Manitoba will have a strong presence when the Western Canadian Music Awards are handed out in Calgary this fall. Artists and music companies picked up 31 nominations in 20 categories for the 11th annual celebration of music from the western provinces and territories with talented acts from Manitoba’s Aboriginal and Francophone communities dominating their respective categories. The hardware will be handed out at an industry brunch on October 5 and at a gala event on October 6 in Calgary, Alberta.
Six Manitoba bands are headed to Calgary for one Canada's hottest music festivals. Sled Island -- which runs June 19-22 and is not, in fact on an island -- will feature some of Manitoba's favourite indie acts, including Polaris Prize long listers KEN mode, post-punk trio This Hisses, rock poet John K. Samson, soul outfit The Noble Thiefs, indie pop act Alanadale, and pop/rock duo Mise En Scene.
The curtain is up and the Winnipeg International Jazz Festival is ready to kick off this year's festivities with a bang. One of the summer's best sources for live local music, the free opening weekend takes over The Cube in the heart of the Exchange District June 13-16.
After months of debate and speculation, the Polaris Music Prize announced its long list of top Canadian albums and there's some Manitoba metal in this year's mix. Noisecore trio KEN mode joins the prestigious Polaris ranks with its latest recording, Entrench.
Manitoba Music is firing up The Forks on Canada Day once again this year with a diverse all local lineup of talent on three different stages. Performing for an audience of thousands who gather at The Forks to celebrate our nation’s birthday, Manitoba Music Live will feature sets from over a dozen acts spanning genres, culminating in a unique onstage collaboration between breakout soul/pop act Imaginary Cities and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Three years ago, local singer/songwriter Jean-Guy Roy began Federal Lights as a solo basement recording project, an entry point back into making music. Those late nights and early mornings — stolen moments when the kids were asleep — were intensely fruitful. He had the songs, he just needed a band; Roy wasn’t interested in recording for recording’s sake.
Luckily for him, this is Winnipeg and talented players aren’t hard to find. He quickly hooked up with bassist Rob Mitchell (The Attics) before picking up drummer David Pankratz (Quinzy), and keyboardist Jodi Roy (who happens to be his wife). Federal Lights made its live debut at Manitoba Music’s night at New Music Wednesdays and, in the fall of 2011, released Carbon, a six-song EP helmed by Cam Loeppky (The Weakerthans, Cannon Bros., Greg MacPherson).
Now, Federal Lights is burning bright among Manitoba’s indie rock exports. The band’s anticipated full-length debut, We Were Found in the Fog, will be released at the end of August, after the just-announced shiny new deal with Aporia Records.
We are now accepting submissions from artists and bands interested in participating in a Manitoba Music showcase at M for Montreal, November 20-23, 2013. This is an opportunity to perform for and network with influential Canadian and international music industry professional.Submission deadline is June 26.
A roundup of recent blogger tips and techniques for musicians from around the web. Find out more about ways to make money as a musician, healthy vocal techniques, and game-changing ways to get press without a publicist.
This weekend's forecast calls from lots of live music throughout Manitoba, including the Back 40 Folk Festival in Morden, Cypress River's Prairie Wind Music Festival, two album releases in Winnipeg, and the national launch of the Pinball Sessions...
Manitoba Music’s Aboriginal Music Program will be presenting showcases in Winnipeg for guest speakers from our upcoming Aboriginal Music Summit (September 20, 2013). Delegate details will be available shortly at manitobamusic.com/workshops. This showcase offers Aboriginal artists and groups a unique opportunity to perform for and network with influential music industry professionals from outside Manitoba. Submission deadlines is June 26.
For the third year, the West End Cultural Centre will host the ultimate showdown between artists: Bands Vs. Filmmakers. (That was meant to be read in a super dramatic announcer voice...)
The annual fundraiser for Winnipeg Film Group’s Cinematheque features four local independent filmmakers presenting their film and video work live to accompany performances by five independent bands. Each artist will work individually with a particular band to create an visual and musical experience for the audience, which will be simultaneously screened behind each band’s performance.
