Music PEI can't wait to show you what has been cooked up for the return of the Credit Union Music PEI Week to January in 2018. Taking place in Charlottetown's downtown core, the five-day festival will run from the 24th to the 28th and will celebrate the best of Island music with shows at various venues featuring many of the 2018 Music PEI Award nominees and a couple of special guests.

The Kick-off Party at The Alley will start things off on Wednesday, January 24 at 6:30 pm and is a free event for Music PEI Members to get together for bowling and refreshments. Following the kick-off, Emilee Sorrey & Simon Joseph will co-host the Music PEI Open Mic Takeover at Baba's Lounge beginnning at 9:30 pm.

Thursday, January 25th brings the return of the perennial favourite SOCAN Songwriter of the Year Concert. Taking place at 7:30 pm at St. Paul's Church, nominees Ashley Condon, Liam Corcoran, Alicia Toner, Nick Doneff, and Dennis Ellsworth & Kinley Dowling will perform in an intimate Songwriters' Circle, and the 2018 Music PEI SOCAN Songwriter of the Year Award will be presented at the end of the evening.

For Friday night fun, Credit Union Music PEI Week features two high-energy shows. At Baba's Lounge, Music PEI and the PEI Hip Hop Association Presents: features nominees Norm Strangely and Element & Broadbent followed by a special guest, Nova Scotia's highly acclaimed and award winning Quake Matthews. Friday Night Live returns to Hunter's Ale House with an eclectic and exciting lineup featuring Stabbing Joy, The Royal North, and Calm Baretta. Both shows start at 11:00pm.

On Saturday, January 27th, Le Carrefour de l'Isle-St- Jean hosts the exciting Music Mosaic concert at 2:00 pm, a multicultural celebration in partnership with La Federation Culturelle de l'IPE. Bringing you a blend of traditional, Acadian and world music, this show will feature two of PEI's top world touring artists Irish Mythen and Acadian super-group Vishten. The show will also include performances by the Holland College SoPA Students World Music Ensemble, Venezuelan musician Luis Anselmi, and a couple of more guests. Kids under 12 get in free!

An early evening show starting at 7:30 pm will shine a spotlight on Roots & Country nominees Danny Drouin, Marcella Richard, and Rick Sparkes & The Enablers performing at Saturday Night Live at the Pourhouse with very special guest and Island native Tara MacLean. The day's events finish with Songs For a Winter's Night at the Guild, featuring nominees Nick Doneff, Aaron Hastelow, and the Amanda Jackson Band.

Sunday afternoon, Music PEI will host the Awards Party for the award nominees at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel. This intimate get-together allows the nominees and guests an opportunity to celebrate each other.

The festival will come to a close on Sunday night January 28th for the Festival Finale, beginning at 7:30 pm at Florence Simmons Performance Hall on the Holland College Prince of Wales Campus. With live performances by top nominees Ashley Condon, Alicia Toner, Catherine MacLellan, Liam Corcoran and Dylan Menzie this show will be an exciting finish to a week of celebrating our own Island music. All performances are Powered By Shure Microphones.

Tickets for the 2018 Credit Union Music PEI Week are now on sale at www.ticketpro.ca or by calling 1-888- 311-9090. For the full schedule and list of the 2018 Music PEI Award nominees, visit www.musicpei.com. Listen to a playlist of the nominees here: https://open.spotify.com/user/musicpei/