Soho Ghetto, photo by Justin Roy
Whoa, what a week it’s been in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island for this year’s East Coast Music Week. For a small city that has been known as a tourist spot, it sure knows how to throw a party. With every bar & pub within walking distance, and with a show happening at every street corner, on each and every night of the festival. Charlottetown is truly an ideal place for any sort of music festival. I could literally walk at any part of downtown, and hear sounds of guitars, hip hop beats, and fiddles where ever I went. It was quite the east coast music experience that was mirrored by the one that took place in Halifax last year.
My goal was to hit up as many shows as possible. Literally, sleep had taken the back seat, as I tried to make it to the last night shows that ran right into the morning. By my count I’ve must have seen roughly 40 different acts play, and that’s not including the Awards Gala that happened on Sunday night. To review each band would be impossible, since every band had it’s fair share of a 20 minute to half hour set, but there were a few sets that really stood out as some of my favourites, that I would love to recap.
East Coast Music Week – Thursday Night
Initially the festival started on a Wednesday, but things didn’t get into full swing until Thursday night as I covered the “Music PEI Stage” at the popular, and ever so overly renovated “The Guild”. As for a venue, it felt like being at the Neptune Theatre, there was a stage, and a con-caving seating area that pretty tight. That night, the venue showcased some of PEI’s top rock acts, and it didn’t take long for the place to pack with people who literally had to stand on the sidelines to see the show. Now, saying this though, the show was a mix bag for me. There was some stellar performances, and there was some average performances as well, but let’s touch on my favourites of the night.
Before heading to the venue, I was psyched about this line-up of bands playing. I think with the exception of a couple bands who didn’t play at this venue that night, this was, in my mind, a line-up of Prince Edwards Island’s best bands that they had to offer. Now, saying that, this show was a bit of a mix bag. There were some stellar performances, and than there were some that were just average. The bands that really stood out for me were Coyote, and English Words. Starting with the band Coyote, I thought they sounded great. I didn’t really pay attention to their music up until now, but they’re show really struck me that night. I totally dig the song, “Teethsinker”. You wouldn’t think it, but this band really knows how to jam to their own tunes. I’d like to say, they’re kinda like PEI’s version of Wintersleep or Hey Rosetta!. Props to guitarist Evan McCosham of Coyote for literally filling in for what left like half the bands, who weren’t with their full line-ups. The shows couldn’t have happened without him.
English Words, photo by Justin Roy
The other band I really enjoyed was English Words, who opened up with their latest single, “Go To Bed”, and really didn’t let up after. Their sound really stood out among the rest of the rest of the bands, (probably cause they were one of the only electronic bands that were playing). But they were really good. All in all, I’d leave a couple of bands off this line-up of bands, and take the rest to a bigger venue, where they rightfully so should play.
East Coast Music Week – Friday Night
Unlike the select showcase of Thursday night and staying with one venue, Friday night was absolutely crazy, going from one venue to another. There was so much I wanted to see, and unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time in the world to see it all. Of all the bands I wanted to see, I regret not seeing Quake Matthews & Jenn Grent (fortunately, I would see them at another night of festival). But the bands I did get to check out, I was pretty happy with.
The first few bands I went out to see were playing at Hunter’s Ale House. For those of you who don’t know Hunter’s Ale House, it’s a small pub with a small stage, comparatively to Gus’ Pub in Halifax. Out of the bands I’ve seen there, the one that band that stood out was PEI’s Colour Code. I can’t express enough how good this band is. And despite playing an average show which they had played at the Guild the previous night, without their entire line-up. They really nailed it at Hunter’s, that Friday night. With the addition of Morgan Wagner on Violin, and upbeat tempo & lively performance that was missing from the previous night, they sounded amazing. Easily one of my favourite performances of the entire festival.
Like I said earlier, out of all the shows that I had originally planned to see, I was pulled to see additional shows. Which included Mardeen, The North Lakes, & Rich Aucoin at the PEI Brewing Company. The venue itself was pretty wide, and had a fair sized stage, that had a pretty unique dropback of lights on the wall. On the side of the stage they served pizza that was cooked in a bricked-stove oven. It’s a venue worth checking out at least once. The showcase of bands that played were pretty fun too, which created an enjoyable experience. Pizza + good music + parachute tent (Rich Aucoin’s show) = awesome experience.
Orchid’s Curse, photo by Justin Roy
Lastly, on Friday night I headed back over to the Hunter’s Ale House to check out the LOUD stage. I totally let loose, and so did the crowd, as they went into a frenzy as I watched one of the smaller bars I’ve seen turn into a mosh pit. It was also a lot of fun, like the show at the PEI Brewing Company, but a different kind of fun. Less leisurely, and more crazy! The bands I’ve got to see were Death Valley Driver, Orchid’s Curse, and Billie Dre & The Poor Boys until it was time to tap out, and head back to my hotel.
Anyhoo, this was my first part of the PEI East Coast Music Week experience, my next post I’ll have my recap of Saturday & Sunday night. So stayed tuned in.
