Manitoba Music Shines on Canada Day at The Forks

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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.

The main stage event at the Scotiabank Stage kicks off with traditional Franco-Manitoban music and dance courtesy of acclaimed ensemble Ça Claque! at 4 p.m. followed by sets from roots darlings Sweet Alibi, pop/rock duo Mise En Scene, acoustic pop outfit The Treble, and country rocker Bryce Pallister, as well as the turntable talents of DJ Mama Cutsworth. The entertainment will be capped off by Imaginary Cities and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra joining forces in the lead-up to a captivating fireworks display. This year, the explosive finale will light up the sky to an all-local playlist of some of this province's most exciting voices.

The bustling hub at Under the Canopy will start the day with children's entertainment and then feature more exciting local acts including the Dixieland stylings of The F-Holes, singer/songwriter Frannie Klein, globetrotting roots outfit Crooked Brothers, Mexican prog rockers Mariachi Ghost, cinematic rock trio This Hisses, and garage rockers The Bokononists.

The historic Rail Bridge will host intimate performances in a stunning waterside setting, including singer/songwriter Grant Davidson, country chanteuse Ali Fontaine, ukulele toting singer Brooke Palsson, folk duo The Sturgeons, and hip hop singer/songwriter Leonard Sumner. In the spirit of The Forks’ Target Zero campaign, this year’s stage will be powered by a specially-designed bicycle generator.  

“There is so much interest in the idea of local these days, and with music it’s no different,” says Sara Stasiuk, Manitoba Music’s executive director. “We’re excited to partner with The Forks once again to bring audiences some of our province’s most talented artists.” 

“We’re thrilled to continue to offer the best Canada Day party in town at The Forks year after year,” says Paul Jordan, chief operating officer at The Forks. “We’ve made some very cool and unique additions to the event this year, such as Big Games and the bicycle-generated Rail Bridge stage.  And of course, the musical lineup is full of incredible home-grown talent.”  

The biggest birthday party in the city is happening The Forks on Canada Day. Aside from the three incredible musical stages there will also be Big Games, the Founding Nations Tribal Village, free activities at Parks Canada, special themed activities at the Children’s Museum, a Public Market, and the Splash Dash Waterbus Fireworks Tour. For more information, visit theforks.com and manitobamusic.com.

Schedule: Manitoba Music Live on Canada Day at The Forks

SCOTIABANK STAGE
4:00 PM Ça Claque!
4:40 PM Dignitaries/O Canada
5:00 PM Sweet Alibi
6:00 PM Mise En Scene
7:00 PM The Treble
8:00 PM Bryce Pallister
9:00 PM Imaginary Cities
10:00 PM Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
10:40 PM WSO and Imaginary Cities
11:00 PM Fireworks

UNDER THE CANOPY STAGE
1:30 PM Drum Café
2:30 PM Kyle Cobb
2:45 PM Charlotte Kosc
3:00 PM Street Circus
3:30 PM The F-Holes
5:30 PM Frannie Klein
6:30 PM Crooked Brothers
7:30 PM Mariachi Ghost
8:30 PM The Hisses
9:30 PM The Bokononists

RAIL BRIDGE STAGE
1:00 PM Grant Davidson
2:00 PM Ali Fontaine
3:00 PM Brooke Palsson
4:00 PM The Sturgeons
5:00 PM Leonard Sumner

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