Access Winnipeg

Johnny Cash 90th Birthday Bash
2022-02-26 21:00 - 2022-02-27 00:00 (America/Winnipeg) | Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club, 234 Main St., Winnipeg, MB, R3C1A8, Canada
Celebrating the Man in Black’s 90th Birthday with Andrew Neville and the Poor Choices, Bobby Dove and Dan Russell.

JD Edwards Band
2022-02-25 21:00 - 23:59 | Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club, 234 Main St., Winnipeg, MB, R3C1A8, Canada
Winnipeg’s favourite rock, roots and soul party band!

Paige Drobot, Holy Void, Johnny Sizzle
2022-02-24 21:00 - 2022-02-25 00:00 | Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club, 234 Main St., Winnipeg, MB, R3C1A8, Canada
Paige Drobot, Holy Void, Johnny Sizzle!

Garrett Mason and Keith Hallett
2022-02-18 21:00 - 2022-02-19 11:59 | Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club, 234 Main St., Winnipeg, MB, R3C1A8, Canada
Garrett Mason and Keith Hallett are guitar players from the East Coast of Canada.

The Chris Ghidoni Band w/ Chris Carmichael
2022-02-18 21:00 - 2022-02-19 00:00 | MB
Playing the blues, classic rock and a little bit of R&B

The Chris Ghidoni Band w/ Chris Carmichael opening
Friday, February 18th, 2022
Doors 8:30 PM | Show 9 PM
Tickets $17.50 plus fees in advance
You may have seen them at Woman in Blues, or caught Chris guitar playing and sweet voice on the internet, but you will not want to miss this opportunity to catch them live in a headlining set at the Park Theatre

This show is a mostly seated event, with some limted standing/dnacing tickets at a reduced rate.

Classe de danse LA CUILLÈRE, PODORYTHMIE - Préparez-vous pour le Festival !
2022-02-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain, 340 Provencher Blvd, WInnipeg, MB, R2H 0G7, Canada
Apprenez la base des danses traditionnelles canadiennes-françaises dans un environnement décontracté. Session3 – CUILLÈRES ET PODORYTHMIE!

– BILLETS ÉGALEMENT DISPONIBLES À LA PORTE!
Vous avez envie d’apprendre les bases de la danse canadienne-française pour bien danser au Festival? On vous propose de vous initier lors de trois sessions de danse qui vont démystifier la danse et la gigue canadienne-française.
3-(16 FÉVRIER) Les cuillères et la podorythmie: La podorythmie et les cuillères sont des éléments clés de la musique traditionnelle québécoise et canadienne-française. Apprenez les techniques de base pour pouvoir bien accompagner les musiciens lors d’une session de jam ou d’un spectacle du Festival.
Artiste: Myriam Leclercq.
Passionnée par la danse et le folklore, Myriam Leclercq est une danseuse/chorégraphe de gigue et de danse canadienne-française.
Membre de l’Ensemble folklorique de la Rivière-Rouge (EFRR) depuis 2003, Myriam a pu participer comme danseuse à plusieurs activités et festivals tels que le Festival du Voyageur et Folklorama. Aujourd’hui, Myriam occupe les fonctions de directrice artistique, répétitrice, chorégraphe et interprète au sein de la Troupe adulte de l’EFRR.
De plus, depuis plus de 12 ans, elle enseigne et anime des ateliers de gigue et de danse traditionnelle un peu partout au Manitoba et au Canada, pour partager et transmettre à toutes et à tous la joie de vivre canadienne-française.
Mesures COVID: Merci de porter un masque, de vous munir de votre preuve de vaccination ainsi que votre carte d’identité pour les montrer à l’entrée.

JP Saxe - The Feelings are Stupid '21 Tour
2022-02-14 20:00 - 23:00 | MB
Park Theatre Presents – JP Saxe – The Feelings are Stupid ’21 Tour

JP Saxe – The Feelings are Stupid ’21 Tour
Monday, February 14th, 2021
Doors 7 pm | Show 8 pm
$25 plus fees advance

JP Saxe - The Feelings are Stupid '21 Tour
2022-02-14 20:00 - 23:00 | The Park Theatre, 698 Osborne Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3L 2B9, Canada

Let's Get Mad! Drinking Through The 60's
2022-02-06 19:00 - 22:00 | The Park Theatre, 698 Osborne Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3L 2B9, Canada
a Groovy 60’s Mod Cocktail Party, with all your 60’s Part Tunes, presented by Makers Mark

Sunday, January 6th, 2022
The Park Theatre and Makers Mark Presents
Let’s Get Mad!
Drinking Through the ’60s

A little bit Mad Men, a Little Bit Mod Squad a whole lot of fun. Come join us for a night of groovy tunes, amazing drinks, appetizers, and a true 60’s social engagement.
Each ticket includes, appetizers, 2 – 60’s era cocktails (Old Fashioned and a Manhatten), DJ Dad spinning out your favourite groovy 60’s tunes, cocktail demonstrations, and a night of fun socializing and dancing.
Tickets $59 in advance, limited tickets, fully seated event.
Dressing up in your favourite 60’s garb is highly encouraged, and rewarded!

It's Not A Phase II: Warped Tour Cover Night 2: Pop Punk/Emo Edition
2022-02-05 21:00 - 2022-02-06 00:00 | MB
Night 2/2: Pop Punk Night

Night 2/2: Pop Punk Night featuring Lowlife, Shortstop, Memorial Brigade, The Brotherhood, A Grizzly Fate, and more covering:
The Wonder Years
State Champs
The Story So Far
Fall Out Boy
Modern Baseball
Event shot by Hold Fast Photography
Advance tickets: $15 each or $25 for BOTH nights!
$20 at the door.
Night 1 and 2 Day Passes can be found here https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/its-not-a-phase-ii-warped-tour-cover-night-1-metalcore-edition-tickets-211788333607

It's Not A Phase II: Warped Tour Cover Night 1: Metalcore Edition
2022-02-04 21:00 - 2022-02-05 00:00 | MB
Night 1/2: Metalcore Night

Night 1/2: Metalcore Night featuring locals from Planeshifter, Murder Capital, Epirus, Perlocution and more covering:
August Burns Red
The Ghost Inside
Bullet For My Valentine
Knocked Loose
Beartooth
Event shot by Hold Fast Photography
Advance tickets: $15 each or $25 for BOTH nights!
$20 at the door.
Night 2 tickets can be found here https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/its-not-a-phase-ii-warped-tour-cover-night-2-pop-punkemo-edition-tickets-211785013677

Classe de danse LA GIGUE - Préparez-vous pour le Festival !
2022-02-02 18:00 - 19:00 | Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain, 340 Provencher Blvd, WInnipeg, MB, R2H 0G7, Canada
Apprenez la base des danses traditionnelles canadiennes-françaises dans un environnement décontracté. Session2 – LA GIGUE!

