By Pyper Geddes
Published: December 28, 2010 6:00 PM

Christmas is subsiding and the New Year approaches.

Over the past few weeks I’ve counted down numbers 10 through four of my most memorable events and happenings of 2010. Here’s the rest, including my No. 1 most memorable event in 2010.

3. PEAK Performance Project

The PEAK Performance Project is an artist development project for emerging artists all over B.C., funded by the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group. In January it was announced that our local boys from We Are the City won the top spot and the grand prize of $150,000.

The money couldn’t have gone to anybody else more genuine and truly passionate about the music they make. It also goes to show that great music in B.C. doesn’t just come from Vancouver.

2. Conduit Festival

This “by the people, for the people” festival not only hosts a huge variety of arts and culture but also pairs it with local fare and a focus on the ecological involvement of the Okanagan.

Held at the Rotary Centre for the Arts, Conduit brought together everyone in the cultural community and I can’t wait for it to happen again in 2011.

1. BreakOut West Festival

How could this not top anyone’s cultural calendar of 2010? Formerly known as the Western Canadian Music Awards, BreakOut West came to Kelowna in late October and filled the town with music, music, and more music.

Although there were other components to BreakOut West, the festival aspect was definitely the most memorable. Seeing that many talented artists play (and fill to capacity!) all of our local venues, and even some non-venues, was the best thing to happen to Kelowna since the Ogopogo.

I know there were plenty of other amazing events that happened around town in 2010, but these are the ones that stood out the most to me.

I’ve had a great time with my spot here in the Capital News for the past year and I can’t wait to start up again next year with a new look and a brand new column (just think Awesome…).

Happy New Year to all—see you in 2011.

BreakOut West was capped off in Kelowna with the 2010 Western Canadian Music Awards Sunday Oct. 24^th while The Industry Awards were presented on Saturday October 23^rd. This year’s awards were recorded live and will be broadcast on CBC on January 2^nd, 2011 at 3 PM.

The Western Canadian Music Award 2010 Winners

Aboriginal Recording of the Year

Leela Gilday – Calling All Warriors – NWT

Blues Recording of the Year

Jim Byrnes – My Walking Stick – B.C.

Children’s Recording of the Year

Norman Foote – Love My New Shirt – B.C.

Classical Composition of the Year

Stephen Chatman – Earth Songs – B.C.

Classical Recording of the Year

musica intima – into light – B.C.

Contemporary Christian/Gospel Recording of the Year

Amanda Falk – In Between the Now & Then – MB

Country Recording of the Year

Doc Walker – Go – MB

Album francophone de l’année/ Francophone Recording of the Year

Geneviève Toupin – Geneviève Toupin – MB

Independent Album of the Year

Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice – B.C.

Instrumental Recording of the Year

Hot Club Edmonton – Hot Club Edmonton – AB

Jazz Recording of the Year

Sandro Dominelli  – The Alvo Sessions – AB

Pop Recording of the Year

laurell – Can’t Stop Falling – B.C.

Rap/Hip Hop Recording of the Year

Grand Analog – Metropolis Is Burning – MB

Rock Recording of the Year

You Say Party – XXXX – B.C.

Roots Duo/Group Recording of the Year

Carolyn Mark & NQ Arbuckle – Let’s Just Stay Here – B.C.

Roots Solo Recording of the Year

Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice – B.C.

Songwriter of the Year

Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice – B.C.

Urban Recording of the Year

Maiko Watson – Sweet Vibration – MB

World Recording of the Year

Alpha YaYa Diallo – Immé – B.C.

Hall of Fame

Chilliwack

International Achievement

Sarah McLachlan

International Achievement

Tegan and Sara

2010 Western Canadian Music Industry Award Winners

Agency of the Year

Paquin Entertainment – MB

Best Album Design of the Year

Ron Sawchuk – Live at the Mauch Chunk Opera House – MB (The Wailin’ Jennys)

Engineer of the Year

Ryan Dahle – B.C.

Independent Record Label of the Year

Mint Records – B.C.

Industry Builder

Robert Kerr

Live Music Venue of the Year

The Commodore Ballroom – B.C.

Manager of the Year

Bruce Allen – B.C.

Multi Media

‘Tungijuq” video by Isuma Productions – NU (Tanya Tagaq and Jesse Zubot)

Producer of the Year

Ryan Dahle – B.C.

Talent Buyer of the Year

Alex Grigg and Robyn Stewart – VANOC – B.C./MB

www.breakoutwest.ca

print/radio/digital media – killbeat music
www.killbeatmusic.com / 604 683 2124 /   http://twitter.com/killbeat /

Mini BOW
Things get underway for the final day at 10:30am for the much-talked about Mini-BreakOut West Family event at the Rotary Centre for the Arts!  This is a FREE event, so just come down and join in!  It runs till 2:30pm.

