New Brunswick

  • population: 755,000
  • capital city: Fredericton
  • music revenue: $76.5 million annually
  • musical facts: 280 music businesses, 670 artist entrepreneurs
  • New Brunswick is Canada’s only officially bilingual province – with deep cultural roots in Acadian and Celtic traditions
  • One third of the world’s ‘french fries’ come from New Brunswick

The rich tapestry of New Brunswick’s thriving cultural and music sector has produced artists with a dynamic combination of creative and professional skills. Most notable are Stomping Tom Connors (born in Saint John), fiddling legend Don Messer, Roch Voisine, Ken Tobias, Eric’s Trip, Myles Goodwyn of April Wine – and more recently Measha Brueggergosman, Matt Andersen, David Myles, and Lisa Leblanc.

Music/Musique NB elevates our music community through development, promotion and celebration

MUSIC/MUSIQUE NB

Established in 1998, Music/Musique New Brunswick provides a support network for over 280 music businesses and 670 artist-entrepreneurs, musicians, managers, venues, festivals and businesses – who are involved in the creation of music within the province of New Brunswick.

MNB is a non-profit association with ties to regional, provincial, and national levels of government agencies and departments, enabling us to advocate and promote our industry and our artists whenever possible.

Our primary responsibility is to represent the interests of our members and foster the New Brunswick music industry.

Working together, New Brunswick’s music industry has experienced an estimated 284% increase in revenues over the last decade, with over 5,400 live performances annually.

MNB is an industry partner of the East Coast Music Association.

Music NewBrunswick logo

Explore the Province of New Brunswick

mnb-harvest-festival-live

New Brunswick’s diverse musical heritage is based on both Francophone and Anglophone traditions which are spread throughout many smaller communities, coming together in the three larger cities of Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John.

Roots music remains the most popular genre in New Brunswick , followed by pop/rock and country. World music, classical and gospel are also popular with electronic, urban and experimental music emerging on the scene.

As Canada’s first and only officially bilingual province, New Brunswick boasts a vibrant multicultural music industry where Francophone and Anglophone traditions co-exist and often collaborate.

Bolstered by community-based enterprises, New Brunswick’s live music sector has flourished over the last decade, with a rich offering of festivals across the province.

The northern half of the province offers cold winters and warm summers. Areas near the sea have milder winters and slightly cooler summers.

Festival Acadien Tintamarre

For more general information about the Province of New Brunswick, please visit:

www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca

www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/gateways/visiting_nb.html

Key Regions in the Province of New Brunswick

Moncton population 138,644

Key venues/clubs: Capitol Theatre, Tide and Boar Ballroom, Aberdeen Cultural Centre, Le Coude (Université de Moncton), Plan B Lounge, La Caserne (Dieppe), Casino NB, The Moncton Coliseum

Key Radio stations: C103 (103.1 FM) “Moncton’s Rock Station”, K94.5 (94.5 FM) “Today’s Best Music”, CBC Radio 2 (95.5FM), ICI Musique (98.3 FM), XL 96 (96.6 FM) “Greater Moncton’s Country”

Colleges and Universities: Université de Moncton, Crandall University, New-Brunswick Community College (Moncton campus), Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (campus de Dieppe), McKenzie College School of Art and Design, Oulton College, Eastern College (Moncton campus)

Saint John population 127,761

Key venues/clubs: The Imperial Theatre, Kent Theatre, O’Leary’s, Peppers Pub, Harbour Station, Sanctuary Theatre, Callahan’s Pub, Vintage Bistro Lounge

Key Radio stations: The Wave (97.3 FM), Country 94 (94.1 FM), CBC Radio 2 (101.5 FM), (ICI Musique (88.1 FM), Rock 88.9 (88.9 FM), K100 (100.5 FM)

Colleges and Universities: University of New Brunswick (Saint John campus), Saint John College, New Brunswick Community College (Saint John campus), Eastern College (Saint John campus), Atlantica College

Fredericton population 105,688

Key venues/clubs: The Fredericton Playhouse, The Capitol Complex, Charlotte Street Art Centre, Dolan’s Pub, Roots and Soul Music Room, Mama’s Pub

Key Radio stations: The Fox (105.3 FM), The New Hot (92.3 FM), KHJ (1260 AM), The Wolf (95.7 FM), CBC Radio One (99.5 FM), ICI Musique (88.1 FM)

Colleges and Universities: University of New Brunswick (Fredericton campus), St. Thomas University, NB College of Craft and Design, Eastern College (Fredericton campus, New Brunswick Community College (Fredericton campus), Maritime College of Forest Technology

