Travel funding will also be available along with traditional showcase support sources (FACTOR,  Music Industry Association, etc.) Those performers chosen to attend BreakOut West 2011 or perform on the Awards Show will be contacted regarding funding opportunities.

BreakOut West 2011 runs from October 20 – 23 in Whitehorse, Yukon

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 turned downtown Kelowna into a vibrant hub for live music in the last week of October, and Monday organizers will offer city council a chance to pat them on the back.

In a 22-page report from BreakOut West, it was stressed the event was a success both through measures of monetary returns and community participation.

Overall, 1,535 wristbands at $20 a pop were sold, giving event patrons access to all festival venues. An additional 959 $10 one venue/one night tickets were sold.

Key to the success, reads the report, was the host committee’s vision of making the event accessible. “It was very important that all the venues be within walking distance of each other so patrons could easily move between shows.

“Non existent transportation issues enabled everyone to focus on enjoying the music.”

That said, organizers did face a few stumbling blocks.

Among the issues were the fact Cush supper club and the all-ages club, The Habitat, were stripped of their liquor licences before the event rolled out.

While planners were aware of the issues in advance, they didn’t perceive it to be a major issue and allowed the venues to be included in the event.

But, venue issues didn’t stop there.

“We found that many potential venues were hesitant to participate due to previous experiences with local festivals in which they were not impressed with the outcomes,” read the report.

“We had to stress the magnitude of this event.”

Even then there were two venues which organizers hoped to use, to no avail and two more which postponed the music for previously scheduled events. “Saturday, we encountered a unique situation in which the start of the music in two venues needed to be postponed to accommodate the UFC match,” the report reads.

“In both these instances, the transition between the crowds went smoothly and many of the patrons in the venues during the match were actually there early waiting to see the performances.’

In the end it was the volunteers that really made the event such a success. Around 140 volunteers covered 330 shifts from Oct. 20 to 25.

“The volunteers did an amazing job of showing up for assigned shifts, welcoming visitors to our city, delivering a high level of service and best of all, many have expressed interest in volunteering at similar events in the future.”

BreakOut West heads to Whitehorse Yukon in 2011!

Click here for a stop action video of the Gala Awards set up!

Homegrown talent Grapes of Wrath and We Are the City, shared the stage during the opening of the Western Canadian Music Awards Oct. 24.

Kelowna was alive with the sound of music this weekend, as BreakOut West events unfurled throughout the downtown core.

The venues, and all routes between, were bustling with men and women of all ages who wanted to soak-in offerings from the best and brightest indie musicians Western Canada has to offer.

“I was really relieved because I didn’t know 100 per cent if people were going to buy into it,” said Karma Lacoff, one of the driving forces behind bringing the event to the Okanagan.

“We knew there was buzz, but we couldn’t really grasp how that would turn out.”

To get an idea of how popular the event was, Lacoff noted that by Friday night 1,200 all-access passes had sold and Saturday’s sales have yet to be tallied. The aim was to sell 1,500 by the end of the weekend and if the sheer volume of bodies navigating the downtown Saturday night was any indication, it’s a goal they likely surpassed.

“All I can say is I think the weekend went great. The bands were happy, the fans seemed happy and that’s all I can ask for,” said Lacoff.

It’s not necessarily all community members are asking for, however. Already, there are rumblings about whether the city could accommodate a similar event on a regular basis.

“It would be awesome,” said Lacoff, adding that BreakOut West itself wouldn’t be available to return for some time as it rotates through western Canadian locales. Next year it’s slated to roll out in the Yukon.

Kamel Abougoush, co-owner of the Grateful Fed, one of the venues hosting performances, is among those who thinks there should be some movement to get the event back as soon as it’s available.

“As far as business, it was the same thing as we normally do … we didn’t double our sales or anything. But the enthusiasm makes it all well worth it,” he said. “It was fantastic. People were out to enjoy the music. They enjoyed their beverages, but nobody went crazy.”

While the Grateful Fed is well established as a local music venue, with shows Tuesday through Saturday, less-tried venues also found success, including the two venues that had run into liquor licensing issues.

Leon Avenue’s Cush and the Habitat had contravened the terms of their food-primary liquor licences last spring and the Liquor Licensing and Control Branch inflicted a suspension that coincided with the festival.

Luckily, explained co-owner Justin Marshall, it didn’t dampen the excitement around the weekend’s events.

“We were thrilled with the support we received from the community,” he said. “We couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

By his estimates, weekend business was five to 10 times what it normally was as people roamed in and out continually over the weekend.

“You know, I was wary before the festival started about what kind of support we’d get. From what I’ve seen, the music scene is a little lacking in Kelowna,” said Marshall. “But the support was there and if we can continue to do events like this, then we should.”

For their part, Cush has been inspired to bring more music to the city and in the next six months they intend to bring one band from the festival back each month.

While the festival is getting the bulk of attention, the Western Canadian Music Awards capped off the weekend in style. For those who weren’t able to attend, this year’s awards were recorded live and will be broadcast on CBC on Jan. 2 at 3 p.m.

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 /