Canadian Musicians Co-operative announces Ontario tour with emerging artists

Barns2Beaches, organization's touring showcase spotlighting and training independent artists, will hit Barrie and other locales this summer

Kevin Lamb BarrieToday

The Canadian Musicians Co-operative, a local Barrie music organization, announced its latest upcoming touring show and its artist lineup on Wednesday.

The organization and its performers gathered at the Sandbox Centre in downtown Barrie for a news conference to announce the Barns2Beaches tour, which will set out across Ontario, and feature all-Canadian music in the performances.

The co-operative is described as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to accelerating the careers of independent Canadian artists and building the infrastructure needed for a sustainable Canadian music industry.

Its three-hour, family-friendly emerging artists showcase has been running since 2018.

This season, with project funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, the performance will travel to many locations, with dates yet to be announced, in Ontario, including Brighton, Barrie, Walkerton and more locations to be added soon.

Organizers said the events will showcase professional lights and sound from Multi-Tech Audio Visual, along with colourful costumes and fast-paced delivery that bring the presentation to a “top-level show.”

Carter Duggan, 21, is the special projects manager for the co-operative, and says this year’s artist lineup is the best yet, as the organization helps them grow as performers.

“It leverages the careers of young musicians in our community,” he told BarrieToday at the event.

“It is difficult to get the essential training you need to deliver an amazing performance, and the Barns2Beaches tour offers that platform.

“They are getting training that they have never had before. Some have played bar gigs, but we are putting them on stages that are larger than anything they have ever seen, and that is very valuable experience … Performing on stage at a bar is nothing like performing on stage at the Meridian (Place) stage or on stage at a large place.”

The lineup is a collection of singers and musicians who are bringing both their original works on stage alongside unique reimaginings of classic Canadian hits.

Tia Nova, of Barrie, a singer who specializes in pop music, appreciates the opportunity to take part.

“This program is an absolutely incredible thing because it allows smaller artists the opportunity to do stuff that is not normally taught in schools or (that they) wouldn’t know elsewhere … It’s informative and helpful for artists such as myself,” she said.

Francesca Panetta, of Thornton, also a singer, is performing one of her original songs, Hazel Eyes, in the show. She describes the song as “kind of folky Americana” with lots of harmonies. She will also sing a Joni Mitchell tune to “keep the folk vibe going.”

Panetta calls the co-operative a great place for opportunity and growth as a performer.

Another local singer taking part has already picked up valuable on-stage lessons.

“I’ve learned that it’s OK if words don’t do justice for your feelings, and sometimes you just need to belt it out, and do a riff, and that does more than actually saying words,” Anna Goldsmith said of the learning experience the project has given her.

Ed Stone Dietrich, who is primarily a drummer on this tour, says the co-operative is a great way to meet and connect with other musicians, and to enhance his skills, “because there are so many different things to learn and to grow from here, but mainly to make great connections.”

More information on show dates and locations as they are announced can be found at www.canadianmusicians.coop.