Folk Awards Weekend Invades Winnipeg

When the Canadian Folk Music Awards invade Winnipeg this weekend, the local music community will be ready to show off its roots. The sixth annual gala event makes its first trip to the historic Pantages Playhouse on November 20, bringing with it a weekend of exciting events and stellar talent.

Folk Awards Weekend, which runs November 19-20 in various city venues and clubs, boasts nearly a dozen events, including concerts, showcases, workshops, an open mic, and a film screening. Audiences can catch performances by some of Canada’s top folk and roots luminaries, including Amelia Curran, Beyond the Pale, David Essig, and Grit Laskin. There will also be plenty of homegrown talent on stages throughout the weekend; with performances by Heather Bishop, Oh My Darling, Del Barber, JD Edwards, Daniel Koulack, The Magnificent 7’s TJ Blair, Nathan Rogers, and Sweet Alibi.

Winnipeg has built a reputation as a great host for music events, including the Juno Awards, Canadian Country Music Awards, Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, and Western Canadian Music Awards. The city is home to world-class venues, internationally-recognized artists, and successful music business companies. Local folk and roots artists, including The Duhks, The Wailin’ Jennys, Nathan, Romi Mayes, and Chic Gamine, have racked up numerous awards, hit stages across North American and Europe, and landed on charts and in magazines around the world. Winnipeg is also home to the legendary Winnipeg Folk Festival, which has inspired and fostered new generations of folk acts through its annual outdoor festival as well as its year-round training and events.

Created in 2005, the CFMAs celebrate and promote Canadian folk music in all its forms and genres. They are the first awards dedicated specifically to celebrating the breadth and depth of folk music in Canada. During their six-year history, Manitoba artists have picked up five awards and 40 nominations, including nods this year for Juno-winning roots trio The Wailin’ Jennys, banjo virtuoso Daniel Koulack, Francophone children’s performer Madame Diva, folk/swing act Woody Holler and His Orchestra, Francophone singer/songwriter Geneviève Toupin, country/folk act Tom Racine, and Juno-winning Aboriginal rock outfit Eagle & Hawk.

The Winnipeg Host Committee, which put in a successful bid to host the CMFAs in 2008, has worked closely with the CFMAs to produce this month’s events. The Committee consists of several local music industry professionals and stakeholders, including Manitoba Music executive director Sara Stasiuk, Winnipeg Folk Festival executive director Tamara Kater, Winnipeg Folk Festival artistic director Chris Frayer, Manitoba Homecoming 2010 executive director Kevin Walters, Manitoba Film & Music manager of music programs Jason Smith, arts management consultant with the Department of Culture, Heritage, and Tourism Sam Baardman, Manitoba Music program manager Sean McManus, West End Cultural Centre artistic director Mike Petkau, and Dominic Lloyd.

FOLK AWARDS WEEKEND EVENTS

Friday, November 19

CFMA NOMINEE SHOWCASE
Featuring: Karrnnel & Koulack, Brenda MacIntyre, Beyond the Pale, Chris Mclean, Duo Boulanger-Duval, Alexandre Boivin-Caron, Samantha Robichaud, Rik Barron
West End Cultural Centre, 586 Ellice Avenue
Show @ 7 PM
Tickets $20 available at http://www.ticketmaster.ca/

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE FOLK EXCHANGE
Host: TJ Blair (The Magnificent 7’s)
The Folk Exchange, 221 Bannatyne Avenue
Show @ 7 PM

CFMA NOMINEE BEYOND THE PALE
Aqua Books, 274 Garry Street
Show @ 10 PM
Tickets $10/door

CFMA NOMINEE THE ONCE, with special guests JD EDWARDS & SWEET ALIBI
Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club, 234 Main Street
Shows @ 10 PM

MANITOBA MUSIC AND PAQUIN ENTERTAINMENT SHOWCASE
Featuring: Wool on Wolves, Oh My Darling, Del Barber
Le Garage, 166 Provencher Blvd
Show @ 10 PM
Admission free

Saturday, November 20

THE WORLD OF WORK FILM SCREENING: ONE WARM LINE
Featuring: Ariel Rogers, Nathan Rogers, Paul Mills, Grit Laskin
Cinematheque, 100 Arthur Street
Show @ 1 PM
Tickets $8/door

WORKSHOP – “IT ALL STARTS WITH A SONG”
Featuring: Lennie Gallant
Workshop @ 1 PM
Admission free – advance registration required, visit http://www.manitobamusic.com/workshops

CFMA NOMINEE AMELIA CURRAN
Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club, 234 Main Street
Show @ 3 PM
Tickets $15/door

WORKSHOP – “SONGS ABOUT WORKING PEOPLE”
Featuring: Heather Bishop, Dave Essig, Rik Barron, Grit Laskin
The Folk Exchange, 211 Bannatyne Avenue
Show @ 3:15 PM
Admission free

CFMA GALA AWARDS SHOW
Pantages Playhouse Theatre, 180 Market Street
Show @ 8 PM
Tickets $36.75 from Winnipeg Folk Festival Music Store, 211 Bannatyne Avenue, (204) 231-1377 or http://www.ticketmaster.ca/