The musical traditions of two peoples - Ukrainian and Eastern European Jewish – are coming together in a riveting intercultural presentation by two extraordinary musical ensembles on October 2. Created and performed by Paris to Kyiv and Brave Old World, the event - titled Night Songs From A Neighbouring Village - has been acclaimed for its originality as well as its remarkable musical expression reflecting the souls of two cultures with overlapping histories.
Night Songs… is the unique creation of Paris To Kyiv's Alexis Kochan and Brave Old World's Michael Alpert and Alan Bern. Its inspiration was a poem by the Ukrainian-Yiddish poet, Herts Rivkin. The production was originally commissioned in 1995 by the Jewish Museum in New York. It was subsequently presented in several major centres including Berlin (1996), the Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto (1997), the World Music Institute in New York (1999), and at the John Anson Ford Theater in Los Angeles (2000).
New York-based Brave Old World, leaders in the revival of this unique form of Jewish secular music, was hailed as the \"klezmer supergroup\" by the Washington Post. Winnipeg’s Paris To Kyiv has recently returned fro...
Manitoba celebrated the inaugural Western Canadian Music Awards by bringing a few of them home this year. The WCMAs, which grew out of a an expansion of the Prairie Music Awards to include British Columbia and TheYukon, were held in Regina on September 27 and 28. Awards were given for both artistic and industry categories.
While B.C.’s mainstream hip-hop outfit Swollen Members may have walked away from the awards as the big – and only multiple – winner, Manitobans took home several awards from the event hosted by Colin James. Children’s music icon Fred Penner took the award for Outstanding Children’s Recording for Sing With Fred while Christian rockers Starfield took home Outstanding Christian Recording for Tumbling After.
On the industry side, Gilles Paquin of Paquin Entertainment brought home an award for Talent Buyer of the year while new Doc Walker member Murray Pulver was named Musician of the Year. The Winnipeg Folk Festival Store was named Retail Store of the Year.
The 2nd Western Canadian Music Awards will be held in Calgary in 2004.
Local singer/songwriter Jaylene Johnson has another honour to add to an already impressive list of accomplishments. Her song “Prairie Girl” was recently named as the winter of the Communities of Note national songwriting contest, a Canadian Heritage programme sponsored by Communities in Bloom. Communities of Note is an initiative designed to combine the power of music with pride in one's home town, to benefit both musicians and their communities.
Canadian songwriters and composers from all across the country were invited to write an original in any genre. Submissions were judged by an impressive list of industry professionals and musicians, including Edwin (I, Mother Earth, The Pressure), Mitch Dorge (The Crash Test Dummies), Sean Mulligan (Executive Director of the Songwriters' Association of Canada), Fred Turner (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) and Dale Russell (The Guess Who, award-winning Songwriter, Producer, and organizer of this contest). Songs had to name and describe a beautiful Canadian community, region, or the entire country and describe what makes that chosen place special. Johnson had no trouble describing the beauty of Manitoba.
CBC Radio, in association with the MARIA, launched a campaign on September 15 asking Manitoba recording artists to submit their works for airplay. The campaign is called Manitoba Music – We Want It All and is open to everyone in Manitoba who thinks their music should be on air.
CBC Radio is looking for solo artists and groups performing in every genre to send in their work – whether it’s a one-song demo, or a fully produced CD.
“We’re already recording and playing more Manitoba music than any broadcaster – but we want more,” says John Bertrand, CBC’s Regional Director of English Radio and Television. “Whether you play pop, funk, country or classical – send it to us. Initiatives like Manitoba Music – We Want It All are about working with groups like MARIA to discover new talent, and showcase it here at home and across the country.”
\"The quality of Manitoba music has always been exceptional and few mainstream media outlets have a better track record for supporting that music than the CBC. We're thrilled to be working with the CBC to bring new artists and new music to light through this program\" explains Sam Baardman, MARIA’s Executive Director.
The Canadian Country Music Awards showcased some of Canada’s biggest country stars at Pengrowth Saddledome on September 8, 2003, including crossover superstar Shania Twain and fan favourite Terri Clarke. Manitoba's own Doc Walker took home three awards from the annual event in Calgary.
Doc Walker was named Independent Group of the Year and their song \"Rocket Girl\" was named Independent Song of the Year, as well as SOCAN Song of the Year. Drummer Mark Branconnier also landed a spot in the All Star Band, including members from bands of Shania Twain, Terri Clark and Lisa Brokop.
