ECMA's returning to St. John's, but final awards gala will be in Torbay

The East Coast Music Awards will return to Newfoundland in April, with most events throughout the week planned for St. John's.

However, the final gala for the awards will be held east of the capital, at Torbay's Jack Byrne Arena.

Glenda Tulk, the events manager for the awards week, said unavailability of Mile One Centre was the reason for the change.

"The preference was Mile One," she said.

"There were other events there at the time we needed it, and we didn't have time to get our setup done."

Tulk said after consultations with the the city they decided to move the final gala to the Jack Byrne Arena, but she said organizers aren't disappointed that the gala won't be downtown.

"It's a nice new venue, the event will be well received there," she said.

Tulk said there were no problems getting other small or mid-sized venues for the different shows happening that week. Some of those include The Rock House, The Ship, and the newly renovated Majestic.

With regards to getting people to Torbay for the awards gala, Tulk said there is a strategy in place.

"We will have a transportation plan for the ECMA weekend," she said.

Planning for that has included consultation with the RNC as well as the Department of Highways, who are responsible for the stretch of road that will bring people to the site.

Government support

In the official ECMA announcement event at Fred's Records on Thursday, Premier Paul Davis announced government's investment of $250,000 in the awards week.

"Newfoundland and Labrador is internationally renowned for performers and talent that we have, right here," he said.

While pledging support for the ECMA's, Davis also defended government's support for the music industry in the province.

"I'm very supportive of musicians in Newfoundland and Labrador," he said.

Ready to go

St. John's mayor Dennis O'Keefe also spoke at the ECMA annoucement event, and expressed his excitement at the city hosting the ECMA's.

"The city is absolutely delighted to be a part of it," he said.

O'Keefe feels that St. John's has come a long way since the city last hosted the event in 2004, and that it's looking forward to showing everyone what the city has to offer.

"There's nobody globally who can party like we can," he said.

"We have all of this pent up energy and pent up emotion that we're ready to release in April, no doubt about that."

The ECMA's will officially get underway April 8 and will run through April 12.