Apr
26
8:00 PM20:00
Filtering by: Concerts
Apr
27
8:00 PM20:00
Daniel Champagne
Daniel Champagne lives and breathes live music. The Australian virtuoso has been described as “the finest guitar player of this generation”, “a leading light in acoustic music” and “a performer that must be seen to be believed” and from March to June 2024, music lovers across Canada will be treated to an intimate live experience not to be missed!
Growing up in the Bega Valley, on the Far South Coast of New South Wales Australia, the story goes that the young singer-songwriter and one of a kind guitar virtuoso first picked up his instrument of choice as a 5-year-old following in the footsteps of a musical father. He began writing songs at 12, training classically throughout his teens and performing wherever he could, honing his craft and developing the dynamite live show that he is renowned for today. At 18 he finished school, turned professional and hit the road without looking back.
The following 15 years have seen him independently release 7 studio albums, tour relentlessly around the globe, play some of the biggest festivals under the sun and share stages with the likes of Tommy Emmanuel, INXS, John Butler, Lucinda Williams, Ani DiFranco, Judy Collins and Rodrigo y Gabriela.
Playing upwards of 250 shows a year, Daniel is passionate about spreading live music around the world and on the back of a sold out 2022 tour tour, his return trip will include 56 shows from Vancouver Island all the way out to Newfoundland!
May
1
7:30 PM19:30
Don Amero - 'Behind the Veil' Residency at the West End Cultural Centre
Experience the creative process with Don and his band as they get ready for a slew of summer shows. Behind the Veil is a great opportunity to see how the band gets it all together!
It's not exactly a show, but more of a relaxed hang with Don and the band. We guarantee something new, fun and possibly hilarious as they figure out their set.
If you're interested in seeing how this band figures it all out (or “makes the sausage” as they say) then this will be a fun evening you'll enjoy.
Don and his band will be here at the West End Cultural Centre every Wednesday night 7:30pm - 10pm throughout the month of May. You're invited to come down and have a cold one with the band and watch as they put the show together!
Throughout the last decade, singer-songwriter, performer and 3x JUNO Award nominee Don Amero has made it his mission to tell engaging and unique stories, tapping into his rare ability to effortlessly and genuinely connect with his audience. 2022 marked a momentous year Amero; he earned a 2022 CCMA Award nomination for ‘Ford F-150 Album of the Year’ for his previously released EP Nothing Is Meaningless – which includes his hit single ‘You Can’t Always Be 21’, and later went on to join Tim & The Glory Boys as direct support on their cross-Canada Home-Town Hoedown tour. Amero released a brand new EP, SIX, on September 15th which includes previous singles, “Ain’t Too Late” and “Go Girl”, His ‘Through The Fire’ podcast has been met with much enthusiasm, featuring engaging conversations with Canadian public figures focusing on the journey one takes to overcome adversity, and he recently added author to his growing resume after sharing the news of his first children’s book “These Roots Of Love”. Amero, who is of Cree and Métis heritage, has taken the skills he utilizes on stage and applied them to his advocacy work within Indigenous communities and beyond, including his participation as a youth mentor for the Winnipeg Jets and True North Youth Foundation’s ‘Project 11’. An avid public speaker, Amero created the ‘Music Is Medicine’ workshop, presenting the impact and power music has mentally and physically, and has connected with the TOBA Centre, which helps children and youth seek justice. Amero also serves as the first ever advisor and Chair of the CCMA Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee.
May
8
7:30 PM19:30
Don Amero - 'Behind the Veil' Residency at the West End Cultural Centre
Experience the creative process with Don and his band as they get ready for a slew of summer shows. Behind the Veil is a great opportunity to see how the band gets it all together!
It's not exactly a show, but more of a relaxed hang with Don and the band. We guarantee something new, fun and possibly hilarious as they figure out their set.
If you're interested in seeing how this band figures it all out (or “makes the sausage” as they say) then this will be a fun evening you'll enjoy.
Don and his band will be here at the West End Cultural Centre every Wednesday night 7:30pm - 10pm throughout the month of May. You're invited to come down and have a cold one with the band and watch as they put the show together!
Throughout the last decade, singer-songwriter, performer and 3x JUNO Award nominee Don Amero has made it his mission to tell engaging and unique stories, tapping into his rare ability to effortlessly and genuinely connect with his audience. 2022 marked a momentous year Amero; he earned a 2022 CCMA Award nomination for ‘Ford F-150 Album of the Year’ for his previously released EP Nothing Is Meaningless – which includes his hit single ‘You Can’t Always Be 21’, and later went on to join Tim & The Glory Boys as direct support on their cross-Canada Home-Town Hoedown tour. Amero released a brand new EP, SIX, on September 15th which includes previous singles, “Ain’t Too Late” and “Go Girl”, His ‘Through The Fire’ podcast has been met with much enthusiasm, featuring engaging conversations with Canadian public figures focusing on the journey one takes to overcome adversity, and he recently added author to his growing resume after sharing the news of his first children’s book “These Roots Of Love”. Amero, who is of Cree and Métis heritage, has taken the skills he utilizes on stage and applied them to his advocacy work within Indigenous communities and beyond, including his participation as a youth mentor for the Winnipeg Jets and True North Youth Foundation’s ‘Project 11’. An avid public speaker, Amero created the ‘Music Is Medicine’ workshop, presenting the impact and power music has mentally and physically, and has connected with the TOBA Centre, which helps children and youth seek justice. Amero also serves as the first ever advisor and Chair of the CCMA Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee.
May
18
8:00 PM20:00
Leonard Sumner - Travelling Light EP Release
"He has been called one of the most important, vital new voices of the First Nations roots music scene in Canada. In truth, Sumner could be categorized as one of the most important, vital new voices in the entire Canadian roots music scene." - Island Music Fest
"In First Nations cultures, traditional songs and stories communicate histories, life lessons and philosophy from one generation to the next. Anishinaabe poet, singer/songwriter and MC Leonard Sumner has woven an enticing roots-blues-rap-country fusion around that traditional content. Unblinkingly honest, Sumner’s lyrics are defiant yet vulnerable, and deliver the message: We are still here and our voices must be heard." - Calgary Folk Fest
Anishinaabe MC/Singer/Songwriter Leonard Sumner's storytelling flows directly from the shores of Little Saskatchewan First Nation, located in the heart of the Interlake of Manitoba. Sumner's self-determined sound is evidence of his ability to simultaneously occupy landscapes of multiple musical genres including; Hip-Hop, Spoken Word, Country, and Rhythm and Blues. With every vibration of the strings on his guitar, Leonard rattles the dust off truths that have been buried for far too long. On stage he poetically sings awake the consciousness of audiences may have been unaware of their slumber. In this era of unsettling history and healing wounds of the past, Sumner's music is an expression of medicine that walks the line between fortitude and fragility.
Apr
24
8:00 PM20:00
Martin Kerr with JD Edwards
Martin Kerr
British/Canadian singer-songwriter Martin Kerr might be the only artist in the world to have played 400 live shows during the pandemic. When Covid-19 cancelled all his touring plans, he launched Stay Home Street Concerts to bring music and joy to the people who needed it the most.
From driveways, balconies, and front lawns, every show finished with the whole street singing ‘You’re Amazing’, his uplifting, instantly singable hit, which climbed to #4 on the Spotify Viral Chart.
His new album, Don't Listen To Me was recorded across North America, in Vancouver, Nashville and his adopted hometown of Edmonton. The songs are inspired by gratitude for real love, the pain of loss, and seeking hope and balance in turbulent times.
The heart of these songs is intimate, honest and poetic. Rooted in isolation, yet longing for connection, adventure and hope. There are epic moments where soaring harmonies and drums take you far away, and unexpected turns of phrase that make listeners laugh and cry.
In a few short years Martin has gone from busking on street corners to selling out major theatres, playing huge festivals and landing his album in the Canadian Top 10, all as an independent artist. Now signed with Nettwerk Records, he’s about to go global.
JD Edwards
JD Edwards, the remarkably talented singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, originates from the vibrant city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. From an early age, JD immersed himself in the diverse musical landscape of folk, rock, blues, and Americana. This eclectic influence shaped his unique musical style, a fusion of genres that defines his creative identity.
