Women in Music Canada Conference and Music Festival Hits Toronto this Week

On October 11-13, 2017, the Women in Music Conference and Music Festival will take over The Drake Underground (1150 Queen St. W.) in Toronto, filling the spot with quality local musical talent and influential industry leaders. Fittingly kicking off on the International Day of the Girl, the empowering three-day event will feature not-to-miss live performances, panels, educational workshops and important conversations.

Presented by Women in Music Canada, the Women in Music Conference and Music Festival is part information-packed conference and part high-energy music festival. It features both free educational programming by day and a ticketed music festival by night that is open to both conference attendees and the live music-loving public (tickets range from $8-$12).

"The Women in Music Canada Conference and Music Festival offers a chance for females in the music industry to learn, network and celebrate the talent of fellow musicians - all important passions of our organization. We are thrilled to welcome some of the biggest names in the Canadian music industry to act as both educators and mentors for attendees." said Samantha Slattery, chair and founder, Women in Music Canada. "It also provides a unique opportunity to showcase an assortment of talented Canadian musicians to a broad audience."

Offering a chance to take in some of Toronto's most buzzed-about local talent - and with an affordable price tag - the well-curated evening performances are central to the event. Attracting Toronto's in-the-know set of local music supporters and industry trailblazers each night, the music festival will see performers like Maybe Baby, PONY, Mackenta, Witch Prophet, Lemin, Bambii, Nino Brown, Little Coyote, BEYRIES and Falcon Jane take the stage. Representing a range of genres - from alternative to hip-hop and electro-soul - these up-and-coming musicians are steadily making major marks on Canada's indie music scene. Tickets are available at the door.

The Women in Music Conference and Music Festival also features free in-depth conference workshops, lectures and town hall-type discussions lead by industry magic-makers. These address everything from how to start a record label and the art of music video, to global touring and visa logistics and the ever-relevant issue of diversity in the music.

Confirmed conference speakers and educators include Universal Music A&R Director, Joelle Bertrand; CARAS/The JUNO Awards & MusiCounts Chief Operating Officer, Jackie Dean; Indica Records co-founder, A&R Manager and Montreal Women in Music Founder, Kyria Kilakos; Feldman Agency Director of Operations and agent, Olivia Ootes; Part and Parcel video production agency owners, Katy Maravala and Nicole Powell; musician Peter Dreimanis (July Talk); 2017 Prism Prize Juror and Journalist, Tabassum Siddiqu; manager Tao-Ming Lau; musician SATE and Folk Music Ontario's Executive Director, Alka Sharma. Well-known artist and musician Maylee Todd will present a performance broKen Down in Ableton Software for laptop-using participants.

At a time of impossible-to-ignore gender disparities in the Canadian music industry, the opportunities offered by the Women in Music Canada Conference and Music Festival to empower, educate and entertain are more important than ever to Women in Music Canada's agenda. Guests can expect all three elements at the Women in Music Conference and Music Festival.

For more details and to buy tickets, click here.

Schedule of events:

Oct 11, 2017 (Music Festival Day 1) International Day of the Girl

Evening Concert
Co-presented with Night Owl Festival

$8 at the door

8:30 p.m. - Doors open
9:00 - 9:30 p.m. - Maybe Baby
9:45 - 10:45 p.m. - PONY

Oct 12, 2017 (Conference Day 1)

12 - 1 p.m.: Management and A&R presented by the Music Managers Forum

Description: Universal Music A&R Director Joelle Bertrand discusses A&R as well as insight on being a music manager for the band Heartstreets.

1:15 - 2:15 p.m.: Board Training presented by CARAS and the Ryerson Chang School of Continuing Education

Description: DiverseCity onBoard discuss the importance of diverse leadership as well as governance with CARAS, JUNO Awards and MusiCounts Chief Operating Officer, Jackie Dean

2:30 - 3:30 p.m.: How to Start a Record Label presented by Indica Records

Description: Indica Records co-founder, A&R Manager and Montreal Women in Music Founder, Kyria Kilakos, discuses how to start a record label.

3:45 - 4:45 p.m.: Ableton

Description: Artist and musician, Maylee Todd, will present a performance broKen Down in Ableton Software. This is an intermediate course for Ableton users. PLEASE BRING YOUR LAPTOP.

Oct. 12, 2017 (Music Festival Day 2)

$12 at the door

8 p.m. - Doors open
8:30 - 9 p.m. - Mackenta
9:15 - 9:45 p.m. - Witch Prophet
10 - 10:30 p.m. - Lemin
10:45 - 12:15 a.m. - Bambii vs. Nino Brown

Oct. 13, 2017 (Conference Day 2)

Education Workshops

12 - 1 p.m : Global Touring and Visas

Description: Feldman Agency Director of Operations and Agent, Olivia Ootes, will discuss the types of visas needed for work travel and touring globally.

2:30 - 3:30 p.m.: The Art of Music Video by Prism Prize and Part and Parcel

Description: Part and Parcel video production agency owners Katy Maravala and Nicole Powell will discuss music video as an art form along with a panel of esteemed creatives such as musician Peter Dreimanis from July Talk and 2017 Prism Prize Juror and Journalist Tabassum Siddiqui . This is presented in partnership with Prism Prize.

3:34 - 4:45 p.m.: Diversity Town Hall

Description: A panel and town hall- style conversation regarding the importance of diversity in the music industry with Universal Music Director of A&R Joelle Bertrand, Manager Tao-Ming Lau, musician SATE, moderated by Folk Music Ontario's Executive Director Alka Sharma.

Oct. 13, 2017 (Music Festival Day 3)

Co-presented by MRG Concerts

$12 at the door

7 p.m. - Doors open
8 p.m. - Little Coyote
8:45 p.m. - BEYRIES
9:30 p.m. - Falcon Jane

About Women in Music Conference and Music Festival
The Women in Music Conference and Music Festival is a three-day event presented by Women in Music Canada that is dedicated to females in the music industry and fans of quality live music. Taking place at The Drake Underground in Toronto on October 11-13, 2017, the event features panel discussions and educational workshops lead by influential leaders in the Canadian music industry and performances from celebrated Canadian talent.

About Women in Music Canada
Established in 2012, Women in Music Canada (WIM-C) is a registered non-profit organization comprised of influential members of the Canadian music industry. With a dedication to fostering gender equality in the industry through the support and advancement of women, the organization provides knowledge, strategy and solutions to its members and the greater community. The goal of Women in Music Canada is to strengthen the social-economic balance of the music industry by providing professional and creative development, support and resources.