Posted On: Oct. 25, 2021
Back To Live: Whitehorse
BreakOut West is thrilled to be Back To Live! After more than a year off-stage, musicians are finally returning to live performances and BreakOut West is celebrating with a five-week series of concerts, speaking engagements, and digital content from some of the best the western Canadian music industry has to offer.
Join us in Whitehorse at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre for this free event featuring performances by Erica Mah, Gordie Tentrees, and LOCAL BOY! Also, arrive early for a discussion about the return to live music in the Yukon!
RSVP for back to live - Whitehorse
Schedule
5:30 PM - Doors
6:00 PM - Back to Live Conference
7:45 PM - Gordie Tentrees
8:45 PM - LOCAL BOY
Performers
Erica Mah
Erica Dee Mah is a multi-instrumental musician whose songwriting brings listeners on a journey across oceans and cities, then back again to the wild expanse of rivers and mountains she calls home. Born and raised in Smithers, BC, her lyrical songs reflect a quiet northern upbringing. She is equally accomplished on piano and guitar, and also plays the guzheng (Chinese zither). Through experimental composition and songwriting, she is working to bridge the traditional instrument with the contemporary folk music world while exploring her Chinese heritage. She is currently working on a new album of original guzheng songs about transoceanic journeys. “The Sargasso Season” is set to be released in February 2022.
Gordie Tentrees
International touring award nominated Canadian Gordie Tentrees has arrived. This authentic road poet travels North America, Europe, Australia, UK & Ireland with 8 records behind him either solo or with legendary sideman Jaxon Haldane (famed Winnipeg band-D-Rangers) never repeating himself on stage. From Celtic Connections (Glasgow, Scotland) to the National Folk Festival (Canberra, AU) his ability to hold an audience, weave melody, while juggling the dark with the light is infectious. Performed 750 concerts in 11 countries during the past 4 years armed with 10 instruments, brotherly harmonies and masterful storytelling. Influenced by touring with friends Fred Eaglesmith, Mary Gauthier, Steve Poltz & Kelly Joe Phelps, Tentrees is just getting started.
LOCAL BOY
LOCAL BOY. WHAT A NAME HUH. TWO BLOKES HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO PLURALIZE THE NAME. WELL GUESS WHAT. IT’S THE COMPANY NAME FOR A MASSIVE CORPORATE-SELLOUT-HIP-HOP-BOY-BAND. THERE’S A TEAM INVOLVED. THESE TWO CAN BARELY MAKE TOAST LET ALONE RUN THIS TIGHT SHIP. THEY’RE JUST FACES TO THE NAME: A BIG BEARDED FELLA WITH SHOULDERS OF STEEL, AND THE QUIRKY ONE WITH NICE HAIR AND SPECS YOU CAN SPOT FROM A MILE AWAY. LOCAL BOY HAS BEEN STEADILY CREATING OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC, WITH THE ODD VIRTUAL GIG OR CREATIVE OPPORTUNITY WITH LOCAL THEATRES. INITIALLY HAVING THE TRAJECTORY OF FINISHING AN ALBUM BY SUMMER OF 2020, THEY CLOSED THEIR WINDOW SHUTTERS, GOT VERY CLOSE WITH THE VOICES INSIDE THEIR HEADS, AND TOOK HEED TO THE PESKY LITTLE GREMLINS OF LIFE. NOW THEY’RE IN ALBUM PURGATORY, RELEASING SINGLES AND DROPPING MERCH WHENEVER THEY PLEASE, AND FOCUSING ON AN EP BEFORE SLAYING THE FIGURATIVE DRAGON OF RELEASING THE ALBUM. JEREMY PARKIN & KELVIN HAVE PERFORMED AT BREAKOUT WEST 2018-2019, DCMF, FORTHWITH, ATLIN, CYPHERFEST, AND PARADISE. THEY’VE CREATED SOUNDSCAPES FOR BOREALIS SOUL, NAKAI’S PIVOT FESTIVAL, AND BYSTANDER; THEY’VE OPENED FOR ZION I, GIFT OF GAB, THE GROUCH & ELIGH, AND SHAD.
