Curling for a Cause: Manitoba Music Rocks Charity Curling Bonspiel Adds Kick-off Party at The Lo Pub, Launches Curling Tip Videos

Posted on January 25, 2012

The Manitoba music community is ready to rock!

Registration may have filled up fast for the Manitoba Music Rocks Charity Curling Bonspiel, but there are still lots of opportunities to get involved and enjoy the festivities. The second annual bonspiel, which is organized by Manitoba Music and Manitoba Film & Music, unites the vibrant local music community to raise funds and awareness for the Unison Benevolent Fund, a new assistance and referral program designed to provide discreet relief to music industry personnel in times of personal hardship and crisis.

The Lo Pub will be warming up curlers and music fans alike at a special kick-off party on February 11, featuring performances by local indie pop/rock outfits Haunter, A Waste Odyssey, and Modern Romantics, as well as a late night set by DJ Hunnicutt. Showtime is 9:30pm and all proceeds from the event’s $7 cover will be donated to the Unison Benevolent Fund.

Citytv Winnipeg’s Breakfast Television has produced five videos offering fun curling tips from some of Manitoba’s best-known musician curlers. The first video to be released features internationally-acclaimed singer/songwriter and Weakerthans front man John K. Samson, who released his highly-anticipated debut solo album Provincial on January 24. Upcoming videos will include helpful hints from Jeremy Hiebert of world-travelling metal act Comeback Kid, DJ extraordinaire Mama Cutsworth, and acoustic pop troubadour JP Hoe, as well as Manitoba Music's Executive Director Sara Stasiuk and Manitoba Film & Music’s CEO & Film Commissioner Carole Vivier. Check out the videos on Breakfast Television and see them online at www.manitobamusic.com/videos.

MB CURLING TIPS JOHN K SAMSON FINAL from Kevin McQuade on Vimeo.

The inaugural bonspiel, which took place last January, was a resounding success. Over 100 people came together to curl for the cause, raising over $2000 for the Unison Fund in the process. This year’s bonspiel, which is now sold out, will take place on February 12 at the Granite Curling Club. For those who didn’t register in time to get a team on the ice, donations can still be made to the cause by contacting curling@manitobamusic.com or calling 204.942.8650. People are welcome to come down, watch the event, and check out the prizes in the fundraising raffle.

The Manitoba Music Rocks Charity Curling Bonspiel is made possible by the support of the following sponsors: Pitblado Law, Citytv Winnipeg Breakfast Television, Special T Shirt Company, Half Pints Brewing Co., The Lo Pub, Guppy Graphic Design, Paquin Entertainment Group, Long & McQuade, Fairmont, DigginIT, and Payworks.