‘This is where its supposed to happen’: Nova Scotia Music Week strikes the right chord again in Yarmouth

Article content Music Nova Scotia board president Sarah Jamer spoke at the NSMW reception, saying she is incredibly grateful to be a part of such a dedicated and passionate team at Music Nova Scotia. TINA COMEAUArticle contentKey components include:Article content• Artist and industry performance, development, excellence, and empowering careers in music.Article content• Organizational sustainability.Article content• Community engagement that reflects the full spectrum of Nova Scotia.Article content• Strategic partnerships.Article content• Leadership, advocacy, and championing music in the province.Article content“Aligning with one of our strategic priorities is the recent launch of The Well – a new three-year program providing free, confidential, mental health counselling to our members,” Jamer said. “With the support of the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, we aim to support more than 200 industry artists and professionals by the end of the first year – a vital step towards a stronger and healthier music community.”Article content Country singer/songwriter Taylor Jensen performed an acoustic set at 341 Main Street during the 2025 Nova Scotia Music Week in Yarmouth. TINA COMEAUArticle contentArticle content People packed the various venues during 2025 Nova Scotia Music Week in Yarmouth, including this one for a performance by All Mother. TINA COMEAUArticle content Braden Lam was one of the showcase performers at 341 Main Street on Oct. 24 during the 2025 NSMW in Yarmouth. TINA COMEAUArticle contentJamer thanked the Music Nova Scotia staff for the care and effort that goes into NSMW, as well as, “The incredible artists bringing their absolute best … all the venues, volunteers and delegates who lend their spaces and time.” She also thanked the NSMW premier partners for their support.Article contentArticle contentArgyle MLA Colton LeBlanc, the province’s Minister of Growth and Development and Acadian Affairs and Francophonie, told those attending, “If you haven’t been here before, one thing you’ll quickly realize is the warm hospitality that the people of Yarmouth and the area bring to different events.”Article contentHe recognized the many NSMW volunteers and the province’s music industry.Article content“Everybody here is gathered to celebrate music and our local artists and producers and the connectivity that the industry brings to so many regions in the province,” LeBlanc said, also referencing the province’s Nova Scotia Loyal program.Article content“It really is encouraging to see a growing interest in the program,” he said. “When Nova Scotians see that logo, they are ensuring that they are buying a Nova Scotia product, and I think that also applies to music. I think we have the very best here in Nova Scotia. It contributes significantly to our local economy, almost $1 billion to provincial GDP, so that’s huge.”Article contentArticle content One-on-one networking is a big part of Nova Scotia Music Week. TINA COMEAUArticle content One of the 2025 NSMW conference sessions was entitled ‘Getting Heard from Sea to Sea: Navigating the CBC.’ It was moderated by Trevor Murphy with Holly Gordon and Judith Lynch as participants. TINA COMEAUArticle contentWhile NSMW is about music, it’s also about education, mentorship and networking. This year’s conference topics covered a lot of ground, including: 2SLGBTQIA+ experiences and stories in the music industry; writing funding grants; what recording labels are looking for; Black Music Matters; finding your fans and customized marketing approaches; navigating industry barriers; and much more.Article contentOne conference session called Neurodivergence in Music was aimed at amplifying strengths of neurodivergence artists, producers, managers and industry professionals, and also how to navigate barriers.Article content“What is neurodivergence? That is a big word and a big definition. In very simple terms, development difference in how the brain is wired,” said Leah Poirier of Autism Nova Scotia, who was one of the panel. “The brain is different, and as a result, that person experiences the world differently.”