Conference Continues
At 11am over at the Prsetige Hotel is the final day of the conference
http://www.breakoutwestkelowna.com/2010/10/sunday-oct-24th-at-breakoutwest-conference/

Award Show Gala
It all culminates with The Western Canadian Music Awards Gala will take place at the Kelowna Community Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 24th at 8pm (doors at 7pm).  Tickets are $42.  Go online at Select Your Tickets to purchase your gala tickets.

The following are the amazing performers that will be taking part in the Western Canadian Music Awards Gala:

Grapes of Wrath
We Are The City
Corb Lund
Anne Louise Genest
Genevieve Toupin
Said The Whale
Aidan Knight
Jean Paul Maurice
Doc Walker
Shane Yellowbird
You Say Party
Grand Analog
Bif Naked
Fringe Percussion
Tambura Rasa
Ariane Mahryke Lemire
Shawn Jobin

Special performance by Hall of Fame inductees Chilliwack

The awards gala will also be honouring Tegan & Sara and Sarah McLachlan with the 2010 International Achievement Award!

You can catch Aspen Switzer in Kelowna on September 11th as part of the Lillith Fair Almost Theatre event at the Kelowna Community Theatre.  Winner of 2009 BC Interior Music Awards for Roots/World Recording of the Year & Best Folk/Traditional Recording of the Year, I asked her a few questions about the upcoming BreakOut West festival.

Did you apply to the BreakOut West festival in Kelowna?

Yes

What new oppurtunities do you think this may have for your band?

BreakOut West provides a significant opportunity to reach new audience members, broaden market appeal and present my music to national and international industry representatives.  One of my goals in 2011 is to focus on strengthening my market presence in western Canada and this event is also very well attended by presenters from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and of course the host province BC.

What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in the music scene in the BC Interior in the last few years?

Hard to say.  I have found the recent awards for my latest album, ‘humble but bearing no apology’  to open up doors to me to venues in the interior.  Also the touring I have been doing since the release of the Album (Nov 2008), playing at Salmon Arm’s Root’s and Blues Festival and other great events have all helped introduce my music to new markets. It seems the music scene in the BC Interior is constantly evolving, not unlike my career.

Have you noticed if more venues are opening their doors for local artists to play shows around Kelowna or Nelson?

Hmmm. . . Nelson has had a few changes.  The Royal is working really hard to create a great space for live music since it’s change in ownership last November.  They are a great place for Nelsonites, interior bands and bands from afar.  Even the Spirit Bar, which has been mostly DJ’s in the past, is hosting more and more live bands. There is an old church called, “The Blue Church” that is now a home and has opened it’s doors to a few very successful house concerts.  It seems like there are a lot of places really trying to fill the venue need for Nelson.  It is still kinda a hard place for up and comers from out of town as there is so much going on all the time it can be tough to attract a crowd if you don’t have pretty decent name recognition.

As for Kelowna, I love the opportunities to play at the Community Theater and Kelowna Music fest and am always looking for new venues and events.

Okanagan Strata Management presents….

Friday, August 13^th

6:30      Feeding Erik (trio; indie rock/ pop)

7:30      Jeffery Straker & Friend (Duo; original pop)

8:30      Treelines (4 piece; indie rock)

9:45      Polar Year (trio; alternative / indie rock)

TD Music Stage
(Tugboat Beach) 1:30 pm – 10:00 pm
1:30 Zamboni Brothers (Classic Rock; 4 pc)
2:20 Spencer Calvert (Light Alt rock; solo)
2:40 Anna Jacyszyn (Jazz trio)
3:30 Wheelhouse (Rock; classic and original
folk-rock; 4 piece band)
4:20 Hula Halau Ke Aloha Polynesian
dancers (Polynesian dance troupe)
4:40 Earthbound (R&B; 6 pc band)
5:55 Beat Box by Brody (solo; Hip Hop)
6:20 Dance City Academy (25+ children and
youth dancers)
6:45 Greg Sczebel and Band
(Adult Contemporary; 4 pc band)
8:35 DR ZOO (Celtic/Afro fusion; 7 pc band)

Tim Horton’s Kids Stage
(Pioneer Gardens) 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
11:00 Ryan & Lonny (guitar duo; folk/pop)
12:00 Great Way Martial Arts
(demonstration)
1:00 Beat Box Brody (Hip Hop vocalist)
1:45 Rob McLearn (solo guitar; alt rock)
2:30 Hula Halau Ke Aloha Polynesian
dancers (Polynesian dance troupe)

Parks Alive! Power Stage
(Island Stage) 2:00 pm – 9:30 pm
2:00 Gypsy Fist (hard rock; 4 pc)
3:00 Poor Little Rich Girl (alt rock; 5 pc)
4:00 DFY (heavy alt rock; 3 pc)
5:00 Know Tomorrow (alt rock; 4 pc)
6:00 Treelines (alt rock; 3 pc)
7:00 Fields of Green (light alt rock; 4 pc)
8:00 Wakefield Drive (alt rock; 3 pc)