Just to keep the boys from Westbourne, Manitoba busy, they'll be releasing their new album Everyone Aboard on September 9. The band will travel to Edmonton to perform a special CD release event at the Cook County Saloon. CISN-FM (103.9) radio will present the show. The following day, the band will travel back to Calgary and perform a similar event presented by Country 105 Radio at Ranchman's.
Find out more about Doc Walker at www.docwalker.ca. To see the complete list of CCMA winners, please check out www.ccma.org.
6th Annual Peg City Holla Bring Urban Music to Winnipeg
Winnipeg's premiere urban music festival is getting under way for its sixth year on August 28. Organized by Mood Ruff - one of Canada’s best urban acts - the nationally-renowned Peg City Holla runs August 28-30, with three days of hip-hop, turntablists, DJs, spoken word artists, MCs and more.
This year, Peg City Holla will be featuring a diverse group of artists on three distinct nights, including local funksters Rudimental, hip-hop artists Gruf the Druid from Winnipeg and War Party from Edmonton, DJ Co-op and, of course, Mood Ruff. Other local artists include Satchel Paige, Brace, Shadez, Kutdown, Moonshine Kru, Pip Skid, Equanim, Yy and Res-One.
This year also has a new feature, a conference called Steps to Survival: Being an Independent Urban Artist in Canada, with an open discussion with Sol Guy (who managed Juno-nominated Rascalz, K-Os, Kardinal), Odario (from Mood Ruff), Art Ladd (Program Director of CKUW 95.9FM, and Balanced Records), and Martin Mushinski (Frek Sho, Peanuts & Corn Records). The conference will be held at the Manitoba Music Industry Resource Centre at the MARIA office on August 29 at 6p...
Nominees for the inaugural Western Canadian Music Awards were announced in press conferences across the western provinces on August 19. Manitoba artists are nominated for a total of 16 awards while 11 local industry professionals received nominations for the Industry Awards, held on September 28 and 27.
Recently repatriated Holly McNarland has been nominated for three WCMAs: Outstanding Songwriter of the Year, Outstanding Pop Recording, Outstanding Album (Major Label). Her producers - Warne Livesy, Mark Howars and Malcolm Burn - have been nominated for Outstanding Producer for McNarland’s latest album Home is Where My Feet Are.
McNarland isn’t the only Manitoba poised to take home the award that was formerly known as The Wheatie. The WCMAs, born out of the Prairie Music Awards, saw an expansion last fall include British Columbia and the Yukon. Pop chanteuse Chantal Kreviazuk is McNarland’s competitor for Outstaning Album (Major Label) for What If It All Means Something, while The Watchmen are up for Entertainer of the Year. Jazz woodwind player Janice Finlay’s She’s Hip is up for Outstanding Jazz Recording, Damien Lussier and Fred Penner are going head-to-hea...
The nation’s music station will roll into Winnipeg for a high profile concert featuring five local acts on August 12 at the West End Cultural Centre. Receiving some well-earned exposure on the Toronto-based television station’s airwaves will be carnival roots act Nathan, indie rockers Sixty Stories, rock singer/songwriter Greg MacPherson, rock outfit The VaGiants and hip-hop artist Gruf the Druid. The event will be hosted by Vancouver’s Chris Nelson, co-host of MuchMusic’s Going Coastal.
Nelson, who also coordinated the event, was helped by local labels Smallman Records (Sixty Stories’ label) and G7 Welcoming Committee (who puts out Greg MacPherson). The labels will also be profiled in addition to the concert footage shot in town. The profiles and concert, which will be broadcast across the country, will not only be an excellent opportunity for the featured locals acts but a great showcase for the local scene in general.
Tickets are 8 in advance at Music Trader, Into the Music, Sk8 and Kings, or $10 at the door.
With over 15 of Manitoba’s best harcore acts, including internationally-acclaimed Malefaction, the fourth annual ArsonFest is poised to light some musical fires August 8 – 10. Started by local music veteran Mike Alexander, ArsonFest is a continuing celebration of loud, noisy and powerful music. Arsonfest is dedicated to bringing together people from all over North America for a long weekend of music and community. The festival is a testament to the popularity of the growing hardcore and heavy music scene.
