Rachel Weldon is a music curator, event producer, and project manager living on Algonquin territory (so-called Hull). She is the founder and creative director for Debaser, music programmer at SAW, and a freelance project producer.
Rachel is a trusted voice in the music industry, and is passionately dedicated to supporting independent artists. Community engagement, storytelling, and DIY culture are undercurrents throughout all of her work.
Prior to her current work, Rachel was the general manager at Kelp Management, where she worked with artists Lido Pimienta, U.S. Girls, and Andy Shauf. During her time at Kelp, she also helped produce MEGAPHONO for three years as festival manager.
She has been an active member of the community radio community since 2012, and is currently part of the collective that produces Heavy Friends Saturday nights on CKCU. She DJs and song selects under the moniker Pink Veil on air and at events.
She has been an invited speaker by events and organizations such as POP Montreal, Music New Brunswick, Music Calgary, Carleton University, Algonquin College, and Girls+ Rock Ottawa, and has served on juries for the Canada Council for the Arts, the City of Ottawa, the National Campus and Community Radio Association, and Arts Network Ottawa. She currently sits on the board of directors for Debaser and Everyseeker.
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Rachel is a trusted voice in the music industry, and is passionately dedicated to supporting independent artists. Community engagement, storytelling, and DIY culture are undercurrents throughout all of her work.
Prior to her current work, Rachel was the general manager at Kelp Management, where she worked with artists Lido Pimienta, U.S. Girls, and Andy Shauf. During her time at Kelp, she also helped produce MEGAPHONO for three years as festival manager.
She has been an active member of the community radio community since 2012, and is currently part of the collective that produces Heavy Friends Saturday nights on CKCU. She DJs and song selects under the moniker Pink Veil on air and at events.
She has been an invited speaker by events and organizations such as POP Montreal, Music New Brunswick, Music Calgary, Carleton University, Algonquin College, and Girls+ Rock Ottawa, and has served on juries for the Canada Council for the Arts, the City of Ottawa, the National Campus and Community Radio Association, and Arts Network Ottawa. She currently sits on the board of directors for Debaser and Everyseeker.
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Speaking, Mentorship & Workshop Facilitation
“Envisioning Music Industry Futures” POP Montréal, September 2020
“Inspiration Talk Series”
Music Calgary, September 2020
Ottawa Arts Mentorship Program Arts Network Ottawa, March-November 2020
“Events and Community Partnerships” Graduate Course, Carleton University Communications Department, November 2019
“Get. Together: Community Engaged Programming”
Neighbourhood Arts Ottawa, August 2019
“Day-To-Day Life of a Manager" SoundOff Summit (Calgary, AB), February 2019
“Whose lineup is it anyway?: Festival lineup curation"
Conference 506 (Caraquet, NB), October 2018
“Women & the Music Industry: The token women" Conference 506 (Caraquet, NB), October 2018
“Artist Manager Round-Table" Pop Montreal, September 2018
“DIY et la marché de la musique francophone” Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique, September 2018
Catapult Mentorship Program
ArtsLink NB, July 2018
“Gig-Planning 101" Girls+ Rock Ottawa, May 2018
“Music Business Management” Algonquin College, February 2018
“Accountability, Industry and Community: Improving music scenes from the inside out" Pop Montreal, September 2017
“Women Mentor Panel" Ottawa Rock Camp for Women+, June 2017
“Building Your Music Industry Team" Music and Film in Motion, March 2017
“Music Business Management” Algonquin College, February 2017
“How to book a show"CKCU FM, December 2016
“Music as a Business Strategy" Ottawa Small Conference, October 2015
“Envisioning Music Industry Futures” POP Montréal, September 2020
“Inspiration Talk Series”
Music Calgary, September 2020
Ottawa Arts Mentorship Program Arts Network Ottawa, March-November 2020
“Events and Community Partnerships” Graduate Course, Carleton University Communications Department, November 2019
“Get. Together: Community Engaged Programming”
Neighbourhood Arts Ottawa, August 2019
“Day-To-Day Life of a Manager" SoundOff Summit (Calgary, AB), February 2019
“Whose lineup is it anyway?: Festival lineup curation"
Conference 506 (Caraquet, NB), October 2018