-BILLETS ÉGALEMENT DISPONIBLES À LA PORTE!
Vous avez envie d’apprendre les bases de la danse canadienne-française pour bien danser au Festival? On vous propose de vous initier lors de trois sessions de danse qui vont démystifier la danse et la gigue canadienne-française.
2-(2 FÉVRIER) La Gigue: Qu’est-ce que la gigue? Explorez les divers rythmes et mouvements de pied qui constituent les éléments de base de la gigue canadienne-française ainsi que de la gigue métisse et irlandaise.
3-(16 FÉVRIER) Les cuillères et la podorythmie: La podorythmie et les cuillères sont des éléments clés de la musique traditionnelle québécoise et canadienne-française. Apprenez les techniques de base pour pouvoir bien accompagner les musiciens lors d’une session de jam ou d’un spectacle du Festival.
Artiste: Myriam Leclercq.
Passionnée par la danse et le folklore, Myriam Leclercq est une danseuse/chorégraphe de gigue et de danse canadienne-française.
Membre de l’Ensemble folklorique de la Rivière-Rouge (EFRR) depuis 2003, Myriam a pu participer comme danseuse à plusieurs activités et festivals tels que le Festival du Voyageur et Folklorama. Aujourd’hui, Myriam occupe les fonctions de directrice artistique, répétitrice, chorégraphe et interprète au sein de la Troupe adulte de l’EFRR.
De plus, depuis plus de 12 ans, elle enseigne et anime des ateliers de gigue et de danse traditionnelle un peu partout au Manitoba et au Canada, pour partager et transmettre à toutes et à tous la joie de vivre canadienne-française.
Mesures COVID: Merci de porter un masque, de vous munir de votre preuve de vaccination ainsi que votre carte d’identité pour les montrer à l’entrée.

WINTERRUPTION - Alex Maher / Ila Barker / Vsuvius
2022-01-30 21:00 - 23:59 | X-Cues Billiards, 551 Sargent Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 1W4, Canada
WINTERRUPTION – Alex Maher / Ila Barker / Vsuvius – Sunday, January 30, 2022 at X-Cues Cafe & Lounge

Alex Maher
Alex’s music is a masterclass in instrumentation. Fusing jazz chops with classic soul influences, funk, and electro-pop, his songwriting explores human connection in the Anthropocene.
A Filipino-Canadian multi-instrumentalist and loop artist, Alex’s solo performances showcase his musical instincts. Layer by layer, he performs percussion, electric guitar, soulful vocals, keys, synth, SPDS drum pad and alto sax. With lush layers, complex harmonies, and a driving rhythm, his music will make you move.
Based in western Canada, Alex has had a varied career both as a solo performer and a band member (DNA6, Flannel Jimmy). He’s opened for the likes of Weezer, Wide Mouth Mason, Bachman Cummings, Mother Mother, Sam Roberts, Robert Randolph, Shred Kelly, Begonia, Royal Canoe, and The Proclaimers, and played alongside performers like Tonye Aganaba, Kyprios, Daniel Wesley and Vince Vaccaro.
The seasoned professional has toured Canada and the U.S. and his music has been featured in shows like Roadtrip Nation and The Collector. February 2020 saw the arrival of Alex’s second EP, Dream Final.
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Ila Barker
With soul and voice as smooth as warm honey, singer songwriter Ila Barker captures audiences with her sweet melodies and dynamic presence. Ila is of mixed Anishinaabe and settler heritage with roots running deep in the Manitoban prairies, seasoning her craft with rich history and powerful textures.
Coming from a long line of storytellers, she fuses authentic and timeless notes creating moments of serenity and blissful escape. Ila has brought her craft to an array of national festivals and stages including the Regina Folk Festival, the Winnipeg Folk Festival and the sākihiwē festival. In the summer of 2019 Ila opened up a sold out show for Jeremy Dutcher at the Indian River Festival in PEI.
In February of 2020 Ila released the “Let Go” single, an atmospheric and stripped down collaboration with UK based artist Milan André that was recorded off the floor in one take in
the northern Cree nation of Nemaska, Quebec. “Let Go” landed on the National Indigenous Music Countdown, and climbed up the charts for three months straight hitting the top 15. Currently Ila is in the planning stages of future releases. Ila has been songwriting and sharing her stories for over 10 years now. In 2011 she was awarded first place in the NCI Jam for her original song “The Tree Song”. In 2013 Ila released her debut self-titled EP which continues to be heard on radio and satellite stations across North America. Her songs “Home” and “Complete” charted on the Indigenous Music Countdown and both hit the #1 spot quickly. Having started her career organically, Ila keeps roots in the community by offering and participating in artistic and professional development workshops and local art initiatives. Currently Ila is sitting on the Manitoba Music Indigenous Music Steering Committee and the FACTOR Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She created and facilitates a nationally- funded local music workshop program called AIRsessions, which primarily hires local Indigenous artists, and delivers mentorship to youth ages 13-25. During the school year she works with Indigenous youth in Cree communities in northern Quebec, teaching songwriting and music production.
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Vsuvius
Your friendly neighbourhood dynamic range production & DJ duo comprised of members V + S and based out of Treaty No. 1 Land aka Winnipeg, MB.
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COVID-19 Protocols
The West End Cultural Centre believes a healthy community is at the heart of everything we do. In accordance with the Manitoba Government and Manitoba Health protocols –

All performers, crew, staff, volunteers, and patrons must show proof of vaccination and photo ID before they can enter the venue.
Face masks are required on all WECC premises. Please wear your mask when not seated at a table and/or when not drinking or eating.

These practices are meant to keep all of us safe to enjoy all the art and music that Winnipeg has to offer.

WINTERRUPTION 2022 - Vagina Witchcraft / DJ Kilusan / The Rules
2022-01-29 22:00 - 2022-01-30 23:59 | Handsome Daughter, 61 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 2B3, Canada
WINTERRUPTION 2022 – Vagina Witchcraft / DJ Kilusan / The Rules at The Handsome Daughter – Saturday, January 29th