Speakers
Debbie Peters - Magnum Opus Management, A Partner in the Maverick Cooperative
Debbie Peters focuses on developing new audiences nationally and internationally for some of Canada's finest musicians with a view to audience development for Northern Canadian artists. The founder of Magnum Opus Management, she built the company into an award-winning agency and artist development company from her base of operations in Whitehorse, Yukon. Debbie has placed northern musicians in PEI 2014, the National Arts Centre’s Northern Scene, Pan Am Games, and CBC TV’s Countdown to 2020. She was instrumental in bringing BreakOut West to Whitehorse in 2011 and 2019, and has produced projects such as A Circumpolar Soundscape featuring Northern and Nordic Indigenous Women; the collaborative New North Collective, a multi-genre music and film experience; and is coproducing Music from the Edges of Canada a showcase of 22 bands from the west, north, and east of the country on 4 stages in a series of online and live concerts (musicfromtheedges.ca ). Together with Margot Holmes, Debbie is a partner in the Maverick Cooperative (maverickcooperative.com); an executive member of Agences des arts de la scène / Performing Arts Agencies Canada (AASPAA.ca); and is lead on development of The Pitch: Digital Marketplace for the Performing Arts (ThePitch.ca).
Elijah Bekk - Artist
Originally hailing from Faro Yukon, Elijah Bekk used his time in this secluded little town of 400 people to hone his skills as a guitarist, pianist, vocalist, songwriter and most recently lead guitarist for Paris Pick. Elijah has had the privilege of performing with many talented musicians, and winning many accolades including but not limited to; Finalist: Canada’s Walk Of Fame/RBC’s Emerging Musician Program 2020, Winner: Yukon Commissioner's Music Award, Winner: Olds Alberta Jazz Band Scholarship, and has opened for: Ed peekeekoot, Local Boy, and The Birds of Bellwoods. Currently working on his first album Elijah hopes to have his first songs released this winter, bringing you the perfect mix of indie and soft rock.
Paris Jade Pick - Paris Pick Music / Bulpitt Management
Tirelessly driven, Paris Pick has been busy building her musical empire in Whitehorse, Yukon since her arrival back in 2013. Since then, Pick has managed to carve a niche for herself within Canada’s music scene with her distinctive voice, bold sense of fashion, and individual brand of northern yacht-pop music.
Jeremy Parkin - LOCAL BOY
LOCAL BOY. WHAT A NAME HUH. TWO BLOKES HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO PLURALIZE THE NAME. WELL GUESS WHAT. IT’S THE COMPANY NAME FOR A MASSIVE CORPORATE-SELLOUT-HIP-HOP-BOY-BAND. THERE’S A TEAM INVOLVED. THESE TWO CAN BARELY MAKE TOAST LET ALONE RUN THIS TIGHT SHIP. THEY’RE JUST FACES TO THE NAME: A BIG BEARDED FELLA WITH SHOULDERS OF STEEL, AND THE QUIRKY ONE WITH NICE HAIR AND SPECS YOU CAN SPOT FROM A MILE AWAY. LOCAL BOY HAS BEEN STEADILY CREATING OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC, WITH THE ODD VIRTUAL GIG OR CREATIVE OPPORTUNITY WITH LOCAL THEATRES. INITIALLY HAVING THE TRAJECTORY OF FINISHING AN ALBUM BY SUMMER OF 2020, THEY CLOSED THEIR WINDOW SHUTTERS, GOT VERY CLOSE WITH THE VOICES INSIDE THEIR HEADS, AND TOOK HEED TO THE PESKY LITTLE GREMLINS OF LIFE. NOW THEY’RE IN ALBUM PURGATORY, RELEASING SINGLES AND DROPPING MERCH WHENEVER THEY PLEASE, AND FOCUSING ON AN EP BEFORE SLAYING THE FIGURATIVE DRAGON OF RELEASING THE ALBUM. JEREMY PARKIN & KELVIN HAVE PERFORMED AT BREAKOUT WEST 2018-2019, DCMF, FORTHWITH, ATLIN, CYPHERFEST, AND PARADISE. THEY’VE CREATED SOUNDSCAPES FOR BOREALIS SOUL, NAKAI’S PIVOT FESTIVAL, AND BYSTANDER; THEY’VE OPENED FOR ZION I, GIFT OF GAB, THE GROUCH & ELIGH, AND SHAD.