New West Concert Series

The New West Concert Series seeks to create/provide presentation opportunities for eclectic, young emerging professional pan Canadian artists and to continue to build on the Cultural Exchange’s reputation for presentation of highly successful outside the box new and emerging artists who can provide exciting audience experiences. Performances range from solo to 11 piece bands. Genre and culturally diverse programming included performers from a wide array of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Artists are chosen for their talent and their professional practices and their emergent status. The Cultural Exchange recognizes the importance of using high quality local and provincial musicians to further develop the reputation of the Series.  For more information regarding the New West Concert Series please contact Zandra at zandrakas@sasktel.net . The Cultural Exchange welcomes sponsorship inquiries for this Series.

Series success
Shad (Hip Hop) - Sept 23 2008
"… one of the strongest Canadian hip-hop records ever" --> “…one of the wittiest lyricists in hiphop” –NOW Magzine
"... just as worthy of Common and Kanye-style accolades" -- Okayplayer.com

2008
- Opened sold-out national tour for Classified
- Awarded Juno-nomination for Rap Recording of the Year for 'The Old Prince'
- Headlined Skate4Cancer Summer National Tour
- Co-headlined Exclaim/Toyota Yaris Fall National Tour
- Short-Listed for 2008 Polaris Music Prize
- Video for "The Old Prince Still Lives at Home" featured #1 on YouTube worldwide: ca.youtube.com />
- Video for "Brother (Watching)" featured on mtvU

Jill Barber (Female/Folk) - Nov 18th  2008
"Delightfully distinctive, bravely unclassifiable, sexy and vulnerable... For All Time is a little masterpiece." (**** 4 stars) The Toronto Star
"Jill Barber is part of a breed of foxy and self-assured singer-songwriters... a tribute to an era when a song could be cheeky and sexy without being explicit." ***** (5 stars) Maverick Magazine, UK
"For All Time is modest but powerful. Thoughtful writing and arrangements draw attention away from themselves and toward Barber's versatile voice."
NNNN (4 stars) NOW Magazine

2007 East Coast Music Awards
-Won Best Album of the Year for the album For All Time
-Won Female Artist of the Year
-Nominated Folk Recording of the Year
-Nominated Songwriter of the Year for the song "Don't Go Easy"

2008 Juno Awards
 -Nominated New Artist of the Year
-Toured extensively across North America and the UK.

Woodhands (Electronic/Pop) April 14 2009
Since dropping their debut LP Heart Attack in April 2008, Woodhands has been touring pretty much constantly, with stops across North America, Japan, China, and upcoming dates in Europe. Recently, along with their hectic touring schedule, Dan and Paul have also been cranking out remixes and cover tracks (including a version of Electric Avenue blessed by Eddy Grant himself) and have been attracting high-level praise from the likes of Rolling Stone and NME magazine. While Heart Attack appeared on a slew of “Best of 2008” yearend lists including “Best Electro Album” from iTunes Canada, their live show has to be seen to be believed: no pre-programmed samples, no laptops, no safety net: just two hyperkinetic, high-energy performers bringing the party as hard as possible, a little different each time.