Vagina Witchcraft
Fronted by nonbinary poet & activist Kayla Fernandes, Vagina Witchcraft dives headfirst into deeply personal topics concerning mental health, depression, heartbreak & anger. The 4-piece doom metal-hardcore band from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, draws influence from classics like Black Sabbath combined with the sheer, combative energy of hardcore punk.
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DJ Kilusan
Maribeth Tabanera aka Kilusan is a Filipinx Tagalog Visayan queer femme interdisciplinary artist and educator born & based on Treaty One Territory (Winnipeg). Kilusan has spent their lifetime training in a variety of dance styles including b-girling, hip hop, house, vogue, waacking, dancehall and afrobeat. Their music collection is filled with their favourite funk, soul, jazz, rock, disco, hip hop, house, latin, dancehall, afro-beats, and filipino classics.
A graduate from Mama Cutsworth’s DJ Academy for All Women and Non-Binary Folks, they have been playing their favourite tracks at events all over Winnipeg since 2017. Kilusan has DJed with Queer People of Colour Winnipeg, Synonym Art Consultation, DJ Bles-sed in Montreal, Bastid’s BBQ, and most recently, virtually with Kay Gee and Vin Rock of Naughty By Nature at the Big Picture Learning Big Summer Fest.
Kilusan strives to create an inclusive and inviting atmosphere that inspires all party-goers to live life with light and love.
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The Rules
The Rules are a three piece punk rock band from Winnipeg, Canada. Established in 2017, the band includes Kim (vocals/guitar), Karla (bass), and Johanna (drums). The Rules recorded their five song EP in July 2018 at Private Ear Recording in Winnipeg with producer John Paul Peters. The first single off the EP, “Ghost Girls”, was released October 30th, 2018 on Bandcamp.com. The band recently opened for California hardcore punk band Death By Stereo, as part of the two day punk rock SOS Fest at The Park Theatre.
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COVID-19 Protocols
The West End Cultural Centre believes a healthy community is at the heart of everything we do. In accordance with the Manitoba Government and Manitoba Health protocols –

All performers, crew, staff, volunteers, and patrons must show proof of vaccination and photo ID before they can enter the venue.
Face masks are required on all WECC premises. Please wear your mask when not seated at a table and/or when not drinking or eating.

These practices are meant to keep all of us safe to enjoy all the art and music that Winnipeg has to offer.

WINTERRUPTION - The Noble Thiefs / Joe Curtis / Prairie Joggers
2022-01-29 21:00 - 2022-01-30 00:00 | X-Cues Billiards, 551 Sargent Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 1W4, Canada
Winterruption 2022 – The Noble Thiefs / Joe Curtis / Prairie Joggers – Saturday, January 29, 2022 at X-Cues Cafe & Lounge

The Noble Thiefs
Drawing from early punk and all eras of soul music, The Noble Thiefs have cut their teeth on international festival stages for over a decade. The veteran group has created a sound that’s all their own and ever evolving.
The group’s latest hip-hop-influenced release, Superglue, will take you back to the era of music videos on the TV. Its patchwork samples and boom-bap beat shed a beacon of light on a cold, dark world. A true DIY effort, the self-produced song and video reflect a band owning the whole creative process and doing it their damn selves.
The Noble Thiefs have toured extensively over the years, playing everywhere from New Orleans and NYC to London, England. Festivals like Milwaukee Summerfest, Liverpool SoundCity and FOCUS Wales have helped them build an audience abroad. Local festivals and club gigs have made them hometown heroes in their beloved Winnipeg, Manitoba.
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Joe Curtis
Joe’s music has been warmly described as an intimate and compelling blend of roots, rock, folk, pop, and blues. He creates a space filled with musical moments that borrow from the past, but live in the present. Songs carried by powerful melodies and his soulful voice. Whether playing a house concert or packed club, his shows take listeners from reflective moments to soulful searing blues and R&B, all delivered with the passion to raise people out of their seats.
In addition to working regularly playing his music around his hometown of Winnipeg, Joe is also frequently sought out for live and studio session work.
An important part of Joe’s life is his work investing time in his musical community. One example, is his 10 year plus relationship teaching and mentoring youth in programs at Broadway Neighbourhood Centre in Winnipeg. He is also a founding member of Winnipeg’s Prairie Soul Collective of Afro/Canadian musicians.
Always working, you can catch Joe either solo or with his band playing regularly around Winnipeg. In addition to his ongoing work supporting many musical projects around Winnipeg, Joe is also working on his debut release.
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Prairie Joggers
As founding members of local blues-rock group Odder than the Otters, Goertzen (vocals, guitar) and Hill (drums) have played on stages across Manitoba, including Festival Du Voyageur and Rockin’ the Fields of Minnedosa. Their debut single, “Hola Luna”, was listed on the top 50 songs chosen by judges/panelists for 2018’s CBC Searchlight Competition.
Goertzen and Hill return to their roots with The Prairie Joggers, the next step in a song writing partnership that has developed through garage bands, coastal beach towns, countless bars and riverside rendezvous. Released November 2019, the duo’s first single, “Moments Happen”, is a raw and energetic first step back into the music scene, a preface for the release of their debut EP.
Recorded by Micah Erenberg at Mustard House Studios, The Prairie Joggers debut EP combines down and out barroom blues with beachy daydreams. Blending easy listening melodies with warm drum tones, raw acoustics and tremolo leads (performed by Erenberg himself), the release acts as an overview for the duos range in mood and style. The self titled EP is now available on all streaming services.
Since their spring release in 2020, the duo has kept busy experimenting with grittier tones, writing new songs and refining their inhouse recording and production. They eagerly await the day they can start booking shows, tours & anything else that gets them out of the house & back on the road.
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Covid-19 Protocols
The West End Cultural Centre believes a healthy community is at the heart of everything we do. In accordance with the Manitoba Government and Manitoba Health protocols –

All performers, crew, staff, volunteers, and patrons must show proof of vaccination and photo ID before they can enter the venue.
Face masks are required on all WECC premises. Please wear your mask when not seated at a table and/or when not drinking or eating.

These practices are meant to keep all of us safe to enjoy all the art and music that Winnipeg has to offer.

WINTERRUPTION - Andino Suns / Dr. Henry / El Leon & The Strangers
2022-01-28 21:00 - 2022-01-29 00:00 | X-Cues Billiards, 551 Sargent Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 1W4, Canada
Winterruption 2022 – Andino Suns / Dr. Henry / El Leon & The Strangers – Friday, January 28, 2022 at X-Cues Cafe & Lounge

