Warm Weather Brings Live Music

This is a big weekend for live music in Manitoba. Between National Aboriginal Day, World Music Day, and a variety of CD and video releases, there are plenty of hot ticket events to catch now that the weather has finally decided to act like summer. Here are just a few of the concerts coming up this weekend at a club, stage, or field near you...

BRAINFEST
The three-day outdoor mini-festival, which takes place about 100km outside of Winnipeg in East Braintree, will host more than 27 DJs on a fully-decorated, UV-lit dance floor cut out of the woods. The alcohol-free, 18+ festival offers up a marketplace and free workshops during the day and runs June 19-21. DJs include Adamantium and Lo Progression and many (many, many) more.  Click here for more info.

ROCKIN THE DISTRICT
On June 20, the free outdoor concert in Winnipeg's historic Exchange District will feature live bands and DJs from 2-10pm at the newly rebuilt Old Market Square. You can catch sets from Floor Thirteen, Asado, The Afterbeat, and Shiny Toy Guns all the way from Los Angeles. You can also catch wake and skate demos, a fashion show, and an afterparty at the King's Head with DJs Pump and Headspin. Click here for more info.

AGASSIZ MUSIC FESTIVAL
Classical music fans can catch the very end of the 10th annual Agassiz International Music Festival, which started on June 10 and runs until the 20th. The festival, which is celebrating the 200th anniversary of composer Felix Mendelssohn's birth, closes off on June 19 with a gala finale at the University of Winnipeg's Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall with emerging artist Daniel Tselyakov. There's also a 10th Anniversary Fundraising Luncheon with intimate performances by festival artists at Inferno's Bistro on June 20. Click here for more info.

ELEMENTSIRCUS
For those who want out of the city, the popular solstice celebration at the Northern Sun Farm on June 20 will feature a variety of performances, including sets by Absent Sound, Vampires, Entre Parentheses, and more. The event also features an eco village and workshops on sustainability. Camping and transporation is available. Click here for more info. 

WORLD MUSIC DAY
La Fête de la Musique (World Music Day), which began in France in the early '80s, has festivals taking place simultaneously across the world on June 21. Here at home, Fête de la Musique is taking over two Winnipeg stages for a day and night of music by homegrown talent. Now celebrating its third year in Winnipeg, the event will include performances by Scott Hinkson, b.u.m.p., Kobalt, Stewart Porteous, Entre Parantheses, Stewart McEwen Trio, The Furr, Deuxième Take, Marcel Soulodre, and many more on Corydon Avenue and at the Centre culurel franco-manitobain. All events are free to the public. Click here for more info. 

NATIONAL ABORIGINAL DAY
The National Aboriginal Day celebrations in Manitoba are lead annually by the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, the Manito Ahbee Festival, the Manitoba Metis Federation, the Casinos of Winnipeg and NCI FM. This year is no different and the entertainment begins with gigs at the McPhillips Street Station on June 18, wrapping up four nights later on the Central Park Stage at the Red River Exhibition Grounds. While hip-hop prodigy Joey Stylez, bluesman George Leach, Juno winning rockers Burnt-Project 1, and fiddle master Darren Lavallee are some of the notable performers in Winnipeg this year, Tracy Bone, Eagle & Hawk, and Leanne Goose will be performing for audiences outside the province. Click here for more info.

RED RIVER EX
Sometimes there's just nothing like taking in some great music while eating mini donuts. The Red River Ex has a lot of live music to offer on various stages this year, including sets by 54-40 and Marianas Trench on June 19 and 20, respectively. Those who want to catch some local flavour will find plenty of it on the free stages, including National Aboriginal Day programming on June 21. Click here for more info.

THE PLAZA SKATEPARK
Head down to The Plaza skatepark at The Forks on Saturday, June 20 to catch the second in Manitoba Music's series of summer concerts at The Forks. Rapper Wab Kinew, fresh from his June 19 video release party, will take over The Plaza stage from 2-3pm. The Graffiti Gallery will also be on hand doing live spray paint demos. Just look for the Manitoba Music banner.

THE BONADUCES REUNION SHOW
Winnipeg legends The Bonaduces are coming together for one night only at The Lo Pub with friends Dog Day and The Cop-Outs on June 20.

RAY DAVIES' 65th BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE
Into the Music is celebrating Kinks' frontman Ray Davies 65th birthday on June 20 with live in-store performances, contests, and more. Catch Colin Bryce, The English Mocassins, Blunderspublik, Darren Day, and Mike Mulligan covering some of Davies' famous songs. Click here for more info.

RELEASE PARTIES
Traffic CD Release @ Bar Italia - June 19
Gregor CD Release @ Royal Albert - June 19
Wab Kinew Video Release @ Pyramid - June 19
DarkHorse CD Release @ The Zoo - June 20

Venues and clubs will be packed with shows this weekend, as well. For all your concert listings, visit www.manitobamusic.com/calendar.