Manitoba Music is partnering with the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) to produce a Manitoba Aboriginal artists showcase at the Reservation Economic Summit in Las Vegas on March 13, 2013. The showcase will be a part of the conference's exclusive VIP reception, which will play host to tribal leaders, talent buyers, media, representatives from Native American casinos, and business leaders from across the U.S. Three acclaimed singer/songwriters from Manitoba will showcase at the event, including Don Amero, Desiree Dorion, and Tracy Bone.
Manitoba Music's Aboriginal Music Program will be taking over the Pyramid Cabaret on March 24 for a showcase of emerging Aboriginal artists, dubbed the Native America North Showcase. The event -- which features sets by country singer/songwriter Jerry Sereda and Desiree Dorion, new country duo D’Aoust Brothers, singer/songwriters and rapper Lorenzo, and teenage pop singer Savannah Rae Boyko -- offers the performers an opportunity to connect with the industry tastemakers and continue to build on their success. CBC Music, the event's media sponsor, will be on hand to host the event.
The five acts will perform for the influential panelists in town for the Aboriginal Music Live presenters panel on March 22 at Manitoba Music. Visiting speakers include Patti Shaughnessy of Ode'min Giizis Festival, Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Association’s Adele Boychuk, Sky Bridges of APTN’s Aboriginal Day Live, and Shawn Termin of the National Museum of the American Indian in New York.
Four Aboriginal recording acts from Manitoba landed seven nominations at this year’s Native American Music Awards (NAMA). The NAMAs will be handed out in Niagara Falls, New York on October 7, 2011.
Country songstress Desiree Dorion picked up two nods for her debut recording, Soul Back Jack, including Best Country Recording and Best Female Artist. Dorion picked up a North American Indigenous Image Award for Outstanding Country Album earlier this year, as well as a nod from the Indian Summer Music Awards.
Singer/songwriter Don Amero also landed two nominations for his latest, The Long Way Home, including Best Folk Recording and Debut Artist of the Year. The album has already garnered several nominations this year, including four Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards and a Western Canadian Music Awards.
Musician/composer/producer, Vince Fontaine, who is perhaps best known for his award-winning rock outfit Eagle & Hawk, received two nominations for his recording Songs for Turtle Island, including Best Instrumental Recording and Best Producer.
Opera singer Rhonda Head is up for Best World Music Recording for her debut, Kayas. Head is also up for an Indian Summer Music Award in the Spiritual category.