Andino Suns
Andino Suns grew out of the desire for Andrés Davalos to recreate the music he’d grown up listening to at home. His parents were exiled to Canada when a fascist dictatorship took over their homeland, Chile, in the early 70s. Though they found peace in Canada, Andrés’ parents missed terribly the way of life from which they had been violently uprooted. They continued to surround themselves with their Chilean culture, passing it down to their children through stories, traditional Andean music and folk dances, and media. It’s no surprise then that a worldview of political activism, hope, and love, underpins the music of Andino Suns.
The folkloric music of his childhood marked Andrés indelibly, and by 2009 he had written a handful of Spanish songs with traditional Andean influences. He recruited his friend, Andrés Palma, also a son of Chilean exiles who were similarly uprooted to Canada. The two of them, recognizing the potential for greatness that lay in those songs, invited other equally inclined musicians to join them. The music they made, a fusion of traditional Andean instrumentation and modern Latin grooves, culminated in their debut self-titled album, which they recorded and released in 2013.
Bolstered by the success of their first album, Andino Suns set about entertaining larger audiences. The songs, upbeat and fit for the dance floor, ignited festival crowds including JUNOfest in 2013. At this early stage in the band’s development, concert goers recognized hits from that album. Cantando el Pajaro, a song about love at first sight, continues to be a crowd favourite.
Their live performances were, and continue to be, effervescent, brimming with fiery instrumentation and dynamic vocals. Though their earlier songs were predominantly in Spanish, their talent and authentic musical energy captivated audiences young and old; music is indeed a universal language.
“A wild and wooly molding of Ennio Morricone and Manu Chao” – Roddy Campbell, Penguin Eggs
A year later, Andino Suns returned to the studio to record their sophomore album, It’s Time to Rise. Though not a departure from the overall Latin tone of their first album, It’s Time to Rise was experimental and diverse, adding songs in English, and blending together a whole host of genres — rock, reggae, and a smattering of Eastern European beats. The result was a genre-defying sound that wowed festival audiences in Saskatchewan and all through Canada, including Heatwave Music Festival in Prince George, BC; Festival du Voyageur in Winnipeg MB; Western Canadian Music Industry Awards in Victoria, BC; Festival Musique du Bout du Monde in Gaspé, QC. In addition to playing festivals, Andino Suns have showcased at Breakout West, Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas City, and Mundial Montreal.
It’s Time to Rise earned Andino Suns their first Western Canadian Music Awards nomination for World Recording of the Year in 2015. In 2017, following the release of their third album Madera (2016), the Suns were crowned World Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards.
Madera, Andino Suns’ most ambitious album, marked a return to their traditional Andean sound but was equally rooted in the vastness of the Canadian prairies. This duality, the cultural hyphenation of the band, is further celebrated on this album with multiple collaborations with local talent. Singer-songwriter Megan Nash joins Andrés Davalos in singing Madre, – Spanish for Mother – the second song on Madera. Megan’s and Andrés’ voices complement each other beautifully in a song that’s airy and memorable. Other home-grown appearances on Madera include The Dead South, Keiffer McLean, Scott Richmond and members of the Regina Symphony Orchestra. Daniel Emden, a Montréal-based percussionist of international repute co-produced the album.
“Unable to understand or speak Spanish, I can still feel the passion of Madera, this album of eight songs from Regina group Andino Suns.” Bill Robertson – Saskatoon Star Phoenix.
The Fall of 2017 saw Andino Suns release a new single, Tiburón. Performed in French and Spanish, Tiburón’s gypsy jazz tone and the Quebecois French accent are an homage to the city of Montréal from which band member Cristian Moya had just returned after a two-year stint spent honing both his musical and French language chops.
Andino Suns have succeeded in creating a musical energy that is a gathering place for all – the labourer, the intellectual, the spiritual, the aged, and the young. Theirs is the kind of music that, even if silenced, you’d continue to hear it.
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Dr. Henry
Portage and Mainers are reknowned for treating their seasonal affective disorder by staying inside to rock and roll when it’s 40 below but here’s a new remedy: a house call from Dr. Henry, ready to treat your SAD with an exciting hit of groovy, hip-shaking, Afro-fusion jazz! Dr. Henry band’s three core musicians met in Winnipeg after moving from Nigeria for higher education pursuits. Their cool sound is shaped by their West African roots as well as familial influences, musical inspirations and collaborations with fellow Winnipeggers. In their vibrant and colourful musical mosaic, you can hear Afro-beat inspired by its master, Fela Kuti, as well as neo-soul and polyrhythmic jazz. It’s delightfully infectious and an instant cure-all. Call the Dr. Henry band for whatever ails you.
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El Leon & The Strangers
El Leon and The Strangers aims at making you rock, dance and think critically. They write and sing original songs that go from the whimsical and fun part of life to the thoughtful and sometimes unsettling lyrics about social realities. It is a band formed by South American rockers established in Winnipeg. Together they fusion Rock with folk elements from each of their cultures of origin, using a myriad of world instruments such as hand drums, charangos, quena, accordions, among other. During their first year the band played almost every venue at their local scene of Winnipeg. In 2019 the band released their first single called “Cumbia Baby” produced and engineered at Private Ear studios in Winnipeg. Promoting that single they played in various out of province venues including The Marquee, Calgary, AB, The 40 Brandon, MB, and Fiestaval Latin festival in Calgary. In that festival they opened for the Chilean Rock Legend “Los Prisioneros”.
Other Winnipeg highlights include successful performances at Folklorama, Reggae and Socca Festival, collaborations with other groups at the Winnipeg Jazz Festival. The band is preparing to hit the road in a full swing western Canada tour in 2020 and the upcoming festival season, with the release of their new self-titled EP. Their ambitious schedule for the near future includes releasing 10 songs during 2020 and completing their first ever Western Canada Tour.
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Covid -19 Protocols
The West End Cultural Centre believes a healthy community is at the heart of everything we do. In accordance with the Manitoba Government and Manitoba Health protocols –

All performers, crew, staff, volunteers, and patrons must show proof of vaccination and photo ID before they can enter the venue.
Face masks are required on all WECC premises. Please wear your mask when not seated at a table and/or when not drinking or eating.

These practices are meant to keep all of us safe to enjoy all the art and music that Winnipeg has to offer.

Winnipeg Comedy Showcase #28
2022-01-28 20:00 - 23:00 | MB
Winnipeg Comedy Showcase #28,

Winnipeg Comedy Showcase #28
27 Straight Sellout Shows so far
Friday, January 28th, 2022
Doors 7 pm Show 8 pm

Tickets $15 advance / $20 at door

Featuring: Chad Anderson, Jaydin Pommer, Jon Wilson, Angie St. Mars, Garrett Leblanc, Tyler Kotowski

Hosted by: Jared Story

WINTERRUPTION - Priyanka's Drag Show
2022-01-28 20:00 - 22:30 | West End Cultural Centre, 586 Ellice Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3B1Z8, Canada
Winterruption 2022 – Priyanka’s Drag Show – Friday, January 28, 2022 at The West End Cultural Centre

