SpaceLand to Transform Vacant Downtown Lot Into Portage Ave Pop-up Party

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Orlando Gloom
Dave Quanbury
Rah Rah
Duotang
Efflo
Ghost Twin
Head In The Sand
Touching
VIKINGS

You’ve probably walked by it hundreds of times without noticing. A lonely space nestled between two downtown Winnipeg buildings is nothing remarkable. But it’s about to be…

Head In The Sand is teaming up with Manitoba Music for SpaceLand: a friendly takeover of a Portage Avenue lot on Saturday, June 4. The under-utilized urban space between Edmonton and Kennedy streets will be transformed to host an afternoon and evening of live music, video projections, comedians, food trucks, and more.

Bringing the best parts of big music fests into an intimate central setting, SpaceLand’s stellar music lineup includes Regina’s JUNO and Polaris-nominated indie rock outfit, Rah Rah, along with  local talent, including electro pop outfit VIKINGS, dark synthpop duo Ghost Twin, indie pop/rockers Touching, reunited mod rock pair Duotang, alt.rock band Sc Mira, punk rock brass band Dave Quanbury & The Exile Brass Band, one woman dream pop act Floor Cry, and the chillwave synth of Orlando Gloom.

A nod to the classic games at the Magicland arcade that once brought youth downtown, SpaceLand also references our city's abundance of wide open space, and our history of under-using that space.

Inspired by the famed SXSW lot parties that dot the Austin landscape at the massive music mecca, Manitoba Association of Landscape Architects joins the team to help create a unique physical experience for visitors, based on the mutual themes of Space Invaders and stepping into another dimension.

“Our city plays such a prominent role in the voice of our artistic community,” says Head In The Sand’s Michael Falk, who produced the event. “SpaceLand’s goal is to celebrate and amplify that relationship.”

“Creative place-making and unexpected cultural activities help people stay excited about their city,” says Manitoba Music’s executive director, Sean McManus. “We’re thrilled to help bring this vision into reality and give Winnipeggers a really distinctive community experience filled with great live music.”

SpaceLand doors fling open at 2PM on Saturday, June 4. The first act hits the stage at 3PM and the party keeps going until 1AM. Tickets are on sale now for $15 via https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spaceland-tickets-24754670887

SpaceLand is part of the Downtown BIZ's new Host It Downtown program. We acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR and Canada’s private radio broadcasters.

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