‘Alive with music’: East Coast Music Awards take over downtown Sydney

Cape Breton is alive with the sights and sounds of the ECMAs.

For the first time in a decade, the East Coast Music Awards have taken over downtown Sydney, N.S.

“We’ve been coming to the ECMAs, wherever they are, for the last ten years or so,” said Peter McLaughlin and Anne Turner of Florenceville-Bristol, N.B., who arrived in town Thursday morning.

The last Cape Breton ECMAs, held in 2021, was a ‘virtual’ event during the COVID-19 pandemic, so McLaughlin and Turner have been waiting a while to experience the festival in a place known for fiddle music and foot stomps.

“Cape Breton punches above its weight in the music world,” said McLaughlin.

The Breton Craft House brew pub opened only six months ago, but this ECMA weekend it is a home base of sorts for live music.

“As a lot of locals know, it took a long time for us to get to this point to be open,” said general manager Lauren Musyscyn, who happens to be married to well-known Cape Breton singer-songwriter Jordan Musycsyn. “So, for this to kind of be like the biggest event in Sydney, for this year I think, and for us to be a part of it, it’s really exciting for us.”

“Sydney is going to be alive with music this weekend, every venue, every restaurant,” said Bob Hallett, the new executive director for the East Coast Music Association.

As a former member of Newfoundland’s legendary Celtic band Great Big Sea, Hallett knows a real kitchen party type atmosphere when he sees one.

“That authenticity, that sincerity, man we have it in spades,” Hallett said of the ECMA weekend. “So that’s what drives the train here and that’s what makes this such a unique and amazing event.”

The gala awards is one of the signature events of ECMA weekend and is set to take place Thursday evening at Sydney’s Centre 200. A number of Cape Breton artists are among the top nominees.

“Like our local hero, Goldie Boutilier,” Hallett said. “Elyse Aeryn, Nick from Newfoundland, we’ve got the Barra MacNeils – legends – receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award."

As for why he is encouraging people to come downtown and take in a few tunes, Hallett said it’s about having fun and celebrating culture.

“Our competition now, it’s not other bands or sports,” Hallett said. “It’s the couch and the phone, right? So, our whole thing is about, remember what we have here. Get off the couch, come out, see some incredible music.”

The 2026 East Coats Music Awards wrap up on Sunday.

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