The West End Cultural Centre, Real Love Winnipeg and our partners across 5 other prairie cities are disappointed to announce that due to the ongoing surge of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 across the country, Winterruption WPG 2022 will have to be postponed. The event was supposed to take place January 25-30, 2022 in venues around Winnipeg, however it is incumbent on us to prioritize the safety of performers, attendees, staff, and volunteers. Therefore, new dates will be announced as soon as they are finalized.
Anyone who has purchased tickets for Winterruption shows is welcome to keep them and they will be honoured at the rescheduled dates. If they would prefer a refund on their tickets, they should be in contact with the point of purchase and their request will be processed without question. If a show is unable to be rescheduled, all tickets to the show will be refunded.
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She’s the most exciting queen ever to grace the Canadian drag scene – and she’s the winner of Canada’s Drag Race. What’s her name?
PRIYANKA!
Born in Whitby, Ontario, the journey started for Priyanka (the drag superstar alter-ego of Mark Suknanan) with a career in television. She studied at Niagara College and interned for Rogers Television and MTV Canada, until she finally fought her way up to become the first web host of YTV’s “The Next Star”. Nicknamed “Suki”, she toured Canada as the face of “Next Star Nation” which quickly became the heart beat of the show. Her successes immediately parlayed into an even bigger platform when she was hand-picked by YTV as the face of their flagship after school program “The Zone”. For 6 six years, Priyanka was the face of Canadian children’s television, not only starring in, but writing and producing her own segments for her young fans airing between such favourite shows as: Spongebob Squarepants and Fairly Odd Parents.
In the spring of 2018, after being taken under the wing of top Toronto drag performer: Xtacy Love, Priyanka was born! She took the city by storm, sweeping the drag scene and snatching the crown in both the Miss Crews & Tangos pageant, and Woody’s: Queen of Halloween. She’s performed in every major city across Canada, Chicago & Dominican Republic and most recently graced the cover of Now Toronto after being named they cities “Number One Drag Entertainer”
With live shows filling almost every day of the week, two self-produced singles with accompanying music videos on iTunes aptly named: “You Look so Good” and “Say My Name”, and a weekly Series on YouTube, she is one of the hardest working entertainers in the business.
It’s with that tenacity and determination that won her the first ever season of Canada’s Drag Race on Crave where she became Canada’s First Ever Drag Superstar.
Charisma? check.
Uniqueness? check.
Nerve? check.
Talent? check.
Now what’s her name!?
Priyanka!
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Covid-19 Protocols
The West End Cultural Centre believes a healthy community is at the heart of everything we do. In accordance with the Manitoba Government and Manitoba Health protocols –

All performers, crew, staff, volunteers, and patrons must show proof of vaccination and photo ID before they can enter the venue.
Face masks are required on all WECC premises. Please wear your mask when not seated at a table and/or when not drinking or eating.

These practices are meant to keep all of us safe to enjoy all the art and music that Winnipeg has to offer.

WINTERRUPTION - Jonny Moonbeam / Gabrielle Fontaine / riel.
2022-01-27 21:00 - 2022-01-28 00:00 | X-Cues Billiards, 551 Sargent Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 1W4, Canada
Winterruption 2022 – Ila Barker, Brunswick & Bobby Dove – Thursday, January 27, 2022 at X-Cues Cafe & Lounge

Jonny Moonbeam
Busy scrolling through his intergalactic newsfeed, lunar lad of mystery jonny moonbeam totally did not see that spy satellite he clipped, summarily crashing his spacecraft just outside Ottawa and catapulting right into the middle of a parliamentary debate on distracted driving.
He thought this was hilarious. Now stranded in Winnipeg awaiting ship repairs, he’s been parsing CPAC and writing songs about Canadian politics and 21st century living.
Digging on 90’s Much Music reruns, vintage Brit rock and any singer whose ever raised a voice for social justice, Moonbeam (a dead ringer for Daniel Jordan of Red Moon Road) reveals a brand new 4 song collection of political rockers (Co-Produced with Rusty Matyas of Imaginary Cities and mixed/mastered by Grammy nominated Phil Bova).
Tackling the Sunny Ways of a certain well quaffed PM, the non-existent clothes of an orange-tinted-emperor-baby-with-a-hand-complex and what it means to ‘stand on guard for thee’, jonny moonbeam waxes power pop politically poetic.
Gabrielle Fontaine
Gabrielle Fontaine is an Ojibwe folk-pop singer-songwriter based in Winnipeg MB. After many years of writing and performing with the award-winning pop rock band, Indian City, Gabrielle performs her own music and captivates audiences with her lyrics of personal experiences and perspectives of life, often highlighting her view through an Indigneous lens. Her honest melodies and angelic voice are sure to leave a unique and lasting impression. She is poised to follow in the strong tradition of Manitoba’s vibrant music community while fostering her talent nationally and internationally.
riel.
riel. is a provocative honest story teller from winnipeg manitoba. using history and landscape riel. tells an honest story and depiction of his surroundings. riel. was recently recognized as an emerging indigenous artist through the manitoba arts network. riel just released their debut single “terrified” streaming on all music platforms.
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Covid-19 Protocols
The West End Cultural Centre believes a healthy community is at the heart of everything we do. In accordance with the Manitoba Government and Manitoba Health protocols –

All performers, crew, staff, volunteers, and patrons must show proof of vaccination and photo ID before they can enter the venue.
Face masks are required on all WECC premises. Please wear your mask when not seated at a table and/or when not drinking or eating.

These practices are meant to keep all of us safe to enjoy all the art and music that Winnipeg has to offer.

Leif Vollebekk – New Ways Tour
2022-01-27 20:00 - 23:00 | MB
Winnipeg Folk Festival Concert Series

New Ways is a new album by Montreal’s Leif Vollebekk, his hotly anticipated follow-up to the Polaris Prize finalist Twin Solitude. It’s a record that lives between the kick and the snare, in that instant of feeling before the backbeat.

“The way that it was is the way it should be,” Vollebekk sings on “Phaedrus”—a line that’s a memory and a wish. New Ways is that too: the sound of desire in its unfolding. Two years ago, things were changing so fast, and the songwriter didn’t want to forget. “I often think of Leonard Cohen’s line, ‘I hope you’re keeping some kind of record,’” he says. “So I did.” It was like he was pretending you can compose a soundtrack to your own life (which perhaps you can).

In the end, New Ways is a document of everything Vollebekk felt, the way each moment arrived and moved through him. Whereas Twin Solitude was about self-reflection, New Ways is about engaging and changing, touching and being touched. It’s a physical record, with louder and tighter grooves, and the rawest lyrics the musician has ever recorded. A portrait of beauty, desire, longing, risk, remembrance—without an instant of regret. “She’s my woman and she loved me so fine,” goes the chorus to one tune. “She’ll never be back.”

“Anything that I wouldn’t ever want to tell anyone—I just put it on the record,” Vollebekk says: tenderness and violence, sex and rebirth, Plato and Julie Delpy. A story told through details—“the sun through my eyelids,” “a sign on the highway covered in rain.” The songs came fast—recorded a week here, a week there, initially just Leif and a drummer. “After each take, we’d go into the control room and listen back and see how it felt,” he says. “If it didn’t feel right we’d do it again, or switch from piano to guitar, or change the drum sound, or the microphones.” Once they got it, he’d move on. Never at rest, always in movement: 10 different tracks for 10 states of motion—each with its own pulse, drawing the listener in.

There’s the heat of the night and the cool blue of morning, hints of Prince and Bill Withers, the limbo of a lover’s transatlantic flight. “Hot Tears” is all hot-blooded memory. “Apalachee Plain” is a clamorous goodbye. “I’m Not Your Lover” would be a perfect love-song were it not for its chorus—a song that lets two opposites be true at once. “That last record I made for me,” Vollebekk admits. “This one is for someone else.”

