East Coast Music Week is coming back to Nova Scotia next year, with five days of events in Sydney.

Andy MacLean, the executive director of the East Coast Music Association, confirmed East Coast Music Week will run from April 13 to April 17 in Sydney. The week will feature 40 events at more than 10 venues across the city.

One big difference will see the award show at Centre 200 start the week off, rather than end it.

MacLean says he hopes the move will help bands better promote themselves.

"It's a great opportunity to connect with the buyers that we're bringing in from all over the world so hopefully they'll get booked up," he said.

MacLean estimates about 8,000 people will take part in East Coast Music Week, leading to about $3 million for the local economy.

"The people who are coming from away. The agents, the managers, the labels and the artists themselves and the fans who are coming to support what's going on," he said.

"They need a place to stay, they need to eat, they need to drink and so all of those spinoffs are very important."

The Membertou Trade Centre will serve as the conference headquarters and MacLean says First Nations musicians will be front and centre.

"Great opening ceremonies, we're on First Nations land, we're going to embrace First Nations aboriginal culture in a big way," he said.

"Thursday is the gala. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, the showcases all through the clubs downtown. There will be bands playing everywhere and networking collaborations, great collaborations are going to happen throughout the whole city."

The week will feature 420 performing artists representing 200 bands.