ECMAs in Cape Breton
There's a big storm in the forecast, but I'm hoping I'm still able to make it to
Cape Breton this weekend for another round of the East Coast
Music Association festival (ECMA).
On Friday, March 5th I'll be playing on campus at The Pit with lots of local talent including ECMA rap nominees
Mista Mack,
Mischif
& Shiest. The
Facebook event is here
This will be my 9th show in Cape Breton, so I thought I'd share some stories below.
Thanks to everyone who's shown support for the
2010 Canadian Rap Future Superstars
compilation. It peaked at #2 on the Canadian campus radio rap charts,
and reached #1 at CKXU lethbridge
& CJLO Montreal.
If you haven't checked it out yet, you can
download it here.
The history of Cape Breton & I
2003
In 2003, I played my first show in Cape Breton. Yes, it was 7 years ago that a small tour with
J-Bru,
Spesh K,
DJ IV and
The Sound and The Fury (RIP), saw me first visit this friendly island. It was
a double bill at the Steelworkers Hall and Bunker's Peanut Bar with locals,
The Prophets,
composed of Mista Mack
(back when he was known as Triple Tee), Marc Cee + KNZ. It was a blast - a late night filled
with homemade lasagna and booze.
My sleep was cut short after a call from a tour member who was trapped under the eavestrough of a
local tv shop (watching WWF), unable to move for fear of getting his suade tracksuit wet from the
downpour. I was so exhausted I drove through a red light after picking him up, but luck was on our side that day.
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2004
In 2004, I returned to CB on tour with
Mick D,
Scout,
Curbside Prawjek and Rory Borealis.
We played the Maple Leaf Lounge, which remains my favourite venue of all time (RIP), just barely ahead
of The Capital/Phoenix in Fredericton.
At the end of the night I got chased back to the tour van by a huge guy who punched me in the kidney earlier,
after confiding that he'd spent 3 large on cocaine, booze and gambling that night. When the tour folks
found me in the van, I drove 2+ hours to the amazing
Evolve festival, with a stop along the way for a "free"
shower at the KOA campground, while staying awake to the sounds of the newly released
K-Os 'Joyful Rebellion' album.
2005
I was back in CB again in 2005 for the infamous ECMAs
where I won my award for urban single of the year for 'Shake Ya Caboose'. Check the video on YouTube here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb0If-kp8OM
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Many Fredericton businesses helped with the fundraiser to send co-nominees
Mick D &
Bonshah, along with
DJ Loc Dog to the ECMAs.
ANSMA let us into their block of rooms,
and we shared a room with Fax 4 (Spesh K,
Quake +
Markit & Boy-Ill of
Something Good). Yes,
people were sleeping on the floor.
It was a crazy amazing weekend, with a show in Dominion that none of us will forget thanks to the
$1.50 shots. Locals Marc Cee, Mista Mack
and Initial were all on the bill.
Gordie Sampson's dad,
Frank, was our driver on one of the shuttle vans. I also met some locals with whom I've become
great friends, and has made Cape Breton my favourite place to visit in Canada.
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2008
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In 2008, I returned to CB on my 100-day cross Canada tour. On
day 91,
I played at Bunkers in sydney,
and on day 92 in glace bay
at north street club. Mista Mack,
Mischif,
Sick Kookies,
DJ Method and
DJ Gary B made the nights a blast,
along with the CBLA girls and the late night post-show pool party.
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2009
In 2009, I returned on tour with DJ Ducats for my 8th
show in Cape Breton - once again at Bunkers Peanut Bar with locals Mischif, Mista Mack & DJ Gary B.
Best of all, Marc Cee came out retirement for the show.
2010
Peace.
Brockway Biggs
Brockway Biggs - www.brockwaybiggs.com
Brockway Entertainment - www.brockwayent.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/brockwaybiggs
Twitter - www.twitter.com/brockwaybiggs
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