Imagine the singer at the end of last September, performing at midnight in one of Montreal’s rarest and most intimate venues—a century-old porno theatre called Cinema L’Amour, a temple to the true and the carnal. He was sitting at a piano. The chords were moving like shadows on a wall. “She’s my woman and she loved me so fine!” Leif cried, singing to the rafters. “She’ll never be back.”

When everything was finally over—when the mixes were perfect and the masters cued up—Leif says listening to the album was like re-watching a film. “Now I knew what was going to happen,” he remembers. “Now the moments didn’t feel fleeting—they felt eternal, almost fated. The songs spoke to me differently, but they hadn’t changed. I just heard them in New Ways.”

WINTERRUPTION - Diaphanie / Two Crows for Comfort / Bobby Dove
2022-01-26 21:00 - 2022-01-27 00:00 | X-Cues Billiards, 551 Sargent Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 1W4, Canada
Winterruption 2022 – Diaphanie / Two Crows For Comfort / Bobby Dove – Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at X-Cues Cafe & Lounge

Diaphanie
Diaphanie means “the art of recreating stained glass on translucent paper”. its tremulous nature defies genre and makes each song part of the ephemera, never permanent. Led by writer/singer Heather Thomas (ATLAAS, Bunny), Diaphanie was born out of a desire to slough off the shackles of a high risk/low reward music industry system and forget that music is a business. Every song is an exploration of styles and moods, and a meeting of different minds, bound together by the throughline of Thomas’ expressive and ethereal voice.
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Two Crows for Comfort
A duo that had no intentions of playing anything more than an open mic here and there, and went by a different name anytime they hit the stage. Fast forward a few years and Two Crows (Erin Corbin and Cory Sulyma) have unintentionally created something that seems to work.
In December 2018 the duo released their debut full-length album, ‘17 Feet’, with back-to-back sold out shows at the Handsome Daughter in Winnipeg.
Determined to keep the momentum going after the release of ‘17 Feet’, Two Crows continued playing countless shows to get through the harsh prairie winter. In summer, 2019, the duo was seen at countless festivals and even scored opportunities to open for the likes of Pokey Lafarge, Bruce Cockburn, and Ani DiFranco to name a few.
Back from touring Western Canada and still riding the wave of 2019, the duo’s biggest breakthrough came when they were named Roots Artist of the Year at the Manitoba Country Music Awards.
They hit the road again in early 2020 making stops throughout Ontario and Quebec before they hunkered down to record their latest album ‘Show Me Light’ which was released on March 25, 2021.
You can find their new album, ‘Show Me Light’ on all streaming platforms and Vinyl and CD copies are also available for purchase.
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Bobby Dove
Bobby Dove has built a following across Canada and beyond. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Bobby has become known as one of the country’s most dedicated troubadours, crooning live audiences with heart-worn originals, and paying tribute to the golden age of Country music. Along the road, Bobby has worked with a number of legendary players, and shared stages with artists such as Mary Gauthier, Richard Thompson, Irish Mythen, The Sadies and JD Mcpherson. In 2019, Bobby spent a month in residency at the Banff Centre and has performed at a number of Canadian folk fests, including the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Vancouver Island Music Fest and Brandon Folk Fest.

Bobby Dove’s new album, Hopeless Romantic, offers eleven new original Americana/Country songs on subjects such as unrequited love, being on the road, a haunted hotel and a hard-rocking pallbearer. Co-produced with Bazil Donovan (Blue Rodeo) and Tim Vesely (Rheostatics) at The Woodshed studio in Toronto,On, the record includes some of the finest in Canadian Country music including members of Blue Rodeo Jim Cuddy, Bazil Donovan and Jimmy Bowskill (The Sheepdogs, Blue Rodeo), and Burke Carroll (Kathleen Edwards).
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Covid-19 Protocols
The West End Cultural Centre believes a healthy community is at the heart of everything we do. In accordance with the Manitoba Government and Manitoba Health protocols –

All performers, crew, staff, volunteers, and patrons must show proof of vaccination and photo ID before they can enter the venue.
Face masks are required on all WECC premises. Please wear your mask when not seated at a table and/or when not drinking or eating.

These practices are meant to keep all of us safe to enjoy all the art and music that Winnipeg has to offer.

Diet Cig with Chastity WINTERRUPTION WPG 2022!
2022-01-26 20:00 - 23:00 | MB
Diet Cig with Chastity | WINTERRUPTION WPG 2022!

January 26th, 2021
Doors 7 pm | Show 8 PM
Tickets are$20 in advance
Proof of Vaccination is required for entry, please have your photo ID and Vaxx Passport out on arrival.
Real Love Winnipeg presents…

•• Diet Cig

• Chastity

Check out the rest of the shows happening for Winterruption 2022! www.winterruptionwpg.ca

Accessibility/policies: https://reallovewpg.com/accessibility-and-policies/

WINTERRUPTION - Teke::Teke
2022-01-26 20:00 - 22:30 | West End Cultural Centre, 586 Ellice Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3B1Z8, Canada
Winterruption 2022 – Teke::Teke – Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at The West End Cultural Centre

The West End Cultural Centre, Real Love Winnipeg and our partners across 5 other prairie cities are disappointed to announce that due to the ongoing surge of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 across the country, Winterruption WPG 2022 will have to be postponed. The event was supposed to take place January 25-30, 2022 in venues around Winnipeg, however it is incumbent on us to prioritize the safety of performers, attendees, staff, and volunteers. Therefore, new dates will be announced as soon as they are finalized.
Anyone who has purchased tickets for Winterruption shows is welcome to keep them and they will be honoured at the rescheduled dates. If they would prefer a refund on their tickets, they should be in contact with the point of purchase and their request will be processed without question. If a show is unable to be rescheduled, all tickets to the show will be refunded.
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TEKE::TEKE is a Montreal-based Japanese psych-rock group composed of guitarists Serge Nakauchi Pelletier & Hidetaka Yoneyama, bass player Mishka Stein, drummer Ian Lettre, flutist Yuki Isami, trombone player Etienne Lebel, and visual artist and vocalist Maya Kuroki.
Featuring traditional Japanese instruments, flute and trombone alongside raging guitars and a pulsing rhythm section, TEKE::TEKE creates a sound reminiscent of 1960’s and 70’s era psychedelic Japanese soundtracks, with a frenetic, modern twist.
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Covid-19 Protocols
The West End Cultural Centre believes a healthy community is at the heart of everything we do. In accordance with the Manitoba Government and Manitoba Health protocols –

All performers, crew, staff, volunteers, and patrons must show proof of vaccination and photo ID before they can enter the venue.
Face masks are required on all WECC premises. Please wear your mask when not seated at a table and/or when not drinking or eating.

