MANITOBA MUSIC ON ICE: Local Artists Bring Music to Warming Huts Along the Red River Mutual Trail

On Louis Riel Day Weekend last year along the frozen ice of the Assiniboine River, a dozen or so brave Manitoba musicians donned their best winter wear for an acoustic afternoon of live music at the innovative warming huts. Manitoba Music On Ice warmed up thousands of chilled visitors on the world's longest natural skating trail.

Produced by some of Winnipeg's acclaimed festivals and presenters, the event was such a success that organizers The Forks and Manitoba Music are heating up the ice again this year, and almost doubling the line-up along the Red River Mutual Trail.   

From 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 16, music fans can celebrate the Year of Music in Manitoba with the sounds of homegrown talent courtesy of roots outfit The Bros. Landreth; Neil Watson's jazz trio; singer/songwriters Andrew Neville, Claire Morrison, and Cassidy Mann; hip hop act Chris Bennett & DilltheGiant featuring live art by Brian G; indie pop/rockers Federal Lights; and the turntable talents of DJs Nathan Zahn and Kasm.  

This year, nine presenters will bring audiences a diverse line-up of local talent. Aboriginal Music Week, Festival du Voyageur, West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg Folk Festival, and Winnipeg International Jazz Festival are all slated to return, along with a few new presenters, Big Fun Festival, BreakOut West, MEME Festival, and Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club.

Festival du Voyageur will be bringing the party onto the ice with special programming around The Trading Post bar and its Rendez Vous on Ice, including a day of music featuring performances by Sol James, Red Moon Road, Dirty Catfish Brass Band, L'ensemble musical Pierre Freynet, and DJs RPG and Colin Shots. 

Warming Huts v.2014: An Art + Architecture Competition on Ice, was an open competition, endorsed by the Manitoba Association of Architects. Proposals for the competition were all submitted online at warminghuts.com. The jury selected the designs that best “push the envelope of design, craft and art.” The winning designs find their home on the ice from late January through early March, or for as long as Mother Nature will allow.

PERFORMER SCHEDULE

Under the Canopy 
Presented by MEME Festival
1-4 PM DJs Nathan Zahn and Kasm

Skybox
1:00 PM Federal Lights | Presented by BreakOut West
1:30 PM Cassidy Mann | Presented by Aboriginal Music Week
2:00 PM Federal Lights
2:30 PM Cassidy Mann
3:00 PM Federal Lights
3:30 PM Cassidy Mann 

Wind Catcher 
Presented by Big Fun Festival
1-4 PM Chris Bennett & Dill the Giant featuring Brian G. the artist 

Hygge House
1:00 PM The Bros. Landreth | Presented by West End Cultural Centre
1:30 PM Neil Watson | Presented by TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival
2:00 PM The Bros. Landreth
2:30 PM Neil Watson
3:00 PM The Bros. Landreth
3:30 PM Neil Watson 

The Trading Post – Rendez Vous on Ice 
Presented by Festival du Voyageur
12:00 PM DJ Colin Shots
12:30 PM Sol James
1:00 PM DJ Colin Shots
1:30 PM Dirty Catfish Brass Band
2:00 PM DJ Colin Shots
2:30 PM Red Moon Road
3:00 PM Fashion on Ice
3:30 PM DJ RPG
3:30 PM Fashion on Ice reception
4:00 PM DJ RPG
4:30 PM L'ensemble musical Pierre Freynet
5:30 PM DJ RPG

Winter Garden
1:00 PM Andrew Neville | Presented by Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club
1:30 PM Claire Morrison | Presented by Winnipeg Folk Festival
2:00 PM Andrew Neville
3:30 PM Claire Morrison
3:00 PM Andrew Neville
3:30 PM Claire Morrison