Sask. tech, music featival MoSo to focus on creative roots

Thousands of Canadian makers and trendsetters are converging on Saskatoon for an exhibition of creativity and innovation.

The 2016 MoSo festival kicks off at venues in the Broadway area Thursday night, showcasing a wide variety of creative talent through keynote speakers, workshops, musical performance and some free events open to the public.

“The change this year is that it’s shifted away from a technology-driven festival, and more into something that celebrates creativity and innovation and imagination in a lot of different industries,” said Savhanna Wilson, co-manager for MoSo 2016.

Wilson said when the event started six years ago, it began as a mobile/social – hence, MoSo – conference focusing on the incoming influx of reliance on technology.

“Here we are six years later, and everybody’s got a smartphone in their pocket,” she said.

“So as we move into the future, and rely more and more on these technologies, it’s important to bring it back to the roots of where it all came from, which is creative thinking.”

One part music and art, one part inspiring talks – MoSo brings together a mashup of creative professionals to share ideas and learn from one another. 

MoSo operates outside the confines of a traditional music festival or tech conference with an eclectic lineup of events:

• June 17 –  MoSo Talks Keynote Day at the Broadway Theatre
• June 16,17,18 – MoSo Music events in the Broadway area
• June 18 – MoSo in partnership with the Broadway Theatre presents a talk and solo acoustic show with Buffy Sainte-Marie 
• June 17/18 – Free outdoor music community stage in the Broadway area
• June 18 – Free community talks in the Broadway area
• See here for a complete schedule and admission rates.

While most events are ticketed – this year’s all-access pass rates have been lowered $100, to a price of $259 – a number of free events have been added to the MoSo slate to allow for greater accessibility.

This includes free workshops offered by community organizations in the Broadway area Saturday, including a look at the technology evolution for the new Mosaic stadium.

The biggest draw for many this year is Canadian icon , musician and artist Buffy Saint-Marie – who will be a dual headliner Saturday at the Broadway Theatre with both a keynote speech and a musical performance.

“For one of the first times in her musical career, she’s performing solo,” Wilson said, adding the artistic side of MoSo blends seamlessly with discussions on innovation.

“There’s more and more opportunities for creativity in art and music to collide or converge with the creativity in technology,” she said.

Other speakers include designer Jessica Walsh and investigative journalist Jesse Brown, who broke the Jian Ghomeshi story.

Saint-Marie will also join dozens of local and international acts as part of the MoSo Music Festival running June 16-19.

Artists include – but certainly are not limited to – Suuns, Duchess Says, Close Talker, Shotgun Jimmie, The Pack A.D., Besnard Lakes, Willie Thrasher and Linda Saddleback.

CKOM’s Daniella Ponticelli will be attending several MoSo events, including Friday’s Keynote Day. Follow her on twitter @Ms_Dponticelli for updates.