Manitobans Turning Heads at Toronto's Canadian Music Week

Toronto's getting a little taste of Manitoba this week as five local acts head east for Canadian Music Week (CMW), one of Canada’s biggest music industry festivals. Running May 6-10 in live music venues venues, the annual event offers bands a chance to showcase for -- and connect with -- industry, media, and fans. 

This year's lineup of showcasing acts includes hardcore heroes Comeback Kid, up-and-coming alt.country act The Bros. Landreth, punk/pop duo Mobina Galore, synth-streaked pop outfit Indicator Indicator, and punk rocker band Distances. Check out the schedule of Manitoba bands at CMW

The annual event encompasses not only the popular music festival, but also a conference, trade show, and multiple awards shows. This year, several Manitoba’s artists, music companies, and radio stations could pick-up hardware at three separate awards events.  

Nominations for the Independent Music Awards, better known as The Indies, are out and there are some familiar Manitoba names on the list. 2014 JUNO Award nominees KEN Mode, Little Miss Higgins & The Winnipeg Five, and Royal Canoe landed nods from the 14th annual awards, along with Grand Analog and Mise en Scene. The hardware will be handed out at Toronto's Kool Haus on May 10. Read more

The Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards, which honour pioneers and builders of the Canadian music industry, will be held on May 8. This year's nominees include plenty of familiar names from Winnipeg's radio and live music community, including 92 CITI FM, QX 104 FM, 102.3 CLEAR FM, Burton Cummings Theatre, Pantages Playhouse, MTS Centre, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Paquin Artists Agency, Club Regent Casino, and Pyramid Cabaret. Expat Tom Cochrane will be inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame. See the complete list of nominees