N.L. musicians are keeping the folk away from the U.S.
MusicNL executive director says artists want to show solidarity and not support the U.S.
Some Newfoundland and Labrador musicians are hoping to avoid reliance on the United States to sell their music and book gigs.
MusicNL executive director Tamara Kater says there's a "large appetite" for music out of Newfoundland and Labrador in the U.S., but now, like many other industries, pivoting to new markets may be the only way to stay afloat.
"For instance, the visa situation — that was already tenuous before the current change of U.S. leadership — is just too risky and the entire situation is too precarious," Kater said.
Other artists are pivoting out of principle, rights and values, she said.
"Our trans community is under attack," Kater said, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump's executive orders that restrict transgender rights.
"I think many other people are feeling very, very vulnerable and also wanting to express their allyship to not support the [U.S.] economy and the government."
Pivoting to Europe
The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it some lessons that are now being utilized. As travelling began to slowly reopen, Kater says many Newfoundland and Labrador artists were already looking to Europe, the United Kingdom and other provinces as touring options.
And the Folk Alliance International conference held in Montreal in February focused on exploring new markets. This year, a record number of 22 folk musicians from Newfoundland and Labrador were in attendance.
Kater said it's important for Newfoundland and Labrador artists to meet other Canadians in the industry and find stable markets to bring their music.
"I think also you're going find some markets in Canada are not going to want to book some U.S. performers. And so that's going to create some space for our own Canadian performers to be booked, including the artists from our province," she said.
Kater says there is a growing appetite for Canadian music in Europe and the United Kingdom, and that those markets are more stable. She said MusicNL has already started exploring those markets to reignite the industry post-pandemic.
"The performances pay well and the immigration is very simple. At the most, the most expensive process is to go to the UK," she said.
The East Coast Music Awards are being hosted in St. John's this year, which Kater says will also be a good opportunity to bring other Canadian artists to the island.
"We're really looking forward to being the host city and to bringing the east coast here."
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With files from Weekend AM