The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) announced at the Delta Prince Edward in Charlottetown the artists who will perform on the official ECMA stages as part of East Coast Music Week 2011 taking place April 13-17.

Showcase performers submitted their names to the ECMA between August 23 and October 1, 2010 with the selections determined by juries of industry professionals representing the four Atlantic Provinces plus one National or International juror.

“East Coast Music fans are in for a really big treat come April,” says Campbell Webster, chair of the ECMA 2011 Event Committee. “The talent and diversity featured on these stages is really incredible and there is so much more to come with partnered stages being announced in the New Year.”

Rachel Davis is a name to remember, a great little fiddler with great dance timing and a nice variety of tunes. Her self-titled CD was released during the Celtic Colours festival, very appropriate considering the production was sponsored in part by the Celtic Colours International Festival Volunteer Drive’ers Association. After all, she was the winner of last years Frank “Big Sampie” Sampson Award, given to an up-and-coming young Celtic talent to aid them in financing their first recording. The cash prize is matched by studio time from Lakewind Sound Studios in Point Aconi, which brings with it the expertise of people like Fred Lavery and Mike Shephard.
Rachel has taken her great talent, her musical background and her ability to select some good tunes and combined them very successfully with the available expertise and opportunity to bring forth a great new recording.
- Dan MacDonald, Cape Breton Post