Proficient in guitar, vocals, harmonica, and more, JD's mastery of multiple instruments enables him to craft intricate arrangements that elevate his songs to new heights. His velvety vocals, filled with warmth and emotion, add depth and authenticity, leaving an enduring impact on listeners.
JD Edwards' songwriting mirrors his life experiences, offering introspective and relatable lyrics that resonate deeply. His poetic storytelling takes audiences on an emotional journey, forging connections that endure long after the final note.
Recognized for his exceptional talent, JD Edwards has earned accolades and won hearts with engaging live performances. Whether in intimate venues or on larger stages, his genuine stage presence and undeniable charisma create unforgettable musical experiences.
With unwavering dedication and boundless creativity, JD Edwards continually evolves as an artist, pushing boundaries and exploring new sonic territories. As a rising star on the Canadian music scene, his enchanting melodies leave an indelible mark on the hearts of those fortunate enough to experience the magic of JD Edwards.
Apr
21
8:00 PM20:00
Abigail Lapell - 'Anniversary' Album Release Tour
Toronto songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Abigail Lapell returns with Anniversary, an evocative collection of original love songs. Produced with Great Lake Swimmers’ Tony Dekker, the album was recorded at 200-year-old St Mark’s Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Dekker helped shape the sessions’ spooky, resonant sound and also lent his voice to a couple of spellbinding duets.
Lapell’s deft lyrics jostle with love song tropes, grappling with love’s finitude and the irony of how codependency and longing are revered in popular music. A ghost story is woven through the album: waltzing in the dusty barroom country of “Blue Blaze,” buried in the superstitious lyrical streak of “Rattlesnake” and audible in a wheezing organ as it shuts down at the end of “Footsteps.” Still, Anniversary emerges as an earnest celebration of commitment. Earworms like “Anniversary Song” and “Someone Like You” showcase intricately layered harmonies, while closer “Stars” affirms that there’s no place the speaker would rather be than with the one she loves.
Dekker and Lapell assembled a stellar cast of musicians to support Lapell’s powerhouse vocals, piano, harmonica and signature fingerstyle guitar. The core band includes Dan Fortin on bass, Jake Oelrichs on drums, and Tania Gill on the church’s piano, harpsichord and organ. Rounding out the ensemble’s sensitive orchestral country-jazz arrangements are Rebecca Hennessy (trumpet), Rachael Cardiello (viola), Michael Davidson (marimba and vibraphone) and Joe Lapinsky (pedal steel), who also engineered and mixed the record. Lapell has garnered three Canadian Folk Music Awards, hit number one on Canadian folk radio and reached a staggering 40 million + streams on Spotify alone. She tours widely across Canada and the U.S.
Anniversary is out May 10, 2024 on Outside Music.
Apr
18
7:30 PM19:30
Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra - Ellington's Great Paris Concert
In the early 1960's an extended stay in Paris was particularly fruitful for Duke Ellington and his musicians. The iconic bandleader would score and star in a movie, write and record an album and perform a memorable concert at the L'Olympia. That concert was recorded and released nearly a decade later - titled The Great Paris Concert - and is truly one of the great live band performances of all time. Join the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra as we celebrate that magical evening with performances of Kinda Dukish, Rockin' in Rhythm and other classics from the set-list of Ellington's Great Paris Concert.
Apr
11
7:00 PM19:00
Paddling Film Festival
This event is presented by Wilderness Supply.
The Paddling Film Festival has been showcasing the very best paddling films since 2006. Be inspired to explore rivers, lakes and oceans, push extremes, appreciate wild places and fully embrace the paddling lifestyle. Join us at a World Tour theatre screening in more than 135 cities, or rent the Virtual Tour right now and watch it anywhere, on any device. Then, go paddling. We’re pretty sure you’ll want to.
Apr
5
7:00 PM19:00
GloveBoxGold presents Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever
This concert is presented by GloveBoxGold.
Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever album performed live with a set of greatest hits including songs with Stevie Nicks, The Traveling Wilbury's and more.
Doors - 7:00pm
Show - 8:00pm
Tickets
$28.00 + Service Fees
All tickets subject to service fees
Mar
28
6:00 PM18:00
Uniter Speaker Series - A Conversation with Jennifer Smith - Building Respectful Relationships in the Arts
Join us for an engaging evening with Jennifer Smith, as she shares her impactful journey of integrating her Metis background into her work and art practices. This event offers valuable insights into the challenges and achievements faced by Indigenous artists within the broader arts community. Jennifer will explore her personal experiences, from receiving support from the Indigenous art community to confronting unexpected biases and questions about her identity and place in the arts world. Discover how she overcame these obstacles, reflecting on privilege and championing change, to alter how the art community interacts with indigenous artists. through her narrative, Jennifer emphasizes the importance of building strong, respectful relationships and tackling colonial systems within the industry. This discussion is a must-attend for anyone interested in supporting diversity, cultural sensitivity, and equity in the arts. Don’t miss this inspiring evening of dialogue and exploration!
Doors - 5:30pm
Show - 6:00pm
Tickets
FREE
Mar
27
7:30 PM19:30
Mar
23
8:00 PM20:00
WECC Fun-raiser Show
Thank you to our raffle prize donors:
Our annual spring fundraising concert brings together many of Winnipeg's best musicians to help raise funds for our upcoming concert season. This year, four of Winnipeg's favourite band, Leaf Rapids, Sheena & Daniel of Red Moon Road, French Class, and Bloc Parents come together for a night of fantastic music.
This evening will also include a 50/50 raffle (LGCA 3864-RF-43608) and door prizes (LGCA 3864-RF-43609) from Eadha Bakery Worker Co-op, Little Brown Jug, the Manitoba Opera, Prairie Sky Books, the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, and Winnipeg Pro Wrestling.
LEAF RAPIDS
The project Leaf Rapids is Keri Latimer’s (previously from JUNO recipients, Nathan) opportunity to croon about vultures circling their prey, barbershop stabbings, and love letters from smallpox quarantines in her disconcertingly sweet voice. Their sound has been described as ‘Cinematic Folk’ and includes the eerie sound of the theremin. Add in a stellar band: Chris Dunn (Ridley Bent) on guitar, Devin Latimer on bass, and Joanna Miller (Scott Nolan, Corin Raymond) on drums and backup vocals and you’ve got a sonic treat not to be missed.
Their latest album, Citizen Alien was released in May 2019 to critical acclaim and has been charting steadily on the Canadian National Earshot Roots/Blues Chart with the number 1 position for June and July. In 2019 they toured Germany and Netherlands and performed at 7 Canadian summer music festivals.
SHEENA & DANIEL
Sheena and Daniel play music together. A lot. Usually with yet another Daniel in a trio called Red Moon Road. Not this time though. This time it's a power duo. What could that even sound like? Come find out.
FRENCH CLASS
French Class is an electronic dance pop project led by Megumi Kimata, a beat maker based out of Winnipeg. A festival favourite, French Class makes you want to put on fresh sneakers, grab your friends and get on the dance floor. Megumi works in collaboration with Tiana Garcia bringing her jazz influenced vocals.
BLOC PARENTS
Fronted by members of Novillero and The Sorels, and rounded out by two Windups/Telepathic Butterflies, Bloc Parents had their start as a one-off tribute to LA band X. Self-penned tunes that subscribed to that same male/female vocal dynamic eventually followed. A Mod/Powerpop foundation stone thrown into a post-punk well.
Doors - 7:00pm
Show - 8:00pm
Tickets
$20.00 + Service Fees
All tickets subject to service fees
Mar
21
8:00 PM20:00
Royal Wood with Jeffery Straker
ROYAL WOOD
Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Royal Wood has established himself as a true musical talent. Since being proclaimed “Songwriter of the Year” by iTunes (2010), Wood has continued to evolve and hone his musical craft while maintaining a unique identity. With his eighth full-length studio album, 2022's What Tomorrow Brings, Wood reaches new emotional depths and delivers his most powerful collection of music to date. "Although it was finished before the pandemic even began, the time I had during those unpredictable years allowed me to dig deep and fine-tune the album in a way I've never been able to before. I know, without a doubt, this is the best work of my career."