Audiences can witness visceral tunes by local favourites Under Pressure, Dead Stock Crusher, Blasphenaut and He Broke as well as newer bands like Deathkill and Jason’s Militia. Other acts from outside the Manitoba borders will also take the stage, including experimental hardcore artist and former Winnipegger Nagasaki Fondue.
In previous years, ArsonFest’s concerts were staged at various venues. This year, all concerts are all-ages and will take place at the Riverview Community Centre.
As if presenting some incredible music wasn’t enough, ArsonFest also donates profits from ticket revenue to local charities. This year, the three-day festival will offer suppo...
Following a barrage of recent awards nominations – including one for the 2003 Junos - Portage la Prairie's Doc Walker adds some new accolades to their resume. They’re up for five nominations Canadian Country Music Awards, it was announced on July 22.
The quartet, fresh from a performance at the famed Whisky-A-Go-Go in Los Angeles as part of a highly successful Manitoba trade mission and Canada Day celebration, is up for awards in five categories. Doc Walker’s nominations include group of the year; song of the year for “Rocket Girl”; album of the year for Curve; independent group of the year and independent song of the year for “Rocket Girl.”
Ted Ellis, video director for \"Rocket Girl\" and Joel Feeney, producer of the same song, have also been nominated for CCMA Industry Awards, while Doc Walker’s Manager Ron Kitchener has also been nominated for his management work.
The awards will be handed out September 8 in Calgary at a ceremony hosted by singer Paul Brandt, who the band is also touring with in the late fall. The show will be broadcast live on CBC at 8pm EST and on CMT in the US with re-broadcasts on CMT Canada.
The Brandon Folk Music and Art Festival is set to get underway for its 19th summer on July 26 and 27 at the Keystone Centre Grounds. This year’s exhibition of musical talent and artistic display offers the people of Brandon and beyond the opportunity to come together as a community and observe and support our many talented artists, musicians, and performers.
While smaller than the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Brandon Folk Music and Art Festival offers a diverse line up of musical talent for the spectator as well as workshops for dance and drumming.
Performing on Main Stage this year will be former Peggers Ben Sures and Joel Kroeker, as well as local favourites Nathan, D. Rangers, Brandy Zdan, Jeremy Proctire, and Jody Weger. The popular Kids Area will be visited by the talens of Jake Chenier, Small Rooms, Just Kidding and more.
Also featured this year is an opportunity for the intrepid performer to take the spotlight on the open mic stage.
For more information, please visit www.folk.mb.ca.
When you think of an internationally-respected theatre festival, you don’t necessarily think of catching some of the finest local music. But the Winnipeg Fringe Festival continues its tradition of presenting some of Manitoba’s most exciting artists on its popular outdoor stage at Old Market Square this year, offering a wide variety of different musical styles.
With 23 performers ranging from rockers Joe Karma, Kim Wright and Freeman to the Abu Simbel Middle Eastern Dance to multi-national world musicians Burnt to Marcel Soulodre’s Johnny Cash tribute, this year’s outdoor stage promises a little something for everything searching for a great night of free music.
This year’s festival has expanded to 12 days, making it the longest Fringe in North America. In 2002, the Festival broke all previous records with over $62,000 people purchasing tickets for indoor shows, an 8% increase from the previous year. In 2002, 74,450 people took in the entertainment at the MTS Speedorama Outdoor Stage at Old Market Square.
Presenting live theatre in an informal, accessible and inexpensive environment, the Fringe strives to break down traditional boundaries between audience and ar...
After a two year absence from hometown stages, Winnipeg’s own Propagandhi returns for two sold-out performances. Tomorrow night's concert at the West End Cultural Centre and Saturday's gig at The Zoo are the band’s first local concerts since the 2001 release of its latest effort, Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes.
Known for their strong politics and social consciousness, the internationally-acclaimed punk trio bolsters its reputation by making both performances benefit concerts (for Ontario’s Grassy Narrows First Nation – which is currently in a land-use dispute with a logging company - and the International Solidarity Movement, a humanitarian organization that aids Palestinian communities).
While Propagandhi may not have rocked Winnipeg audiences recently, the band did make its way to Brandon and Portage la Prairie last month for two more benefit concerts, the latter raising about $2,000 for the construction of a women's shelter.