Get to know more about CKDU Halifax's Gianna Lauren, CFUV Victoria's Justin Lanoue, and Michael Elves from UMFM Winnipeg who will be on hand for our 'Attack the Charts: Getting Played on Campus Radio' panel Tuesday, June 11.
A roundup of recent blogger tips and techniques for musicians from around the web. Find out more about the steps to becoming a music producer, best times to post on social media, and ways to keep your music career moving forward.
There’s a swarm of Manitoba artists headed towards Toronto next month for coveted showcase spots at North by Northeast (NXNE), which runs June 10-16, 2013. This year’s lineup includes a diverse Manitoba crop of 15 acts, including many NXNE first-timers, spanning genres from roots to R&B to indie rock.
A roundup of recent blogger tips and techniques for musicians from around the web. Find out more about the importance of band branding, how often a band should play, and music conference tips for indie artists.
In 90 Seconds or Less, Canadian music industry professionals tell you how to get the most out of showcasing and shmoozing at a music Festival and Conference.
Get to know a more about Michael P Falk from Head in the Sand, Paquin Entertainment Group's Grant Paley, and Stephen Carroll from Empirical Artist Services who will be on hand for our Summer Mentor Sessions one-on-one consultation meetings May 31, June 7, and June 21.
The local experimental electropop outfit is gearing up for the release of its hotly anticipated full-length debut, Today We’re Believers, due out on June 25 via Nevado Records in Canada and Roll Call Records in the U.S.
The release date will be another benchmark in what has been a landmark year and a half for Royal Canoe, whose ranks are Matt Peters (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Bucky Driedger (vocals, guitar), Matt Schellenberg (keyboards, vocals), Brendan Berg (bass, keyboard, vocals), Derek Allard (drums), and Michael Jordan (electronic drums). Last year saw the band make major inroads, inking a management contract with Nettwerk Music and booking agency agreements with Red Ryder (U.S.), LOUD Booking (France), and Burning Eagle Booking (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).
It’s also been a creatively fulfilling period; along with putting the finishing touches on the record, the band also mounted an avant-pop interpretation of Beck’s Song Reader, an album released solely as sheet music, as part of the inaugural Pop Nuit, a new element of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s New Music Festival, curated by Schellenberg in February.
Add to that a slew of press bona fides from the likes of Exclaim!, The New York Times, Filter, and more, and you’ve got the kind of advance album buzz most bands only dream of. It’s also the kind that comes with a lot of hard work, months of grinding it out on the road and getting in front of key industry people.
Up-and-coming country songstress Ali Fontaine picked up a Native American Music Award (NAMA) over the weekend. Fontaine, who was also up for Songwriter of the Year and Best Female Artist, won for Best Country Recording for her self-titled album. A double winner at the APCMAs in 2011, she has six nominations already for her first recording.
It may be "spring" but curling is on the brain... The City Winnipeg creative team behind the Manitoba Music Rocks 2012 “Curling Tips Series” videos picked up a 2013 Signature Award in the Digital Campaign category on May 9.
The five short videos were created by the BT Winnipeg team to promote the 2012 Manitoba Music Rocks Charity Curling Bonspiel, which Manitoba Music and Manitoba Film & Music put on annually in support of the Unison Benevolent Fund. Some of Manitoba’s best-known musician curlers feature in the video. Congratulations and many thanks to Jenna Khan, who brought the idea together, writer Dwight Iwan, director Kevin McQuade, as well as John Titley and Matt Wiebe.
Huge thanks to all of the panelists and participants who were part of our MusicWorks events over the past months! Keep your eyes on your Manitoba Music eNews and manitobamusic.com in the coming months for details on future events.
A roundup of recent blogger tips and techniques for musicians from around the web. Find out more about the tools of music fan engagement, advice from music industry entrepreneurs, and networking for musicians.