Royal Wood has received multiple JUNO nominations, 5 Canadian Folk Music Award nominations, and a #1 added song at Hot AC. Having seen high-profile features on programs such as Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice, his catalogue has amassed over 15 million streams worldwide. Most recently, Danish manufacturer VELUX utilized the 2007 single "A Good Enough Day" in a promotional campaign, generating a surge of newfound fans across Europe. Capturing the same sonic and emotional depth of these recordings, Wood translates his songs into astounding live performances. This live prowess has led to performances in world-class venues and support-billing for globally-celebrated artists such as Bonnie Raitt and David Gray.
Following a headline performance at Toronto's iconic Massey Hall, Royal Wood released his latest album, What Tomorrow Brings, in November 2022. Crafted alongside world-renowned producers Linda Perry (Adele, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera) and Jamie Scott (Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber), the album draws from deeply personal points in Wood's life, effectively capturing the emotion of these moments. "During the writing of this album, I lost a parent, fell in love, got married and became a father. These experiences definitely allowed me to write from a place of pure vulnerability and create the most carefully crafted and inspired lyrics of my career."
What Tomorrow Brings has received critical praise and support across both Radio and Digital Streaming Platforms. Respective singles have featured on Sirius XM's North Americana and Stingray Radio's Adult Alternative, Pop Adult, and Canadian Indie. Digitally, singles have seen placements on various editorial playlists such as Spotify's New Music Friday Canada, Every Day Favourites, Contemporary Blend, indie pop & chill, Folk & Friends; Apple Music's New In Singer/Songwriter, Breaking Singer-Songwriter, and New in Singer-Songwriter; and Amazon Music's Brand New Music, Fresh Folk & Acoustic, and Finely Tuned. Alongside the release of What Tomorrow Brings, Wood also granted fans a behind-the-scenes look into the album with a Mini-documentary that premiered via Exclaim!. Now, along with an opening slot on Bonnie Raitt's upcoming tour, Royal Wood continues to expand on the success of What Tomorrow Brings, approaching 200,000 Monthly Listeners on Spotify and garnering fans from around the world.
JEFFERY STRAKER
Singer-songwriter pianist Jeffery Straker grew up taking piano lessons in small-town Saskatchewan and has gone on to perform over 100 shows per year across Canada, Europe and Latin America. The rootsy-storytelling of his songs has the power to transport a listener - out onto a lake in Canada’s North or to the main street of a prairie town. A clever lyricist with an energetic approach to the piano, his song writing has drawn critical comparisons to the likes of Harry Chapin, Kris Kristofferson & Billy Joel while maintaining a style distinctly his own. He’s recorded his roots/folk music for CBC radio’s ‘Canada Live’, has seen his songs used in film, TV and theatrical productions and in 2019 won a Western Canadian Music Award. Recently he was awarded “Roots/Folk Artist of the Year” at both the 2020 & 2021 Saskatchewan Music Awards and saw the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards name him “Keyboard Player of the Year” 3 years running.
A musical vagabond, he’s toured internationally as far as The Netherlands, Mexico and Nunavut with tour stops ranging from intimate house concerts to theatre shows and festivals. Never one to let genre constrain him he’s also taken the stage in sold-out concerts performing his songs with symphony orchestras. International highlights include winning the prestigious Vina del Mar (Chile) song competition, representing Canada while performing to a festival crowd of 20,000 people and a TV audience of 100,000,000 viewers across the Spanish-speaking world. He also recently performed across the UK (Nov 2022) including a stop at Canada’s High Commission in London.
Jeffery’s 2017 12-song recording, “Dirt Road Confessional” dove deep into his personal storytelling style and debuted at #5 on the iTunes Canada singer-songwriter charts. It played on CBC Radio and college/community radio across the country with listeners and critics taking note. The Chicago Free Press wrote: “Rufus Wainwright, as well as k.d. lang are among the Canadians making essential and beautiful music. Add the name Jeffery Straker to that list”.
Straker’s 2021 full-length album “Just Before Sunrise” was produced by Russell Broom (Calgary AB). The recording strikes a reflective and optimistic tone with many of the songs written in the wake of the sudden & unexpected passing of Jeffery’s mom. Two co-writes with Royal Wood feature on the recording. The launch was celebrated with a 6-show national virtual tour and a 55 date Covid-friendly “Pandemic-Piano-Backyard-Tour” crossing the country in summer 2021. The album was voted #2 in the Saskatchewan Music Awards.
“Direct, honest and sure-handed, there's a magic to Straker's folk-based piano styling and powerful storytelling…a brand of contagion well worth catching” (The Walleye/Just Before Sunrise)
Jeffery has just emerged from the studio with his latest recording which will release in early 2024 (date TBC). Working with roots/americana producer Steve Dawson (Nashville) the album delivers a roots/country flavour.
A classically trained pianist, Straker swears he was born under the piano on the family grain farm. He was raised by a church-organist mother and auctioneer father which might explain his natural ability to share songs with audiences. He was a student of the Royal Conservatory of Music and received his licentiate diploma in piano performance from Trinity College, London when he was only 19. Straker has showcased at major events including Canadian Music Week, NXNE, Breakout West (Western Canada), & JunoFest. He was an official showcase artist at Folk Alliance International 2022 in Kansas City.
Mar
19
6:30 PM18:30
Diaspora - A Flim by Deco Dawson ***SOLD OUT***
A Special Presentation as part of the Architecture and Design Film Festival: a film screening, panel and fundraiser for Ukraine
“This eye-catching indie treat falls somewhere between love letter to a disappearing neighbourhood, delirious ode to diasporic alienation and yearning, and a darkly comic trip into the absurd. Think Lynch or Jarmusch, if they’d been raised on the Polish delis, Turkish shishkebobs and wheelies nights in the ‘Peg’s North End. Every shot is fantastic and feels weirdly alive.” -- Stir B.C.
Arriving in Winnipeg’s North End in search of a better, safer life, young Ukrainian immigrant Eva finds a city filled with rundown, outdated establishments and a disproportional number of other, culturally diverse immigrants all too in search of a new life; each desperately holding onto their own language and culture, creating a neighbourhood of comedic miscommunication, growing apathy and oft painful alienation.
Filmed amongst the fading architecture of Winnipeg’s North End and Downtown core and performed in 25 different languages, DIASPORA seeks to uncover the heartbreaking struggles and absurdity tied to arriving in a new land. Ukrainian newcomer Yuliia Ghuzva, winner of the Best Actor Award at the 2023 Gimli Film Festival, delivers an unflinching, stellar performance in this wholly unique feature film that is a love letter to a disappearing Winnipeg.
Winner of the Best Feature Film at the Ukrainian Dream Film Festival, Best Feature Film and Best Producer at the International Motion Picture Awards, Winner of Best Actor at the Gimli Film Festival, Winner of Best Cinematography at the Wallachia International Film Festival and nominee for Best Main Title Theme Music at the Canadian Screen Music Awards; DIASPORA has screened across Canada and internationally including in war torn Ukraine.
Winnipeg filmmaker Deco Dawson, known for his bold, cinematic stylings and love for Winnipeg, has won the Best Short Film Awards at the Toronto International Film Festival twice, The Mayor’s Arts Award, the Winnipeg Film Group Hothouse Award, and has been host to retrospectives of his work worldwide. Dawson continues to blur the lines between narrative, experimental and documentary, creating thought provoking, stirring cinema for over 20 years. Dawson most recently collaborated with Winnipeg’s Rusalka Dancers, designing the projections for their 60th Anniversary Gala Concert.
Doors -5:30pm
Show - 6:30pm
18+ Advised
Simulated sex and nudity
Tickets
$15.00 + Service Fees
All tickets subject to service fees
Mar
17
8:00 PM20:00
St. Patrick's Day - Dust Rhinos Play The Pogues
We are very excited for the St Patrick’s Day show. For years the Dust Rhinos have talked about out doing a Pogues tribute show. The Pogues are an unbelievably important influence for our band. I grew up listening to traditional Celtic songs but when the Pogues played those same songs of my childhood with all the fury of a punk band it was the most exciting things I had ever heard. They didn’t just open the door to the Celtic rock era of the 80s and 90s they kicked the door right off.
- Blair McEvoy
In the vibrant tapestry of Canadian music, the Dust Rhinos stand as a spirited testament to the infectious allure of Celtic folk rock. Hailing from the musical heartland of Winnipeg, Manitoba, this quintet has been carving its sonic path for an impressive three decades.