The band continues to run its own record label, G7 Welcoming Committee, which is home to other locals like Greg MacPherson, Malefaction and early Weaktherthans, as well as Hamilton’s Warsawpack and Sweden’s Randy.
What began 30 years ago as a one-time free campout in the wilds of a small Manitoba provincial park has evolved from a modest outdoor event into one of the pre-eminent music festivals in the world, and a summer tradition for many throughout North America. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the Winnipeg Folk Festival continues to offer its audiences an impressive array of talent from around the world, representing all of the ever-widening continuum that is “folk music”. With seven daytime stages, and a Main Stage every evening, the Festival features approximately 60 acts representing over 200 musicians. This year’s headliners include the likes of Bob Geldof, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Ani DiFranco, Billy Bragg, Leon Redbone, John Hammond, and Buddy Guy.
Manitoban acts have always been an important part of the Folk Festival line-up, and this year is no exception. R&B performer Mark Reeves, folk popsters Nathan, sultry songstresses the Wyrd Sisters, children’s entertainers Al Simmons, Just Kiddin’, 4 Corners, and Aaron Burnett, singer/songwriters Don Freed, Alana Levandoski, Heather Bishop, and Sam Baardman, and aboriginal artists Shingoose and Burnt are some of the ...
Expect to hear more local independent music coming over commercial radio airwaves in the near future. With a rare move, rock station Power 97 has added five local independent bands to its playlist.
Over 170 acts applied for Power 97’s River City Rocks contest. Projektor, Driver, X Engine X, Steeple Chaser and Blush took the prize, which gets their music heard at least 20 times a week on the popular station. Each band will also appear on the River City Rocks: Class of 2003 compilation CD, which will make its way to stores on July 8.
To launch the CD, Power 97 will be throwing a CD release party with all the bands – as well as local rock favourites Sonic Bloom and Jet Set Satellite - at Silverado's on Friday, July 4.
Manitoba has a renowned reputation for being home to some of Canada’s most legendary and well-respected recording artists of the past 25 years, such as The Guess Who, Bachman Turner Overdrive and Neil Young, The Crash Test Dummies, The Watchmen, Chantal Kreviazuk and Remy Shand.
As part of the Canada Day celebrations in Los Angeles, MANITOBA FILM & SOUND together with the Province of Manitoba and MARIA, is hosting a showcase event at the legendary Whisky A-Go-Go on Sunset Boulevard on Monday, June 30.
Featuring a selection of Manitoba’s next generation of musical talents, there will be performances by Holly McNarland, Doc Walker, McMaster & James and The Waking Eyes.
In conjunction with the showcase, a selection of Manitoba labels and managers - including Smallman Records, Endearing Records, Rising Sun Productions and Studio 11/Arbor Records - are traveling to Los Angeles, as part of the trade delegation. Meetings are being set up with L.A.-based labels, as well as with a number of film music supervisors.
Along with the province, the Canadian consulate in L.A. is co-hosting Canada Day the celebrations honouring Manitoba. Each year, a different province is chos...
Winnipeg’s only entertainment weekly is celebrating its sweet 16. Uptown Magazine, which puts 19,000 copies out in 400 locations at every corner of Winnipeg every Thursday, will take over The Royal Albert on June 27 for a birthday bash featuring music from some popular local bands.
“Uptown has been improving so much over the years, we felt it was a perfect time to throw a party,” explains Music, Features and Assignment Editor Susan Krepart, who has been at the magazine since 1998. ”Uptown is supportive of local music and it seemed natural to ask some of our favourite local bands who have been entertaining us over the years to help us entertain our readers.”
And entertain its readers it will, with local supergroup The Mistakes (which features members from such well-known acts as The VaGiants, The Rowdymen, Guy Smiley and Stagmummer) will churn out old soul with an edge, pop band Mike Trike (which includes members of Chords of Canada, Nathan, and the Lovedaddys) and intense rockers Projektor.
As if the music weren’t enough, the cast of the upcoming Fringe Festival production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch will give a sneak peak of their highly-anticipated cul...
Fresh from its recent Juno nomination, Starfield is signing a record deal with Nashville’s Sparrow Records after six months of talks. Sparrow, which specializes in faith-based music of many genres – from alternative rock to celtic, is home to such prominent artists as Steven Curtis Chapman, The Newsboys, Switchfoot, The Elms, ZOE Girl, and Nicole Nordeman. As part of assembling a team around the label, Starfield has also partnered up with CAA booking and Proper management.
