Cost-of-living crisis: Canadian musicians struggling to keep up with high inflation
CTV
After struggling through years of pandemic shutdowns, many Canadian musicians are now being hit hard by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
After struggling through years of pandemic shutdowns, many Canadian musicians are now being hit hard by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
"It's a huge impact," said Drew Arnott who co-founded the '80s new wave band Strange Advance. "We have to transport huge amounts of gear and it gets very expensive."
Arnott and his bandmates are preparing to travel across Canada for their upcoming spring tour, which will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their first album, Worlds Away. However, they are finding that getting back on the road is getting very pricey.
"We are doing an extensive tour across the country and trying to play as many provinces as possible but the costs of it all are going up all the time."
The tour, which kicks off in Victoria this May, was originally scheduled for early 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic, and the subsequent closure of concert venues, forced the band to shelve their plans. Since then, high inflation and the rising cost of living have dramatically changed the band's touring budget.
"The demand is there and the venues are there," said one of the band's singers and guitarist Sean Dillon. "It is really hard to get around the nuts and bolts of how do you get it all out there on the road, because there are so many rising costs."
The group estimates its expenditures, since first planning the tour, have increased as much as 50 per cent. Band members say they're grappling with soaring gas prices, venue rentals, accommodations and even food.