Founded on a shared love for the spirited traditions of Celtic melodies, the Dust Rhinos have become synonymous with electrifying performances that transcend generations. Blair McEvoy, the driving force behind the band, weaves a musical spell with his powerful vocals and percussive guitar playing and masterful story telling. His charismatic stage presence sets the tone for a Dust Rhinos experience—a journey into the heart of lively, foot-stomping rhythms and soul-stirring melodies.
Dan Cannon, the rhythmic anchor on bass, provides the heartbeat that propels the Dust Rhinos’ distinctive sound. The every steady Darren Wittmann on drums, brings a dynamic flair to the Dust Rhinos’ sound, ensuring that every performance is a dynamic and unforgettable experience.
Ryan Spraklin, a master of mandolin, injects a rich tapestry of strings into the ensemble, elevating the band’s sonic palette to new heights.and Ivanka Watkin, a spellbinding fiddler, contribute a melodic enchantment that defines the Dust Rhinos’ distinct sound. Their harmonious interplay creates a rich, textured atmosphere that captivates listeners and transports them to the heart of Celtic revelry.
Having recently marked their three-decade milestone, the Dust Rhinos proudly unveil their tenth studio album, “Ring the Bell.” This record not only showcases the band’s enduring commitment to their craft but also represents a musical evolution that keeps their sound fresh and vibrant.
The Dust Rhinos invite music enthusiasts to join them on this journey—a celebration of thirty years of passion, resilience, and the magnetic charm of Celtic and folk-infused rock. As they continue to enthrall audiences across the nation, the Dust Rhinos stand as a testament to the enduring power of music that transcends time and leaves an indelible mark on the hearts of those who lend their ears to the magical sounds of this seasoned Canadian band.
The Pogues grew out of the North London punk scene of the 1980s with music that merged Irish folk with the grit of punk-rock. Founded and fronted by the iconic, sparsely-toothed Shane MacGowan, the band's music tells stories of excessive drinking, political protest, love, and death, all set to Irish jigs, ballads, and drinking songs.
Mar
15
8:00 PM20:00
An Evening with Andrea Macasaet
Join Andrea Macasaet for a homecoming concert to (re)connect and to celebrate! This event will take place on Fri Mar 15, 2024 at 20:00 at the West End Cultural Centre located on Ellice Avenue in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Known for originating the role of Anne Boleyn in the smash hit SIX On Broadway, Andrea is thrilled to spend the evening sharing stories from her journey on Broadway and beyond.
During this in-person only event, Andrea will take you on a musical journey filled with the perfect balance of giggles and heartfelt performances. Along with local special guests, get ready to see and hear Andrea up close and personal in an unforgettable evening.
Grab your tickets now!
Mar
13
8:00 PM20:00
Music Makers Round
This event is presented with the support of Frontera Wines
Onna Lou is an Argentinian-Canadian artist who made Winnipeg her home in 2016.
With a degree in Contemporary Writing and Production from world renowned Berklee College of Music and another in Classical Music Composition from Universidad Católica Argentina in Buenos Aires, Onna Lou is an internationally recognized, highly educated musician, and artist who is well known for her heartfelt lyrics, and her ability to blend traditional folk with contemporary sounds.
In 2022 she released her chart-topping album, “Diamante” with the support of Canada Council for the Arts which reached 15th week on the Earshot Charts, having peaked at #1 on three Charts in Canada.
She ranks among the 2.1% of female identifying producers in the industry today, who also writes, plays instruments on, and records her own music.
She’s been nominated for Global artist of the year at the 2023 Western Canadian Music Awards. In 2022 she did her first Canadian tour performing in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, London, and Ottawa. She performs in her home country Argentina regularly as well.
She is working on the production of her third album to be released in October 2024 (singles will start dropping in April leading to the album) which has received the support of Manitoba Arts Council for its creation.
Her songs are consistently played across the country, and have been featured across the CBC radio network, CKUA, and many more. Featured on TV, newspaper, radio, and podcasts in Canada, Argentina, Mexico, USA, and other countries.
Her explorations into a new sound for her live shows include two cellos on stage creating a very unique and deeply beautiful show. She is also often seen on stage with her guitar playing solo, with her duo with multi instrumentalist Julian Vidal, and with her new quartet format.
Bobby Dove, the Montreal-born singer-songwriter, is a magnetic presence in the world of country and folk music. With a voice as powerful as their storytelling, Dove pays tribute to the golden age of traditional Country while crafting original, emotionally charged songs. Their sophomore album, Hopeless Romantic (2021), features collaborations with esteemed Canadian Country musicians, including Jim Cuddy, Bazil Donovan, Jimmy Bowskill, and Burke Carroll.
Dove’s musical roots trace back to Montreal’s Hillbilly Mondays at The Wheel Club, under the mentorship of legendary steel player Bob Hill. They’ve since shared stages with luminaries like Mary Gauthier, Richard Thompson, and Lavender Country, captivating audiences across Canada and Europe.usical collaborations in 2023!
Ingrid D. Johnson is a Jamaican/Canadian, published poet, singer-songwriter, spoken word recording artist, short experimental, narrative filmmaker. Committed to sharing her music and healing journey after the trauma of childhood sexual abuse, Johnson has been honored in the 2011 Government publication: Women in The Arts: Artists Working for Social Change. Thus, confirming Johnson's vision and mission for her small production company, In The Closet Productions, to be "a voice for the voiceless."
"Singer-songwriter Taylor Jackson combines airy vocals and gritty guitar to create lulling and illuminating unique indie folk rock songs. Inspired by loved ones and cherished places, Taylor has penned a unique and personal batch of new songs over the last few years, aiming to capture the magic of her surroundings in every line she writes.
Taylor’s forthcoming project—which is set to be her debut release—is an intimate look at her life through grateful, love-tinged, playful, and introspective lenses. It will feature the engineering talents of Kris Ulrich (Boy Golden, Field Guide, FONTINE), Dylan MacDonald (Field Guide) on electric guitar, and a dynamic rhythm section, made up of Natalie Bohrn on bass and Eric Roberts on drums (both of Slow Spirit)."
Doors - 7:00pm
Show - 8:00pm
Tickets
$11.00
All tickets subject to service fees
Mar
12
7:30 PM19:30
Huu Bac Quintet with Will Bonness ***MOVED TO THE CENTRE CULTUREL FRANCO-MANITOBAIN***
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE
CENTRE CULTUREL FRANCO-MANITOBAIN
AT 340 PROVENCHER BLVD.
THE SHOW STILL STARTS AT 7:30PM.
Immerse yourself in a breathtaking musical experience with the Huu Bac Quintet on Tuesday March 12 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:20 p.m., on the unmissable Mardi Jazz stage!
The doors to the WEST END CULTURAL CENTER will open at 7 p.m. so you can take your seats and prepare for an incredible evening. But that's not all ! We have planned a bar that will satisfy all your taste desires, so that you can savor every note in the greatest comfort.
But who are really the stars of the evening, The Huu Bac Quintet?
The Huu Bac Quintet, led by composer and multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire, Huu Bac Quach, was born in Montreal and embodies the perfect fusion of exciting musical cultures. He brilliantly mixes his Vietnamese and Chinese heritage with the magic of jazz to create a unique and intoxicating sound experience!
Surrounded by a team of exceptional musicians, among the most prominent on the Montreal jazz scene, Huu Bac takes you on an unforgettable musical journey. His compositions are the fruit of his numerous travels across Asia, Europe and South America, and they resonate with breathtaking beauty and intensity.
In concert, Huu Bac seduces you with his virtuoso playing on the dan bau (Vietnamese monochord), the erhu (Chinese fiddle), the quena (Andean flute) and the guitar. His talent is a true symphony of sounds and emotions that will transport you to another world.
The Huu Bac Quintet offers much more than just a concert. It is a true dialogue between Asian, North and South American cultures, presented in a contemporary, original and unique way. A musical experience that transcends borders and will leave you speechless!
Don't miss this exceptional evening at Mardi Jazz with The Huu Bac Quintet. Reserve your seats now and get ready to experience a memorable evening that you will remember for a long time!