Things have been happening quickly for the Winnipeg-based acoustic pop/rock outfit, founded by brothers Tim and Jon Neufeld just over three years ago. March saw them win five out of five of the Vibe Awards – a celebration of Canadian Christian music - they were nominated for, including Artist of the Year and Group of the Year. In February, Starfield was nominated for a Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year.
The band will head south to Nashville at the beginning of July to begin recording a new album, which will include re-recorded versions of six songs from their Juno-nominated sophomore release, Tumbling After. Starfield hopes to release the album in February 2004....
For the second time in five years, Winnipeg’s own CKUW Campus/Community Radio and The Winnipeg Campus Radio Society will be hosting the annual National Campus/Community Radio Conference in downtown Winnipeg. Workshops will be held at the University of Winnipeg during the day. The conference also features three nights of concerts with some of Winnipeg’s best musical talent, including Paper Moon, Telepathic Butterflies, Greg MacPherson and many more.
NCRC serves as the annual general meeting for the National Campus.Community Radio Association (NCRA/ANREC) and is a chance for community and campus radio volunteers and staff to get together. The conference features intense skill-building workshops, excellent parties, the Standard Campus/Community Radio Awards, and a full day Women's Conference.
Since 1981, the NCRC has given non-profit radio staff and volunteers a great opportunity to meet radio enthusiasts from all over, share ideas, initiate new projects, and celebrate excellence within non-profit radio communities.
This year, the conference will feature an address by journalist Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!, an international, daily, independent, award-winning news progr...
It’s that time of the year again when downtown clubs play host to a diverse array of local and international acts for the annual Jazz Winnipeg Festival. Far from a purely a jazz only event, this year’s lineup includes hip-hop, worldbeat, blues, flamenco, and rock acts as well as a slew of top-notch traditional and contemporary jazz artists.
The big names at the 14th annual Jazz Winnipeg Festival include the legendary California jam band Little Feat, vocalists Holly Cole and Denzel Sinclaire, the heavyweight duo of guitarist Russell Malone and pianist Benny Green, rapper K-OS, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and the Cyrus Chestnut Trio.
The 10-day event is also a great opportunity for Winnipeg audiences to hear some great local talent as well, including Mark Reeves, Jodie Borle, Greg Lowe, Jennifer Hanson, Big Jay and the Jive Flyers, Dominique Reynolds, and Mood Ruff. The festival kicked off at Old Market Square with a free event dedicated to ska, including Winnipeg favourites The Afterbeat and JFK & the Conspirators. The Festival features a Manitoba Night at Prairie Theatre Exchange, a Tribute to Miles Davis on June 16th.
Following a trend seen at other major North Americ...
Barely two weeks after Winnipeggers made a strong impression at the New Music West conference and festival in Vancouver, a host of performers from the River City are preparing to go knock ‘em dead once again: this time at Toronto’s massive North by Northeast music industry extravaganza.
This year, Manitobans are filling twelve out of the 350 performance spots available at the three-day festival and conference, and the diversity of the Manitoban contingent is sure to turn heads. Recently repatriated songwriter Holly McNarland is making the trip; so are ska outfits JFK & The Conspirators and the Wedgewoods and prog-rock purveyors Volume.
Vintage country connoisseur Scott Nolan, charming folk-pop duo Easily Amused and bluegrass hellraisers the D. Rangers will be on hand to show Toronto what true prairie roots is all about; meanwhile, fiery rock diva Kim Wright and politically-minded punkers the Brat Attack will bring a more furious edge. The Weakerthans will also take the stage as a featured performer in NXNE’s Bonus Series (that also includes Gord Downie and The Headstones).
Winnipeg-based label Endearing will have its own showcase on Thursday night at the el Moca...
What do The Farrell Brothers, Cheatron and Dominique Reynolds all have in common? All three local artists are releasing anticipated albums over the weekend in Winnipeg.
Singer/songwriter Reynolds will release her debut full length, Coming Home, at the Blue Agave on Thursday, May 29. Armed with a piano and a powerful voice, Reynolds blends pop, jazz and folk on her new offering, which was produced by Murray Pulver (Doc Walker, Wyrd Sisters, Crash Test Dummies). For the party, Reynolds will be joined by fellow members of a capella World music sextet Madrigaia as well as a talented backing band featuring Richard Moody, Daniel Roy and DJ Brace.
