I think they're incredibly important. Canada is so vast, and each of our small communities has such a breadth of what they've offered in the countrywide conversation—but also locally.
Earlier, I mentioned a blues festival that Truro used to have. It was called the Dutch Mason Blues Festival, named after Dutch Mason, who was a big blues artist from our area. Given what he's contributed to Canadian culture, as well as to the blues industry in general, it was very rewarding in our community to celebrate that on a national stage and bring in lots of other artists from all across different places who work within that world. Even Dan Aykroyd was there with the Blues Brothers at one point, which was very cool.
As far as our identity goes, being from Nova Scotia, I feel as though we are a very small player in the national conversation sometimes. There are a lot of amazing artists who come out of our area, and some go on to massive success.
I was just at the East Coast Music Awards, and Goldie Boutilier was there—who is now in LA doing amazing things, but she's from Cape Breton. It was very cool to celebrate that and see her creative voice get to such a large level, but it all started in Cape Breton.