Winner of the 2022 JUNO Award for Jazz Album of the Year (solo), and Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2022 Western Canada Music Awards, Will Bonness was called “one of finest jazz pianist of his generation” by Monk Competition winner Jon Gordon. Will has been active on the international jazz scene for two decades. At 17, Will joined Maynard Ferguson’s Big Bop Nouveau Band for a world tour, which included performances in Europe, Thailand, and the Caribbean. He has performed at many of the major jazz festivals in Canada and the United States, as well as in the world’s most prestigious venues, with such luminaries as Jon Gordon, Avishai Cohen, Quincy Davis, Jimmy Greene, and Derrick Gardner. Locally, he can often be seen performing with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, and the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra.
Will’s performance career has led him to spend substantial time in New York City, where he has played at the Blue Note, Smalls, and Dizzy’s. Aside from his performances, he maintains a full-time teaching position at the University of Manitoba, where he has taught music for the past 9 years.
Will has three releases to his credit: Subtle Fire (2009), Halcyon (2016), and Change of Plans (2020). He has appeared as an accompanist on almost 30 albums, many of which have been nominated for or won JUNO and Western Canada Music Awards. Change of Plans has received international critical acclaim, and nearly a million streams on Spotify.
Mar
9
7:00 PM19:00
Winnipeg Pro Wrestling - Winnipeg Street Fighter ***SOLD OUT***
This event is presented by Winnipeg Pro Wrestling. For more information, please visit their website at www.wpgprowrestling.com/
Two Days and 16 wrestlers compete in a tournament for the brand new VOYAGEUR CUP.
Doors - 6:00pm
Show - 7:00pm
Tickets
TBA
Mar
8
7:00 PM19:00
Winnipeg Pro Wrestling - Winnipeg Street Fighter ***SOLD OUT***
This event is presented by Winnipeg Pro Wrestling. For more information, please visit their website at www.wpgprowrestling.com/
Two Days and 16 wrestlers compete in a tournament for the brand new VOYAGEUR CUP.
Doors - 6:00pm
Show - 7:00pm
Tickets
TBA
Mar
7
7:30 PM19:30
Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra - Women in Jazz 3.0
This concert is presented by the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra. For more information, please visit their website at www.winnipegjazzorchestra.com/
The WJO is hosting and welcoming all to its third Women in Jazz Symposium in the afternoon and to an evening of women-led music W2JO - including a young women student group to open the show.
Mar
7
2:00 PM14:00
Women-led Jazz Symposium
The WJO will hold its third annual Women-Led Jazz Symposium in coordination with the Women’s Day Concert 3.0. The Women-Led Jazz Symposium offers an amazing lineup of presenters from whom participants can listen and learn. The sessions include: a keynote by three time Jino-nominated bassist, composer, producer, and educator Jodi Proznick, jazz instrumental and vocal creativity sessions (called ‘You Can Do It!’), and a women in jazz history session (called ‘Jazz Giants’) led by some of Canada’s finest women in jazz. the symposium will be an amazing opportunity for all attendees; students, educators, composters, and jazz enthusiasts! All are welcome!
2:00pm - Keynote
By three-time Juno-nominated bassist, composer, producer, and eudcator Jodi Proznick
3:15pm - You Can Do It! Breakout Sessions
Saxes - Monica Jones
Brass - Kathie Van Lare
Rhythm - Tetyana haraschuk
Vocals - Karly Epp
4:30pm - Jazz Giants Session (with pizza)
with Jeni Taylor
7:10pm - Pre-Concert Performance
Young Women in Jazz Ensemble
Led by Alyssa Alambra
7:30pm - Women’s Day Concert 3.0
W2JO led by Alexis Silver
Doors - 6:30pm
Show - 7:30pm
Tickets
Full Registration (Adults) - $55
Full Registrations (Students) - $40
School Groups - $20/students (min 10)
Concerts + Jazz Giants (Adult) - $50
Concert + Jazz Giants (Students) - $30
Concert Only (Adult) - $42
Concert Only (Students) - $20
Online Only - $20
Online School - $50
Mar
1
8:00 PM20:00
Slow Leaves with Dominique Adams
Slow Leaves’ latest album, Meantime, is about waiting for something momentous to occur in life, and how all the mundane stuff that happens during the wait actually constitutes what is meaningful. If you blink, you miss it; if you think too much, you miss it. If you’re lucky, in the meantime, there’s love and there’s death and not much less. Grant Davidson, the Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada-based artist behind Slow Leaves says: “I see this album as a love letter, a collection of messes that fit neatly within a regular life if there is such a thing. In that sense, I guess these songs serve as a reminder for myself, since I’m forgetful, that all moments are equal in that they pass through us once only in long stretches of boredom or by bursts of love and death. In the meantime, I only hope not to let any more go by unnoticed.”
An elegant earthiness courses through Meantime which features a collection of folk songs adorned with paisley 1960s and 70s touches. While there is a retro sensibility to music, it is offset by an immediacy to the lyrics, setting him firmly in modern times. The lead single, “American Band,” is a quaint and sweet toe-tapping track with a Tom Petty flair for roots-rock impressionism. Its taut, indie-rock groove lends the song a contemporary feel, but its chorus’s lush layers of airy vocals recalls prime 1960s folk-rock. The song speaks to the glittered mythology about being in a band on the road, and here Davidson’s words are scene-setting and heartfelt. He sings: I wanna see the ocean/Tell my baby I’m coming back home instead/I don’t feel good/I want my own sweet, own sweet, bed/I don’t feel so good no more/Roll the window down and turn it around. “At some point on every tour, I feel the weight of an existential pressure to justify why I’m not somewhere else doing something more reasonable,” Davidson says. “I know reality is always grittier than the dream, but like most things worth doing, the allure is in moments that break you just enough to feel saved.”
“Nothing Really Changes,” is breezy country-folk that recalls John Prine’s mastery of making everyday moments feel magical. The song features a simple melody, a barebones structure, and richly expressive singing. One standout stanza reads: Down the road one headlight blind/You reached right over by my side/And crossed over the broken line/Between the heart and the mind. Davidson shares: “This is a song about fleeting time and loneliness, about realizing you’re not as strong as you wanted to be and that sometimes you need another set of hands to keep you held together.” Davidson bares his vulnerability when he sings: I bet the current underwater won’t drag me any farther down/But just for show, reel me back in slowly, I’m hanging from a thread right now.
The reverie of new love and open-window summer nights comes alive on “Grand Marquis.” Here, against a waltz-like groove with chiming guitars and symphonic swells strings, Davidson’s vocals have a breezy flow as he details a poetic fictional account of physical entanglement. One passage reads: The hair on your forearm afield/Light through the crown of a dandelion seed. Amidst twinkling guitars, ultra-hooky folk-rock, and lushly layered vocals, Davidson waxes rhapsodic about nostalgic love on the fictionalized but emotionally resonant “Jenny.” “With this song, I feel like I’m tapping into a sentimental look into the freedom and naiveté of young love,” he reveals. The album closes majestically with the lonesome fingerpicked ballad, “Say Goodnight,” an intimate rumination on love and death. “Say Goodnight” features some of Davidson’s most literate and heartfelt words. He sings: I had a nice time, I had a nice time/That’s what you said when you let me go/Then I drifted off far below/And I closed my eyes.
Slow Leaves is a self-contained solo project with Davidson curating every aspect of the music and its presentation, including being the multi-instrumentalist, producer, cover art designer, photographer, and video director. He views the totality of these various aspects as being essential parts of a larger project of self-understanding through artistic methods. His folk and psych-rock stylings recall older songwriters like Mickey Newbury, Nick Drake, Gene Clark, and Neil Young. But they also live in the world of modern classic writers like Andy Shauf, Bonny “Prince” Billy, Jolie Holland, and Bill Callahan. His voice has been compared to Roy Orbison or Bryan Ferry.
Davidson began playing guitar at age 15, inspired after discovering a Led Zeppelin II cassette tape in his older brother’s room. It was a finger-picked guitar however that would eventually form the heart of his songs. After three shoe-string budget albums under his own name, Davidson debuted as Slow Leaves in 2014 with Beauty Is So Common, followed by Enough About Me (2017), Shelf Life (2020), and Holiday (2021). Meantime comes out on Birthday Cake and Make My Day Records on June 30, 2023.