Popular rockabilly duo the Farrell Bros’ third effort, Rumble @ the Opry - which shares its name with the brothers’ weekly radio program on CKUW 95.9 FM, will be release in Canada on west coast punk label, Teenage Rampage. Next month, under the name Curbstomp Boggie, the album will make its way across the rest of the world on English psychobilly label Raucous Records. Winnipeg audiences can catch the Farrells’ CD release with The Rowdymen at West End Cultural Centre on Friday, May 30.
Just in case there’s anyone left in Canada who isn’t aware of Manitoba’s tendency to produce top-notch musicians, this year’s New Music West music festival and conference promises to deliver a healthy dose of that good ol’ prairie talent to conference-goers from across the country.
Among the more than 200 bands and artists making the trek out to Vancouver from May 21st to May 25th, there are six showcasing Winnipeg artists. These include atmospheric rockers Blueprint Gallery, rockabilly kings the Farrell Bros., pop sweethearts Paper Moon, psychedelic mod rockers the Waking Eyes (whose recent showcase before Warner label reps was extremely well-received), melodic guitar-slingers Livid, and progressive rock innovators The Lanes.
Another big winner at NMW this year is Winnipeg’s own Endearing Records, which will be represented by five showcasing bands. Besides the abovementioned Paper Moon and Waking Eyes, Endearing bands The Meligrove Band, Readymade, and The Salteens will also be showcasing.
As is what happens every time a vast number of music industry members converge on a single destination, this year’s NMW guarantees to offer a wide range of opportuni...
With so many bands searching desperately for their big break, now that Nathan has got one, they’re taking it in stride... even though they won the regional spot for the CBC Radio’s Big Break competition, snagging a spot on a compilation CD and earning them a trip to Toronto on May 31st to play alongside Ontario’s regional winners Microbunny, vocalist Keri McTighe is taking it with her customary humility.
“They probably asked all the bands who could get to the show, and Nathan and Microbunny were the only takers?” McTighe says with a healthy dose of humor. “A number of industry reps have been invited from Universal, Maple Music, EMI, and BMG, so it’s more of a showcase than anything.”
All modesty aside, the show represents another in a string of accomplishments for the relatively new otufit. After almost two years since the release of their debut CD, Stranger, Nathan has been surrounded by a healthy buzz that has grown as audiences across the country have been charmed by the outfit’s beguiling, eclectic sounds and breathtaking lyrics. McTighe picked up the Manitoban regional award in Standard Radio National Songwriting Competition, and the band scooped up the 200...
While many artists feel pressured to keep cranking out records at a preternaturally brisk pace, local roots connoisseur Mark Reeves has found that taking time to stop and smell the flowers isn’t just good for the blood pressure… it’s good for the tunes of well. And nowhere is this more evident than on Reeves’ brand new CD, Sure Is a Pretty Name.
Reeves’ third record in 15 years of performing, and first since 1998, Sure Is a Pretty Name is undoubtedly his most comprehensive to date. Heavy doses of the blues meet sprinklings of soulful R&B, served on a plate of vintage Americana: but Reeves’ own upbeat vibe colors the music beyond its folksy roots.
“It’s wonderful to finally complete it,” Reeves says on the eve of his May 10th CD release party at the Orbit Room. “Not being on a major label gives me the freedom to have time between records, and to wait until the good material comes out. The biggest realization I had is that patience is good for me as far as songwriting: I can wait until the creative juices are really flowing.”
With a jam-packed summer touring season that will include performances at five folk festivals, the Winnipeg Jazz Festival (where he w...
After more than 20 years of bringing her skillful and intriguing explorations into the world of traditional Slavic music, Winnipeg’s Alexis Kochan and her ensemble, Paris to Kyiv, are now bringing the sounds of ancient Ukraine to... Ukraine?
That’s right. For the first time since launching the Paris to Kyiv project in 1993, Kochan is taking it straight to the source, embarking on a three-week trip to Europe in May. While she did a preliminary foray into Eastern Europe during a trip to Poland in 2001, the upcoming tour - which will see the ensemble travel to Belgrade, Warsaw, and Kyiv, among other cities - will be the first time that Kochan has set a determined musical foot in her music’s homeland.