These practices are meant to keep all of us safe to enjoy all the art and music that Winnipeg has to offer.

Classe de danse LE SET CARRÉ - Préparez-vous pour le Festival !
2022-01-26 18:00 - 19:00 | Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain, 340 Provencher Blvd, WInnipeg, MB, R2H 0G7, Canada
Apprenez la base des danses traditionnelles canadiennes-françaises dans un environnement décontracté. Session1 – LE SET CARRÉ!

– BILLETS ÉGALEMENT DISPONIBLES À LA PORTE!
Vous avez envie d’apprendre les bases de la danse canadienne-française pour bien danser au Festival? On vous propose de vous initier lors de trois sessions de danse qui vont démystifier la danse et la gigue canadienne-française.
1-(26 JANVIER) Le Set carré: Dos-à-dos, swing, crochet, refoulade, farandole. Apprenez les formations de base pour pouvoir danser un set carré, une des danses traditionnelles qui fait partie du répertoire canadien-français.
2-(2 FÉVRIER) La Gigue: Qu’est-ce que la gigue? Explorez les divers rythmes et mouvements de pied qui constituent les éléments de base de la gigue canadienne-française ainsi que de la gigue métisse et irlandaise.
3-(16 FÉVRIER) Les cuillères et la podorythmie: La podorythmie et les cuillères sont des éléments clés de la musique traditionnelle québécoise et canadienne-française. Apprenez les techniques de base pour pouvoir bien accompagner les musiciens lors d’une session de jam ou d’un spectacle du Festival.
Artiste: Myriam Leclercq.
Passionnée par la danse et le folklore, Myriam Leclercq est une danseuse/chorégraphe de gigue et de danse canadienne-française.
Membre de l’Ensemble folklorique de la Rivière-Rouge (EFRR) depuis 2003, Myriam a pu participer comme danseuse à plusieurs activités et festivals tels que le Festival du Voyageur et Folklorama. Aujourd’hui, Myriam occupe les fonctions de directrice artistique, répétitrice, chorégraphe et interprète au sein de la Troupe adulte de l’EFRR.
De plus, depuis plus de 12 ans, elle enseigne et anime des ateliers de gigue et de danse traditionnelle un peu partout au Manitoba et au Canada, pour partager et transmettre à toutes et à tous la joie de vivre canadienne-française.
Mesures COVID: Merci de porter un masque, de vous munir de votre preuve de vaccination ainsi que votre carte d’identité pour les montrer à l’entrée.

WINTERRUPTION - Rose Cousins
2022-01-25 20:00 - 22:30 | West End Cultural Centre, 586 Ellice Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3B1Z8, Canada
Winterruption 2022 – Rose Cousins – Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at the West End Cultural Centre ***POSTPONED***

The West End Cultural Centre, Real Love Winnipeg and our partners across 5 other prairie cities are disappointed to announce that due to the ongoing surge of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 across the country, Winterruption WPG 2022 will have to be postponed. The event was supposed to take place January 25-30, 2022 in venues around Winnipeg, however it is incumbent on us to prioritize the safety of performers, attendees, staff, and volunteers. Therefore, new dates will be announced as soon as they are finalized.
Anyone who has purchased tickets for Winterruption shows is welcome to keep them and they will be honoured at the rescheduled dates. If they would prefer a refund on their tickets, they should be in contact with the point of purchase and their request will be processed without question. If a show is unable to be rescheduled, all tickets to the show will be refunded.
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A native of Prince Edward Island, Rose Cousins lives in Halifax Nova Scotia. She deeply values being part of multiple music communities, and is constantly fueled by collaboration. Cousins’ 2012 album We Have Made A Spark celebrated her Boston community and featured a cast of musicians Cousins had known and played music with for a decade. It won a JUNO Award, 3 East Coast Music Awards, a Canadian Folk Music Award, was nominated for the Polaris Music Prize, and made picks/best of lists in USA Today, NPR Music and Oprah Magazine. Her music has found its way into several TV shows including Grey’s Anatomy.
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Covid-19 Protocols
The West End Cultural Centre believes a healthy community is at the heart of everything we do. In accordance with the Manitoba Government and Manitoba Health protocols –

All performers, crew, staff, volunteers, and patrons must show proof of vaccination and photo ID before they can enter the venue.
Face masks are required on all WECC premises. Please wear your mask when not seated at a table and/or when not drinking or eating.

These practices are meant to keep all of us safe to enjoy all the art and music that Winnipeg has to offer.

Raine Hamilton - Brave Land Album Release Show
2022-01-21 20:00 - 22:30 | West End Cultural Centre, 586 Ellice Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3B1Z8, Canada
Raine Hamilton – Brave Land Album Release Show on Friday, January 21, 2022 at 8:00pm

Resonant, acoustic chamber folk with an other-worldly edge, and a lyric presence that cuts deep. Prism-clear vocals + strings: Anchored in the ancient mountains, reaching up beyond the earthly.
A classical violinist and musicologist by training, Raine and their string trio offer string-quartet-like arrangements of Raine’s original songs. They call this chamber-folk, a hybrid of the classical tradition of string quartet chamber music, with the singer songwriter folk that comes so organically to Raine. For both Brave Land and Hamilton’s 2018 award winning release, Night Sky, they worked with longtime collaborators Quintin Bart on double bass, and Natanielle Felicitas on cello. The three musicians have been co-composing arrangements and recording the newest album since fall 2019, interrupted in March by the pandemic and completed over the summer of 2020.
Raine is joined by Quintin Bart on double bass and Natanielle Felicitas on cello performing as a string trio.
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The West End Cultural Centre believes a healthy community is at the heart of everything we do. In accordance with the Manitoba Government and Manitoba Health protocols –

All performers, crew, staff, volunteers, and patrons must show proof of vaccination and photo ID before they can enter the venue.
Face masks are required on all WECC premises. Please wear your mask when not seated at a table and/or when not drinking or eating.

These practices are meant to keep all of us safe to enjoy all the art and music that Winnipeg has to offer.

Hard Core Logo
2022-01-20 20:00 - 23:00 | MB
Sookrams Brewing Presents

Hard Core Logo
Thursday, January 20th, 2022
Doors 7 pm | Movie 8 pm
Tickets $15*
Every admission will include a specially brewed 16oz pour from Sookrams

A group of washed-up Canadian punk rockers get back together for a road trip in memory of a dear friend who was supposedly shot, or so rumors imply. As they travel, they ignore the underlying psychological darkness within each other.

Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra - Voices: A Musical Heritage
2022-01-20 19:30 - 22:30 | West End Cultural Centre, 586 Ellice Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3B1Z8, Canada
WInnipeg Jazz Orchestra – Voices: A Musical Heritage – Thursday, January 20th at 7:30pm

Jazz music, since its humble beginnings in Congo Square, has been a fusion of folk, classical and popular music. As the artform spread, jazz embraced and adapted music from all over the world, giving us countless flavours and variations. To help the WJO explore folk music in jazz we present new compositions by composers from various cultures.
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The West End Cultural Centre believes a healthy community is at the heart of everything we do. In accordance with the Manitoba Government and Manitoba Health protocols –

All performers, crew, staff, volunteers, and patrons must show proof of vaccination and photo ID before they can enter the venue.
Face masks are required on all WECC premises. Please wear your mask when not seated at a table and/or when not drinking or eating.

These practices are meant to keep all of us safe to enjoy all the art and music that Winnipeg has to offer.

Frazey Ford
2022-01-13 20:00 - 23:00 | The Park Theatre, 698 Osborne Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3L 2B9, Canada
presented by Winnipeg Folk Festival and ACU

The Hear All Year Concert Series is presented by Assiniboine Credit Union.
Due to current public health orders, The Park Theatre has outlined COVID-19 protocols for concert attendees. For more information please visit their website: https://myparktheatre.com/faq/
Doors: 7:00 PM
Show: 8:00 PM
PLEASE NOTE: Any purchase of concert tickets through third-party sites or resellers is at your own risk. Tickets should only be purchased through winnipegfolkfestival.ca or someone you know and trust to reduce risk.
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ABOUT
On her third album U kin B the Sun, Vancouver-based singer/songwriter Frazey Ford inhabits an entire world of shapeshifting rhythm, elevating every beat and groove with the subtle magnetism of her mesmerizing voice. With its graceful collision of soul and psychedelia and sometimes ’70s funk, it’s a body of work that invites both self-reflection and wildly joyful movement, and ultimately sparks a quiet transcendence.
At turns ecstatic and heavy-hearted, gloriously shambolic and deeply purifying, U kin B the Sun is the outcome of a certain personal transformation that Ford has experienced in recent years. “I used to speak more in metaphors, but this album came out in a much more raw and direct way,” she says. “I’d say that’s a result of being more in my body and more in touch with the wholeness of anger, with taking up space and having boundaries. On this record I freed myself from the folk-writing format, and it’s been a whole different exploration for me.”
In a departure from the guitar-driven and largely solitary songwriting that’s defined Ford’s previous work, much of U kin B the Sun took shape from spontaneous collaboration with her longtime bassist Darren Parris and drummer Leon Power. Over the course of several late-night sessions in the thick of summer 2018, the three musicians joined producer John Raham in dreaming up a brilliantly untethered sound, recording as they improvised and continually tapping into their potent camaraderie. “I was excited to let go of control and to see where Darren’s bass lines would take my melodies,” Ford recalls. “There’s this intimacy that exists within the band now, and I wanted to explore how that would feel in the writing process.”
The first song to emerge from that experiment, “Golden,” instantly set a sublime mood for U kin B the Sun, unfolding in luminous grooves, dreamy piano tones, and lyrics delivered with warmth and wisdom (e.g., “It is high time you lighten up your head”). “I told Darren, ‘Whatever’s in your head, just shout out the chords and we’ll make something up on the spot,’” says Ford. “And then he did, and the song just appeared in that moment.”
Another track sprung from the same charmed session, “Azad” reveals the rich emotional texture of U kin B the Sun, embedding Ford’s lyrical storytelling with sharply rendered memories of early childhood (a time she spent living on a commune in Canada as the daughter of American draft dodgers). With its brightly shuffling beats and soaring vocal work, “Azad” offers a poignant message of courage (“Behold, there is beauty in this world/So hold on any way that you know how”). “There’s something to that song that’s about survival, and about the love that my siblings and I have for each other in coming through an intense situation together,” says Ford.
Throughout U kin B the Sun, Ford endlessly telegraphs an unfettered joy, even when confronting and examining pain and heartache and loss. To that end, “U and Me” takes the unlikely form of a tenderly enchanted breakup song, while “Holdin’ It Down” brings a jazzy determination to its expression of weary perseverance. And on the anthemic “The Kids Are Having None Of It,” Ford responds to the toxic political climate with irrefutably bold sense of assurance (e.g., “They can’t be bought, they can’t be taught your hate”).
One of the most powerfully affecting moments on U kin B the Sun, the album’s title track and final movement arrives as a strangely hypnotic alchemy of smoldering harmonies, cascading piano lines, and beautifully fluid guitar work. “It’s really just two chords and a lyric that repeats, and then there are these different layers to it,” “It was a fascinating journey for me, to realize that you could take something so simple and then just sink into it in that way.” Ford notes, “It’s really just two chords and a lyric that repeats, and yet there are so many different layers to it.”
Recorded at Raham’s Afterlife Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, and also featuring Craig McCaul on guitar and Phil Cook on keys, U kin B the Sun follows Ford’s 2014 release Indian Ocean, an album made with members of legendary Memphis soul band The Hi Rhythm Section. Though its predecessor showed traces of her groove-heavy sensibilities, the new album finds Ford fully embracing the soulful musicality she first displayed in fronting an Al Green cover band in her early 20’s. “When I started writing songs they came out sounding more country, because that’s what I grew up with,” says Ford, who spent 13 years as a member of acclaimed folk act The Be Good Tanyas. “My mom is from an Irish/Cajun/Acadian background and I sang with her from the time I was little, but I was always really into soul and funk.”
As Ford points out, U kin B the Sun partly draws inspiration from several instances of serendipity that transpired during her international touring in support of Indian Ocean —including playing separate rooms in the same venue as D’Angelo one night in Holland, which eventually prompted her 2017 cover of the iconic neo-soul singer’s “When We Get By.” But on a deeper level, U kin B the Sun’s raw vitality reflects Ford’s profound growth over the past few years. “I used to really live in an ether, and that’s part of why I became an artist: because it was a survival space for me to exist in,” she says. “A lot of my writing came from that place, but as I’ve changed over the last year or two, I feel like I’m more in my body. I think there’s something about being more physically present that impacted the making of this album.”
To expand that sense of presence, Ford made a point of preserving many of the lightning-in-a-bottle moments captured during those first sessions for U kin B the Sun. As a result, the album embodies the same untamed and ineffable energy that guided its creation. “There’s certain songs that just appear and there’s no art to it,” says Ford. “To me those songs have some kind of spiritual quality—sometimes I feel like they’re these different voices that you’re able to channel. There really was something magical about the improvisational aspect and how that shaped the album, and such a joy in the experience of really reveling in what we were all creating together.”

Patio340 - Relancement
2022-01-13 20:00 - 22:00 | Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain, 340 Provencher Blvd, WInnipeg, MB, R2H 0G7, Canada
Le Patio 340 déménage pour la saison d’hiver, pour vous offrir les plus beaux spectacles dans les murs du CCFM!