Feb
13
7:30 PM19:30
The Current: Live in Winnipeg
Matt Galloway will host a special edition of The Current in front of a live audience on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at the West End Cultural Centre in Winnipeg.
The evening will include a musical performance and feature interview with singer-songwriter William Prince; plus, a conversation about the large-scale, Indigenous-led developments that are reshaping the city. We'll also meet the inventor of crokicurl — the new winter sport that is sweeping North America. Finally, we'll dig into Manitoba's unique food culture with a food historian who has been crisscrossing the province gathering recipes, and a Métis chef who is helping to revive Indigenous foodways and inspire a new generation.
Doors - 6:30pm
Show - 7:30pm
Tickets
This event is free, but tickets must be reserved
Feb
10
8:00 PM20:00
Socalled
Socalled
Montreal based Yiddish hip-hop (yes that’s right!) artist Josh ‘Socalled’ Dolgin is an unstoppable creative force: accordion player, pianist, singer, rapper, and composer. His unique blend of klezmer, hiphop, and funk erases boundaries that separate cultures, eras, and generations. Samples of Yiddish classics from a bygone time back lyrics about love and belonging making his surprising music as fun and danceable it is moving and evocative.
Socalled is a Juno nominee, the star of a feature length NFB documentary and has played Carnegie Hall (twice!), The Apollo Theatre and more. He has written a puppet musical and a hip-hop Passover Seder and so much more!
Joining him on stage will be long-time collaborator vocalist Katie Moore, Michale Felber on bass, and Nizo Alimov on Trumpet.
Join us after for knishes and more delicious snacks prepared by Primo’s Deli.
Put a Yid on It! Festival of New Yiddish Culture
The language of our ancestors remains ‘written in our bones’ and is a part of our unconscious lives. It’s hard to imagine that only 80 years ago 11 million people spoke, wrote, sang, and dreamt in this 1000-year-old language! It spanned throughout all Eastern Europe and spread wherever our people travelled. Never the majority language of a nation state but the language of a pan national community of Ashkenazi Jews ‘scattered among the nations’ enriched by and enriching so many other languages and cultures while still carrying its uniqueness with it.
Since WWII Yiddish has become less common, but as any Yiddishist will tell you, the idea that it is dying is wrong (if not complete heresy!). And they are very right.
In this festival we will reach through time and present some of the great works of art - movies, music, and more, - in and inspired by the Yiddish language!
For more information:
https://www.radyjcc.com/put-a-yid-on-it-festival-of-new-yiddish-culture/
Feb
9
8:00 PM20:00
Ikky
This show is presented by Live Nation.
Ever since he broke through with the 2018 single “Diamond”, Canadian producer and composer Ikwinder Singh aka Ikky has been lighting up the charts with his distinct brand of hip–hop, pop and Punjabi music, both at home and through the rest of the world.
The 23-year-old Rexdale, Ontario-based artist has garnered over a billion streams across the globe with such career-defining hits as “Diamond” with Gurnam Bhullar, which has more than 600 million YouTube views until date, and “Baller” with Shubh, which has more than 100 million streams on Spotify alone.
A master of collaboration, Ikky has helmed smashes like “Bambiha Bole” with Amrit Maan and Sidhu Moosewala, and “Chauffeur” with Diljit Dosanjh and Tory Lanez, while his long list of production credits includes releases by most of the major names in the contemporary Punjabi music industry, from Garry Sandhu and Himmat Sandhu to Ammy Virk and Mankirt Aulakh.
In February, Ikky scored his biggest crossover success yet when “52 Bars”, the lead single off his collaborative EP with Karan Aujla Four You debuted in the top 15 of Billboard’s Canadian Hot 100 chart. That same week, the EP landed straight in the top 20 of the publication’s Canadian Albums survey.
Ikky’s tracks have been featured on over 300 playlists to date including Today’s Hits, Punjabi Hits, Future Hits and Breaking Punjabi on Apple Music, and Punjabi 101, Hot Hits Punjabi, Hip Te Hop and Punjabi Swag on Spotify, on which he currently boasts over six million monthly listeners.
“My biggest power right now is bringing people together,” says Ikky who stands out for his ability to combine his international influences of hip-hop, R&B, reggae and pop with rustic Punjabi rhythms to fashion tunes that are a seamless mix of authenticity and experimentation. “When I’m making music, I’m not thinking about it as a Punjabi song,” he says. “I just think of it as a song.”
If there were a way to describe his syncretic sound, it would be “groovy, forward-thinking Punjabi music”. “That's really the best way I can put it,” says Ikky. “To be forward thinking, you’ve got to be from the past, right? With the melodies and the lyrics, I just keep it so desi that the music could be completely different from your standard bhangra rhythms and it’ll sound good.”
Among Ikky’s strengths is his knack of getting artists to move out of their comfort zone, as exemplified on his newest release “On God (Freestyle)” with Bhalwaan. “It was a lot of fun getting to work with Bhalwaan on this track,” says Ikky. “Bhalwaan was really open and honest, in a way I don't think we usually get to see from him. Being able to build a sonic world around what he was going through was an honour.”
While he’s only in his early twenties, Ikky already has over a decade of experience both as a performer and a producer. He thanks his parents for empowering him to forge a career in music, which remains an unconventional choice for most south Asian families.
As children, his brother and he were encouraged by their musician father to hone their innate talent by putting up performances of Punjabi folk songs at community parties. It was for these shows that Ikky decided to try his hand at beat making when he was a mere 12 years old. “I started producing because we didn’t have a band,” he says. “We would play the tracks off a USB and sing over them.”
When he got into high school, his musical interests turned towards hip-hop and reggae. “For some reason, I always had an ear for the beat side of music,” says Ikky, who counts producers Sukshinder Shinda (Jazzy B, Amrinder Gill) and Tru Skool (Karan Aujla), along with Dr. Dre and 40 (Drake), as his core formative influences.
Today, Ikky, who began producing professionally in his teens, is taking that legacy forward through his label 4N (pronounced ‘foreign’) Records and 4N Nights concert event series.
Launched in 2021 in partnership with Warner Music and Coalition Music, 4N Records is a manifestation of Ikky’s mission to “create songs and collaborations that will bridge the gap between India’s exploding music scene and the rest of the world”.
Thus far, 4N Records’s slate of releases have included “80 90” with Ikky’s mentors Amrit Maan and Garry Sandhu; the EP Say My Name with rising singer/rapper NseeB; a remake of the Bill Withers classic “Ain’t No Sunshine” with Himmat Sandhu and Preston Pablo that was put out as a Spotify single; “She's The One” with late legend Soni Pabla; and the Latin-flavoured “Hello Hello Hola” with Garry Sandhu, MC Devo and Las Villa. They’re each a gleaming example of the forward-thinking Punjabi music that Ikky has pioneered.
The 4N Nights bhangra and hip-hop concerts/parties, organised in partnership with Live Nation, kicked off at The Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver in January. The series is an extension of his constant endeavour to showcase South Asian talent, which has historically been under-represented both on the charts and on the live stage.
“I really just want to make sure that once the door opens for Punjabi music worldwide, it will flood the gates,” says Ikky. By all estimates, 2023 is the year for taking India to the world. And Ikky, who is currently working on an EP as a lead artist, will be at the forefront of that imminent moment.
Feb
2
8:00 PM20:00
Hotel Mira with special guest Fake Shark
Following their recent string of chart singles, Hotel Mira — the venerable West Coast quartet steered by frontman/songwriter Charlie Kerr — have returned with their first full-length release in over three years, I Am Not Myself. Their hip-swerving, passionately pop-contorting contemplation of identity sees release September 8 through longtime label Light Organ Records.
A lot has changed since the early 2020 release of Hotel Mira’s breakthrough release, Perfectionism. That album’s finely honed and honest on mental health and personal struggles took the band on their biggest tours yet, building a passionate fandom across North America. As Hotel Mira’s profile grew, vocalist Kerr was undergoing a time of transformation himself, writing the bulk of I Am Not Myself while traveling between Vancouver and his now adopted-home of Los Angeles. While Kerr admits his anxieties over the move bled into his lyrics, he soon realized I Am Not Myself’s mix of autobiography and tragi-comic character portraits likewise reflected a profound loss of self.
