Tignish, P.E.I., hosts songwriters

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Rising Canadian artists gathered in Tignish, P.E.I., a town of about 700, for a songwriting retreat that pairs musicians during the day and showcases them on a small stage at night. 

“This is where it all starts. You can’t play big shows and big arenas unless you do the groundwork and you build fans in these little spots across the country,” said Calgary country rocker Devin Cooper, who was one of 12 artists attending. 

Host Ben Chase, a “Saltwater Cowboy,” described the audience: “Last night it was like they were experts at it. Nobody even spoke a word. You could hear a pin drop.” Singer-songwriter Paige Penney, who grew up in St. John’s, Nfld., and now lives in Nashville, said the retreat shows the value of local, face-to-face connections: “Seeing the audience and how attentive they were to every lyric, they just appreciated the music so much,” she said, adding for those starting their careers, “I would say tap into your local community.”