Soaring gasoline prices make touring Canadian musicians difficult

When Josh and Katie Pascoe planned a summer concert tour in multiple states earlier this year, how much would they cost to fill thein the van? I didn't expect it to take. Gastank.

After more than two years ofpandemicshutdowns are no longer profitable, most of their energy is to secure a show for their alto folk band Fresh Breath. I was concentrating on. Over 30 gigs have been booked on the We ’re Driving Everywhere Tour and will return to Alberta via Ontario. A few weeks after the

tour, the price of fuel is about $ 2 per liter, and the couple's duo keeps the tip jars around the show and not running in the air. ..

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Return it to the gas tank, "said Katie.

"What do you do? I'm not going to cancel the tour due to petrol bills at this time. "There is no choice but to eat."

Fresh Breath wants to book additional shows at pubs and breweries to cover the surprising cost, Josh said. The couple also reduced eating out. This means that there is much less quarrel to connect with players in the local music industry.

"Now get the broccoli head and spice up Mr. Noodle, that's what we eat," Josh said.

"We need to grow the dollar so far."

They are not the only ones. Due to soaring gas prices, tremendous inflation and other pandemic ripples, some corners of the live music industry have not been affected by financial difficulties.

Some artists talk about hurdles on social media. Country folk singer Donovan Woods was shocked by the shortage of rental cars, noting that other indie artists cost more to secure a rental car. Madison Violet, a folk pair, pointed out a surge in hotel rates.

Stompa singer-songwriter Serena Ryder is concerned about the impact of rising costs on emerging Canadian artists who can't afford the new reality.

"How do you create a space where they can take the tour and bring their name to the world?" She said.

"It's not just gas prices, it's people's lives."

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Danno O'Shea is a vice tightener of his notebook. The musician will lead the brass funk ensemble My Son the Hurricane, who is responsible for ensuring that all 13 players and 4 technicians survive in over 70 shows booked this year.

The group will move together in two large vehicles. That is, the cost of fuel can be "high", but O'Shea benefits the group from its established reputation for allowing guaranteed payment negotiations. Instead of relying on the door cut.

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"What's frustrating? This year was our year, to replenish the injured accounts during COVID, "he said.

"We are now where our band members should live away from our band, and gas is what keeps it from happening."

Sometimes O'Shea His audience is aware of the increasing pressure of musical costumes while traveling. At a recent show, a fan came to the merchandise table and gave the band a gas station gift card.

"I thought'what a kind thing'," he said, saying something could help reduce costs. "We have a lot of members. It's very important that they are rewarded for their time, effort and talent."

O'Shea has these little gestures on a large scale. I'm worried that it's not enough.

"I think we can see smaller tours in smaller geographic areas," he said.

"I feel sick for the people of Prairie. I could imagine that the band would lose too much and just skip it."

For some musicians, gas prices are just one example of the iceberg in trouble.

Folk artist Eamon McGrath states that he has played about 200 shows since June last year. Between January and May, he says his costs have quadrupled.

"Last year it was hard for all other financial reasons (lists), but at least I was making money, and now it seems to be near zero," he said. ..

McGrath has reduced costs. His four bands are currently in a trio. He used to have a tour manager and a driver, but nowadays he drives all over the country. He also doubled his success reward. This means that some venues can't afford him.

"The idea of ​​doing a show for $ 500 is now because there is no way to turn it into profit. I can't think of it, "he said.

"I'm at a point where this summer and autumn could be the last for a really long time that I can afford to take the band to the streets."

McGrath is a gas price Don't be sunk among musicians who only take a few weeks on a real tour for the first time in years, worried about the potential catastrophic consequences of.

"If only the other components of the machine are working properly, we can adjust to the gas price," he said.

"But we're overcoming it. That's what you're going to do. It's not that musicians have never faced a challenge. Finding a solution. In terms, these just look much more complicated. "

Jenna, half of the sibling duo Reklaws Walker retains a healthy amount of her fighting spirit and optimism.

She said filling the gas tanks on the tour bus is the biggest cost of the year, but also facing rising costs for hiring backing musicians and rehearsal spaces. rice field.

"We are spending the money we need to spend," Walker added.

"Our fans are important to us. Our shows are important to us. Hopefully we put them in, no matter what the final cost. The work you are doing will bring it back to us. "

This report by Canadian Press was first published on June 26, 2022.

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