North Shore population 65,000

Key venues/clubs: Centre culturel de Caraquet, Boulangerie Grains de Folie (Caraquet), Carrefour de la mer (Caraquet), Studio 2 (Bathurst), Riverside Entertainment Center (Miramichi), Jack’s Oasis Pub (Miramichi), Beaverbrook Kin Centre (Miramichi), The Boulevard Pub (Newcastle), Brasserie 1026 Bar & Grill (Campbellton),

Key Radio stations: CJVA (94.1 FM Caraquet), CKRO (97.1 FM Caraquet), Phantom FM (103.3 FM Bathurst), Max (104.9 FM Bathurst), FM 92. 9 (Bathurst), 95 CKNB (950 AM Campbellton community radio), CIMS-FM (96.7 FM Dalhousie), The River (99.3 FM Miramichi), Sun FM (95.9 FM Miramichi), Ma 93 (93.7 FM Miramichi)

Colleges and Universities: New Brunswick Community College (Miramichi campus), Academy of Learning (Miramichi and Bathurst), Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (Campbellton and Caraquet campus), Maritime College of Forest Technology (Bathurst)

New Brunswick's major festivals

Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival

http://www.harvestjazzandblues.com/Fredericton, NB

Fredericton comes alive for six days each September as hundreds of world class performers appear on dozens of stages, all conveniently located in Fredericton’s beautiful and historic downtown.

Whether you want to dance all night at a spicy Cajun party, listen to the raw sounds of electric blues, sway to some smooth jazz or just get your funk on, you’ll find something to tempt every musical taste.

The 2015 lineup included Colin James, Yukon Blonde, Galactic, Matt Minglewood, Canned Heat and Waylon Thibodeaux.

Festival acadien de Caraquet

http://festivalacadien.ca/Caraquet, NB

The Festival acadien de Caraquet has been a leader in cultural promotion in Acadia for almost 50 years. Since its inception as a simple village party in 1963, the Festival acadien has showcased culture as a vital component of its programming.

In the 1980s, the Festival acadien was listed as one of the top 100 tourist events in North America. And in 2002 the Festival celebrated its 40th anniversary.

The improved calibre and diversity of its programming proved a winning formula, with some 125,000 people taking part in the various anniversary activities: 60+ live musical acts, fireworks, a “tintamarre” and a blessing of the boats.

Sappyfest

http://www.sappyfest.com/Sackville, NB

SappyFest is an independent music festival produced annually in Sackville, New Brunswick. The SappyFest Mainstage site is a combination of two large tents, a beer garden, a merchandise market and an uncovered open space with a capacity of 2000.

The site is located in the heart of downtown Sackville, on Bridge Street, closing down the main commercial thoroughfare while creating a vibrant, high-profile epicentre for the festival.

Festival alumni: Arcade Fire, By Divine Right, Constantines, Grimes, Ladyhawk, Old Man Luedecke, Owen Pallett, The Sadies, and Rich Aucoin.

Foire Brayonne

http://foirebrayonne.com/Edmunston, NB

The Foire Brayonne is a music and cultural festival that has been held each summer in Edmundston, New Brunswick, since 1979. The Foire is undoubtedly one of the largest Francophone festivals east of Quebec attracting more than 140,000 visitors during the 5-day event.

It celebrates the legendary “Republic of Madawaska” as the inhabitants (or Brayon) of Northwestern New Brunswick refer to their homeland.

The 38th Foire Brayonne will be held from July 27 to July 31, 2016.

Festival Western de Saint-Quentin

http://festivalwesternnb.comSaint-Quentin, NB

The “Western Festival of St-Quentin ” celebrated its first edition in 1984. It is still the only western-themed festival in New Brunswick.

And what a festival! A carnival spirit, a real western rodeo, with camping, country music concerts, children’s activities, line dancing lessons, more concerts, a Horse Pulling Contest, the Miss Atlantic Cowgirl Contest, a jamboree, all capped-off with a fireworks spectacle.

Party with the many country artists and dance and shout to your heart’s content. Yee Ha!

Hospitality Days

http://www.bathurstfestival.com/Bathurst, NB

Bathurst Hospitality Days festival began in 1972, with an initial run of twenty consecutive years. In 2002, Hospitality Days were revived under a new format and now attracts 25,000-30,000 visitors a year.

The week-long festival includes many free activities include art exhibits, bbqs, tours, and young people’s activities such as the Glow in the Dark Scavenger Hunt and you’re guaranteed to have fun.

Combine that with nightly concerts, a golf tournament, a parade and a gala fireworks finale, and you’ve got yourself a week to remember.

The 2015 musical lineup featured: Joel Plaskett, the Road Hammers, and Offenbach.

New Brunswick music biz news