have a good time one another.”

Regardless of her disappointment, Toner feels the board made the best alternative.

“If I do know them, they checked out each doable angle, and regarded each doable possibility and knew this was the one, and most secure, technique to proceed, however I’m positive their hearts are simply as damaged as the entire artists’,” stated Toner.

Good to know

• Music P.E.I. will live-stream its awards social gathering on the Music P.E.I. Fb web page on Sunday, March 6, 1:30 p.m., on the Awards Celebration live-stream hyperlink: https://fb.me/e/2m0hpVOJ2

• Music P.E.I. will contact ticket holders relating to refunds within the coming days. Ticket holders who aren’t contacted could request a refund instantly by way of Eventbrite or by contacting [email protected].⁠

Rob Oakie, the manager director of Music P.E.I., stated the COVID-19 case numbers are unprecedented, and the board was involved in regards to the security of the occasions.

“If you acquired a neighborhood as small as Prince Edward Island, and you bought over 400 instances a day, it’s going to start out affecting all types of individuals and, in fact, artists aren’t any totally different,” stated Oakie in an interview with SaltWire Community.

Alana Jankov, CEO of The Guild, known as the cancellations “one other COVID slap within the face”. Her venue was booked for Music P.E.I. occasions, however she stated her staff is used to pivoting after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She additionally stated whereas she respects the choice Music P.E.I. made, she is sympathetic to the artists.

“We’re completely disenchanted – the ideas of those performers having the chance to get again onstage was very thrilling,” she stated in an interview on March 3. “They’re all our P.E.I. artists and performers and potential award recipients, so, it’s a disgrace. It’s a disgrace for everyone.”

Toner has her fingers crossed that the Canadian Folk Music Awards coming to Charlottetown in April and the East Coast Music Awards slated for Fredericton in Might will nonetheless go forward.

“This has been a little bit of a wake-up name, we’re not out of this but, stated Toner, including, “I type of really feel that that is essentially the most heartbreaking as a result of it’s type of, only for us. Music P.E.I. Week is simply enjoyable and low-pressure and nearly celebrating one another.”