“What happened in Ukraine is with the new independence, the post-Soviet thing, American influence is huge there. Mainstream rock and pop is huge. What happens because of those influences is that with something stronger and more powerful taking over, cultural elements are being lost,” Kochan says of the necessity of preserving traditional art forms. “It takes someone going back in and saying, ‘you have a beautiful culture here.’”
In an announcement by Eric Robinson, Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, MANITOBA FILM & SOUND will receive an extra $1 million dollars in funding, the first increase to the Agency’s base budget in over a decade.
“We’re just ecstatic,” said Carole Vivier, CEO of MANITOBA FILM & SOUND. “This increase is long-awaited and fantastic news for the Agency, as well as the film and sound recording industries. There is an enormous demand on our funds and the increase will allow us to further invest in both the film and sound recording sectors. With this announcement the Government of Manitoba has demonstrated their belief that the cultural industries are viable and significant to the economic and cultural growth of Manitoba, and for that we are very thankful.”
In fiscal year 2002/2003, film production activity funded by MANITOBA FILM & SOUND reached an unprecedented $82 million consisting of 39 projects funded either through equity investment and/or the Manitoba Film and Video Tax Credit. Furthermore, 39 projects were funded through the Demo and/or Sound Recording Production Fund leveraging $415,300 in sound recording activity.
There’s still more than two months to go until the 2003 Fringe Festival, and already the buzz is swarming. But few shows have ever gathered as much advance buzz as a little project put on by Mike Wright and Norm Jensen… a show otherwise known as Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
The Herculean effort to bring Hedwig to Winnipeg began shortly after the film version of the cult musical was released in 2001, when freelance audio engineer Wright (of local bands Ditchpig and Trousermouth) came to the conclusion that Winnipeg needed its own production. Meanwhile, Jensen had already obtained the rights to the show, but was considering giving it up until he met up with Wright.
“I’ve wanted to do this for quite a long time,” says Wright. “I heard through a mutual friend that Norm had acquired the rights, so we met that way. He was going to drop the idea because he realized what a big production it would be. I said, ‘No, we can do it!’”
The production began with the right venue. Wright, who is acting as Hedwig’s co-producer and sound designer, and Jensen, who is directing and co-producing, settled on the Royal Albert because it offered exactly the kind of unique, smeary atmos...
Manitoba is coming home from the Junos with three trophies after the April 6th awards in Ottawa. Internationally-acclaimed children’s entertainer Fred Penner won Best Children’s Album for his Sing with Fred while Brandon violinist James Ehnes won Classical Album of the Year (soloist or large ensemble) at the non-televised portion of the Junos. During the televised awards show, Remy Shand’s Motown release The Way I Feel was named R&B/Soul Recording of the Year.
While Shand was not able to attend the successful reception for Winnipeg’s bid for the 2005 Junos on April 5th at Ottawa’s Empire Grill, he made mention of his home town during his acceptance speech and exclaimed “We’ll see you at the Junos in 2005!” Shand also gave a dynamic performance during the show, singing while playing both organ and electric guitar for sold-out crowd.
Portage la Prairie nominees for Country Recording of the Year, Doc Walker - joined by culture minister Sheila Copps - were presenters along with pop chanteuse Chantal Kreviazuk – fresh from a Winnipeg performance at the Burton Cummings Theatre.
Lynn Lake-born Tom Cochrane was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and ...
When they changed the name of the Walker Theatre to the Burton Cummings Theatre for the Performing Arts, hopefully everyone realized that the name change wasn’t just paying lip service to the rock legend and Winnipeg native. Because on April 10th, Burton’s going to give a little something back... namely, an intimate performance at the theatre, with all of the proceeds going to help get the 96-year-old building back in business.
As part of the 2002 agreement that saw the theatre renamed, Cummings agreed to provide a number of fundraising performances over the next five years, beginning with the upcoming Up Close and Alone. And if future galas go as well, consider the venture an overwhelming success - the fundraiser had already raised $110,000 several days before the show, surpassing its original goal of raising $100,000.
While tickets for the evening are running at up to $500.00, for Burton’s fans it certainly isn’t too much to see such an intimate evening by the former Guess Who frontman and successful solo artist. It also isn’t too much to give to help see the historic theatre returned to its original glory. The theatre, which is a registered not-for-profit...
