MEGAPHONO full schedule released; festival returns to Ottawa February 2-5, 2016!

Ottawa's music showcase festival MEGAPHONO has released its full schedule, which will see 60 artists perform over four days in early February, including 47 locals. Local emerging artists such as New Swears, Merganzer, Boyhood, Mehdi Cayenne, SILKKEN, Isaac Vallentin, Scattered Clouds, The Visit and Pipahauntas will all perform alongside scene vets such as The Acorn and Lynne Hanson. MEGAPHONO will also showcase some of the best and buzziest bands from the Toronto-Montreal corridor and beyond, including synth/punk rockers Duchess Says, psych-sludge outfit Darlene Shrugg, Saskatchewan songsmith Andy Shauf, garager rocker Michael Rault, harpist/chanteuse Emilie & Ogden, and Ottawa ex-pat Michael Feuerstack. Noted music critic and author Jessica Hopper (MTV, Pitchfork) will kick things off at the launch on Tuesday Feb 2 with a keynote speech at St Alban's Church; MEGAPHONO will also screen a film this year called Terminal Device, directed by Ross Turnbull, edited by U.S. Girls' Meg Remy and with music composed by Slim Twig. The festival brings an impressive list of music industry delegates to town, in its continued effort to connect local artists and artist entrepreneurs to the music industry outside of Ottawa. Record labels such as Full Time Hobby (UK), Bella Union (UK), Outside Music (Toronto), Bonsound (Montreal), Sonic Unyon (Hamilton) will all be on hand, alongside booking agents, music managers, entertainment lawyers and show promoters. "MEGAPHONO is about getting the right people in the room to see our artists," says festival director Jon Bartlett. "The best way to tell the story of Ottawa music is to drag industry folks here to see and hear it for themselves. If we put our best artists on stage with key music people in the room, I'm confident good things will happen." Attendees will enjoy four solid days of music, with all performances open to the public; additional panels and networking opportunities with industry reps are available to those purchasing a delegate pass. Fan festival passes are $50; delegate passes run for $100. Both are available at www.megaphono.tv/passes/. For more information, please visit MEGAPHONO.ca.