“I kept going back to the same word, which was ‘Identity,’” he says of the connective threads running through the album’s 12 tracks, further suggesting that I Am Not Myself — its title a key line from “Dancing With the Moonlight” — takes place within various points of an identity crisis. Sometimes, that means breaking free from the social constructs others impose on you (“Eventually”); other times it means gleefully — perhaps even chaotically — lobotomizing yourself while in the throes of young love (“Fever Pitch”, “King of the World”); other times, it means digging for truths through the blurriness of all-night party (“Dancing With the Moonlight”). “Drugs and alcohol come up a lot,” Kerr suggests of the latter. “You know, sex, fame, and all of that feels tied to this idea: ‘What am I getting away from by diving into all of this so deeply?’”
What’s sure is that Hotel Mira are as vulnerable as ever, and ready to share that rawness with others who may be facing these same challenges. “We set out with the idea of making anthems for aliens — really, really catchy pop songs for outcasted people,” Kerr explains of the album’s varied, but nonetheless anthemic tunes, which come tailor-made for “people to scream together.”
Hotel Mira have already tested this theory out to great success over the past year, preceding I Am Not Myself with single releases for “Fever Pitch” (#6 on the Mediabase Can-Alternative radio chart), “Eventually”, “Dancing With the Moonlight” (#13 on the Mediabase Can-Alternative radio chart), “Mama” and “Everything Once”. While building off the sharp, pop-rock hooks Perfectionism, Hotel Mira are likewise exploring their widest set of sounds yet, vaulting from neon-trashy garage rock, to festival-sized pop hooks, glam-bop balladry, and tropi-goth workouts.
Through it all, Kerr and co. are working with an increasingly raw and determined sensitivity. On I Am Not Myself’s closing “Age of Detachment,” the vocalist distills the album’s themes of love, loss, identity, and the embracing of community with a heart-pounding pledge: “I want to take off the armour.” In I Am Not Myself, Hotel Mira have found the profound pathway to connect it all.
“I think that there is value to expressing unsavory things about oneself, and peeling away shame,” Kerr confesses. “If this music has a purpose, I think it’s to show people how engulfed by shame we are, and how universal that is to the human experience. By pinpointing my own, hopefully people are more forgiving of theirs.”
I Am Not Myself was recorded in various studios across British Columbia alongside producers Adam Kasper (Nirvana, Foo Fighters), Ryan Worsley (Fake Shark), Steve Bays (Fur Trade, Hot Hot Heat), Parker Bossley (Fur Trade), Louise Burns, James Younger and more.
Hotel Mira are Charlie Kerr (vocals), Clark Grieve (guitar), Mike Noble (bass), and Cole George (drums).
Feb
1
8:00 PM20:00
Roman Clarke ***SOLD OUT***
This show is presented by the Real Love Winnipeg. For more information, please visit their website at www.reallovewpg.com
Jan
28
8:00 PM20:00
WINTERRUPTION 2024 - Making Movies w/ El Leon & The Strangers
Siembra y llegará. As Making Movies delivers its fourth album, XOPA, the Kansas City band proves true the maxim which, in English, is like an encouraging version of “reap what you sow.” Meant to inspire its recipient to push forward, the phrase is chanted on the LP’s multi-movement epic, “La Primera Radio” — but it’s exemplary, too, of Making Movies’ musical odyssey.
This is a band that makes American music with an asterisk: because Making Movies’ sound encompasses the entirety of the Americas, not solely the country inarguably centered in mainstream everything. It’s through this broader perspective that Making Movies crunches classic rock into Latin American rhythms — African-derived percussion and styles like rumba, merengue, mambo and cumbia — in a way that feels oddly familiar, yet delivers the invigorating chills of hearing something singularly special.
Each member — Enrique Chi, vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter; his brother Diego Chi, bassist and experimental vocalist; percussionist Juan-Carlos Chaurand; and Duncan Burnett, newly incorporated into the band on drums — is enthusiastically committed to music history, to uncovering connections between genres and cultures both their own and otherwise. They’re all lifelong musicians too, hailing from disparate yet similar backgrounds — parents that cherished music, fathers that kickstarted cultural movements, families in which gospel is critical to their very existence.
“The goal is to create music that includes every bit of our individual identities,” Enrique says. “Music is our way to find a deeper understanding of our own stories. It’s a healing of sorts.”
But none of this earned understanding precludes the group’s perpetual evolving. Enrique Chi, lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, is compelled to share knowledge, but like any sincere historian, though, he also listens. It’s impossible to know everything; in musical lore and its future there is still so much yet to be uncovered.
The band’s collective yearning for exploration has attracted a nexus of connections, many of them legendary players, like Steve Berlin of iconic rock band Los Lobos, a recurring collaborator and steadfast champion of the band. An approach from beloved Panamanian musician Rubén Blades led to joint songs like “No te Calles'' and “Cómo Perdonar.” Making Movies has also created with indie-folk band Hurray for the Riff Raff, trumpeter Asdru Sierra of Ozomatli, Puerto Rican salsero Frankie Negrón, and all-female mariachi group Flor de Toloache. On the heels of Making Movies’ 2019 album ameri’kana, the band worked on an eponymous documentary series, through which they connected with the legendary organist Reverend Charles Hodges, an soul music pioneer who played alongside Al Green, and fellow Memphis, Tennessee, musicians the Sensational Barnes Brothers.
Making Movies creates music that is undoubtedly pedagogical, yet inarguably kinetic. And their live shows, despite the precision with which they perform, are not lacking in dynamism. Every time they perform, they are wholly present, feeling every original groove with the same rush of as when they first found it.
Jan
28
2:00 PM14:00
WINTERRUPTION 2024 - French Class w/ Bicycle Face and Octopus Tea
French Class is an electronic dance pop project led by Megumi Kimata, a beat maker based in Winnipeg. A festival favourite, French Class makes you want to put on fresh sneakers, grab your friends and get on the dance floor. Megumi works in collaboration with Tiana Garcia on vocals. Their new single “Dance!” is out now!
Jan
27
9:00 PM21:00
WINTERRUPTION 2024 - Waahli with Nappy and Drezden
This event takes place at the Bulldog Event Centre at 1374 Main Street.
Waahli is a Montreal artist born of Haitian parents. Raised in a family where music is omnipresent, he is immersed by the traditional Haitian melodies with artists such as Tabou Combo, Coupé Cloué or Manno Charlemagne. He learned to play the guitar on his own. In spite of a great influence of Haitian music, it is with Hip-Hop that he develops his own style.
In 2004, Waahli co-founded Nomadic Massive, a mythical hip hop group in Montreal. Still active, the group has just completed a new EP recorded during a tour in South America. At the same time, Waahli felt the need to develop a solo project. In 2018, he released his very first album ”Black Soap” followed in 2020 by the EP ”Soap Opera”.
Performed in English, French and Haitian Creole, these songs are a fusion of catchy rhythms at the crossroads of rap and Afro-beat and are a true tribute to Haitian culture.
On September 30, 2022, Waahli returned with “Soap Box”, a reflection of his newfound intimacy during his confinement. He signs an even more personal and committed album, paying a vibrant tribute to his Haitian roots. The 11 tracks, co-produced with Boogat & Lou Piensa from Nomadic Massive are an amalgam of instrumentals, live vocals and percussion influenced by Haitian and African sounds. The opening song “Machann” is a subtle and moving mix of traditional Haitian songs combined with Waahli’s incisive tone.
With “Soap Box”, he collaborates with Clerel on an upbeat and danceable track in which he salutes his Afro-descendant heritage.
The song “Te revoir” created with the complicity of the singer Malika Tirolien is a heady love ode, ranked for several weeks among the 50 most listened to tracks on CBC Music. Also, Waahli is an organic soap maker!
With its ancestral rhythms and his sharp words, Waahli’s innovative hip-hop takes us to the four corners of the world.
Nappy, originally hailing from Winnipeg started making music when he was 10 with one of his biggest influences be local rap hero Pip Skid. Facing life’s hardships he grew up at a local boys an girls club and aims to show everyone he grew up with in the inner city that “no matter what you’ve been threw in life you can evolve an achieve anything you set your mind to!”
Drezden is an aspiring Hip-Hop artist...
He is as talented as he is strange.
often referring to himself as "Different"
He's worked with many acts and has toured the US, and Canada.
Is currently under Universal Music.