“Women & the Music Industry: The token women" Conference 506 (Caraquet, NB), October 2018
“Artist Manager Round-Table" Pop Montreal, September 2018
“DIY et la marché de la musique francophone” Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique, September 2018
Catapult Mentorship Program
ArtsLink NB, July 2018
“Gig-Planning 101" Girls+ Rock Ottawa, May 2018
“Music Business Management” Algonquin College, February 2018
“Accountability, Industry and Community: Improving music scenes from the inside out" Pop Montreal, September 2017
“Women Mentor Panel" Ottawa Rock Camp for Women+, June 2017
“Building Your Music Industry Team" Music and Film in Motion, March 2017
“Music Business Management” Algonquin College, February 2017
“How to book a show"CKCU FM, December 2016
“Music as a Business Strategy" Ottawa Small Conference, October 2015
Boards and Committee
Riverbed Reading Series
2020-Present
Comité consultatif Culture Outaouais, January 2020-Present
EverySeeker Festival Programming Committee
January 2020-Present
Knot Working Group SAW Video’s Knot Project Space, October-December 2019
Every Seeker Festival
July 2019 – Present
Debaser
2019 – Present
Girls+ Rock Ottawa
2017 – 2020
CHUO FM
2016 – 2018
Riverbed Reading Series
2020-Present
Comité consultatif Culture Outaouais, January 2020-Present
EverySeeker Festival Programming Committee
January 2020-Present
Knot Working Group SAW Video’s Knot Project Space, October-December 2019
Every Seeker Festival
July 2019 – Present
Debaser
2019 – Present
Girls+ Rock Ottawa
2017 – 2020
CHUO FM
2016 – 2018
Juries and Assessment
SAW Prize for New Works
SAW Gallery, September 2020
Canada Council for the Arts – Explore and Create
July-August 2020
Canada Council for the Arts – Explore and Create
February 2020
Articipate
Arts Network Ottawa, July 2019
Showcase jury Association des professionenls de la chanson et de la musique (APCM), 2018
Ottmusik
City of Ottawa, 2015
National Campus and Community Radio AwardsNational Campus and Community Radio Association, 2014
SAW Prize for New Works
SAW Gallery, September 2020
Canada Council for the Arts – Explore and Create
July-August 2020
Canada Council for the Arts – Explore and Create
February 2020
Articipate
Arts Network Ottawa, July 2019
Showcase jury Association des professionenls de la chanson et de la musique (APCM), 2018
Ottmusik
City of Ottawa, 2015
National Campus and Community Radio AwardsNational Campus and Community Radio Association, 2014
Features and Interviews
“Interview: Rachel Weldon of Debaser, an Ottawa arts collective and promoter”
Apt613, July 2020 - link
“Artistes en confinement 2020 : Rachel Weldon répond au questionnaire du Pressoir”
Le Pressoir, May 2020 - link
Music Calgary Inspiration Talk
Music Calgary, September 2020 - link
“Rachel Weldon, le cerveau derrière la programmation de MEGAPHONO”
La Rotonde, February 2017 - link
“Because it’s 2015: The People of Ottawa Music”
Ottawa Showbox, December 2015 - link
“Our Farewell to Debaser’s Rocky Lalune”
Ottawa Showbox, August 2014 - link
“Programmer week on Voices of Community Radio!”
NCRA, 2015 - link
“Interview: Rachel Weldon of Debaser, an Ottawa arts collective and promoter”
Apt613, July 2020 - link
“Artistes en confinement 2020 : Rachel Weldon répond au questionnaire du Pressoir”
Le Pressoir, May 2020 - link
Music Calgary Inspiration Talk
Music Calgary, September 2020 - link
“Rachel Weldon, le cerveau derrière la programmation de MEGAPHONO”
La Rotonde, February 2017 - link
“Because it’s 2015: The People of Ottawa Music”
Ottawa Showbox, December 2015 - link
“Our Farewell to Debaser’s Rocky Lalune”
Ottawa Showbox, August 2014 - link
“Programmer week on Voices of Community Radio!”
NCRA, 2015 - link
Commentary
“Ottawa artist, musician keeps creating even as COVID-19 threatens his safety” Capital Current, December 2020 - link
“Centretown’s Pressed: Gone but not forgotten” Ottawa Life Magazine, November 2020 - link
“Codes of conduct in a changing Ottawa music scene”
Apt613, December 2018 - link
“Ottawa: 10 emerging acts to watch”
CBC Music, June 2017 - link
“Wyrd Distro launches across Canada”
The Charlatan, February 2014 - link
“Ottawa artist, musician keeps creating even as COVID-19 threatens his safety” Capital Current, December 2020 - link
“Centretown’s Pressed: Gone but not forgotten” Ottawa Life Magazine, November 2020 - link
“Codes of conduct in a changing Ottawa music scene”
Apt613, December 2018 - link
“Ottawa: 10 emerging acts to watch”
CBC Music, June 2017 - link
“Wyrd Distro launches across Canada”
The Charlatan, February 2014 - link