He is unique as he is talented!
Jan
27
8:00 PM20:00
WINTERRUPTION 2024 - Sunny War
“…her right thumb plunks the bass part while her forefinger upstrokes notes and chords, leaving the other three fingers unused. A banjo technique, it’s also used by acoustic blues guitarists. Her fingers are long and strong – Robert Johnson hands – in jarring contrast to the waif they’re attached to. The walking bass line sounds like a hammer striking piano keys in perfect meter, while the fills are dynamic flurries – like cluster bombs. I haven’t heard a young guitarist this dexterous and ass-kicking in eons.” - Michael Simmons, L.A Weekly
“I feel like there are two sides of me,” says the Nashville-based singer-songwriter and guitar virtuoso known as Sunny War. “One of them is very self-destructive, and the other is trying to work with that other half to keep things balanced.” That’s the central conflict on her fourth album, the eclectic and innovative Anarchist Gospel, which documents a time when it looked like the self-destructive side might win out. “Everybody is a beast just tryin g their hardest to be good. That’s what it is to be human. You’re not really good or bad. You’re just trying to stay in the middle of those two things all the time, and you’re probably doing a shitty job of it. That’s okay, because we’re all just monsters.”
Extreme emotions can make that battle all the more perilous, yet from such trials Sunny has crafted a set of songs that draw on a range of ideas and styles, as though she’s marshaling all her forces to get her ideas across: ecstatic gospel, dusty country blues, thoughtful folk, rip-roaring rock and roll, even avant garde studio experiments (like the collage of voices that closes “Shelter and Storm”). She melds them together into a powerful statement of survival, revealing a probing songwriter who indulges no comforting platitudes and a highly innovative guitarist who deploys spidery riffs throughout every song.
It's a style she’s been honing for most of her life, at least since she took her first guitar lessons and fell in love with music. “When I was a kid, I was obsessed with AC/DC, and I loved dramatic ‘80s guitar bands like Motley Crüe. Later, I was obsessed with Bad Brains, the Minutemen, and X.” True to the punk ethos, her first punk band, the Anus Kings, made music with whatever they had at hand, and what they had at hand were acoustic guitars. That made them stand out among other Los Angeles groups at the time, and today Sunny is the rare roots artist who covers Ween and can drop a Crass reference into a song (as she does on “Whole”). “I don’t really make music with a traditional roots audience in mind. I like weird music, outsider music, like Daniel Johnston and Roky Erickson.”
Even as she was developing a guitar style that married acoustic punk to country blues, those two sides of Sunny were already at odds. As a teenager, she began drinking heavily, which led to her dropping out of school. She played punk shows, stole and chugged bottles of vodka, and quickly became addicted to heroin and meth. For money she busked along the boardwalks in Venice Beach, recording an album to sell out of her guitar case and letting that self-destructive side win most of the battles. But “the body can’t handle both heroin and meth,” she explains. “When you’re young, it’s hard to gauge that you’re killing yourself.” A series of seizures landed her in a sober living facility in Compton, so emaciated that she could only wear children’s pajamas.
Music remained a lifeline, and she fell in with a crew at Hen House Studios in Venice, where over the years she made a series of albums and EPs, including 2018’s With the Sun and 2021’s Simple Syrup. Twelve years after she kicked meth and heroin, Sunny is remarkably candid about this time in her life. “Everyone I loved died before they reached 25. They OD’ed or killed themselves. We were just kids who didn’t have anyone looking out for us. You’re not supposed to know so much about death at such a young age. Maybe that’s why I write a lot about not taking shit for granted, because it always feels like something’s about to happen.”
Building on those hard-won triumphs of previous albums, Anarchist Gospel documents a moment when Sunny had finally gained the upper hand on her self-destructive side, only to watch that stability crumble. “I went through a breakup,” she says of the album’s genesis, “and I was still staying in the apartment that my partner and I had lived in. I had to finish the lease. I was really depressed and drinking a lot. I felt so isolated from everybody I knew. I didn’t have the energy to do anything. It felt like the world was ending. Then I got Covid.” Sunny admits she contemplated suicide, but instead she wrote a song, “I Got No Fight,” a muted, measured gospel number on which she sings that title like a battered mantra. It’s a moment of almost unbearable honesty, although fortunately she did find the fight in herself. “I was just having a tantrum really. A lot of my songs are just tantrums. But I did feel better after writing it.”
Once her lease in Los Angeles ended, Sunny moved to Nashville, where she was born and where she lived until she was twelve years old. Among the items she packed were demos for several new songs of heartache and hard-won hope. “I think the album is split between being a breakup album and being somehow uplifting.” She booked sessions at the Bomb Shelter to work with producer Andrija Tokic (Hurray for the Riff Raff, Alabama Shakes, the Deslondes). “I already liked a lot of the records that Andrija had made. As far as new stuff goes, a lot of my favorite albums were produced by him, so I thought we’d be a good match.”
Working with a small backing band, they captured a raw energy in these songs, although one instrument gradually dominated the music as they proceeded: her own voice and the voices of others trying to stay between good and bad. Most of these songs are call-and-responses with a small choir that includes Allison Russell, Jim James, Dave Rawlings, and Chris Pierce (her partner in the duo War & Pierce). Acting as the angels and devils on her shoulders, they alternately challenge her self-accusations or sympathize with her worries. “There’s so much singing on here. I didn’t plan for that, but I really like it. That’s why I thought it would be cool to call the album Anarchist Gospel, because of the choirs on these songs.”
Music assuaged her heartache and confusion, even the songs she didn’t write. Despite its title, her reimagining of Dionne Farris’s “Hopeless” is perhaps the album’s most hopeful moment: “I cried just a little too long,” she sings. “Now it’s time for me to move on.” On the sadder end of the spectrum is her cover of Ween’s “Baby Bitch”; showcasing her sly sense of humor, it’s a playfully melancholy kiss-off that features a choir of kids singing along as she tells an ex, “I’m better now, please fuck off.” It’s funny, but uneasily so: a joke that reveals something bleaker. “It’s such a great breakup song! You’re out there somewhere and run into your ex with their new partner. But you know who they really are. You know they’re being a bitch. There aren’t many songs that get to that kind of experience without turning it into a joke.”
As the sessions wound down and the mixing process started, Sunny got the worst news imaginable. “My brother called me and told me I should come to Chattanooga. My dad was in the hospital, and he wasn’t going to make it. I called Andrija and told him I had to cancel the session and catch a Greyhound. Instead, he insisted on giving me a ride. He drove me down to see my dad. I barely knew this guy, and he was doing this incredible thing for me. I don’t know too many other producers who could navigate that kind of situation.” That simple act of kindness helped her endure that astounding loss, even as the grieving process threw these songs into even sharper relief.
Because it promises not healing but resilience and perseverance, because it doesn’t take shit for granted, Anarchist Gospel holds up under such intense emotional pressure, acknowledging the pain of living while searching for something that lies just beyond ourselves, some sense of balance between the bad and the good. “This album represents such a crazy period in my life, between the breakup and the move to Nashville and my dad dying. But now I feel like the worst parts are over. What I learned, I think, is that the best thing to do is just to feel everything and deal with it. Just feel everything.”
Jan
27
5:00 PM17:00
WINTERRUPTION 2024 - Winnipeg Round Dance
This event is presented by the sakihiwe Festival and takes place at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
5:00pm - Pipe Ceremony
6:00pm - Feast
7:00pm - Singing Begins
10:00pm - Giveaways & Acknowledgements
Tickets
FREE
Jan
26
8:30 PM20:30
WINTERRUPTION 2024 - Show Pony with Heavy Visions and Bloc Parents
This event takes places at Times Change[d] High & Lonesome Club
Born from a deep desire for connection and understanding amidst a world of chaos, Show Pony is the dreamy, alt-country love-child of members from Winnipeg’s rock scene. Show Pony draws from their familiar punk-rock and indie influences and merges them with a respect for country sensibilities. Galvanized by the universal truths of classic country storytelling, the band takes a Loretta Lynn approach to songwriting. a marriage between blunt and honest lyricism, punchy sing-along choruses and captivating melodies. Fresh the release of their slinky cowpunk single Rising Sun (April 15th, 2022), Show Pony plan on touring consistenly and hope to be indie-rock’s gateway into country music.