Manitoba Music
Feedback, July 16 | Meet the Mentors
Build your music community. Meet your mentors.
We’re back with a new Feedback at a new location… Barn Hammer Brewing Company! This special BreakOut West-focused edition is a great way to learn about what the conference and festival has to offer ahead of its return to Winnipeg this September 24 - 28. It’s also a great place for Manitoba Music members looking to make connections and grow their community.
This year's BreakOut West event will feature four days of immersive content, including international market deep dives, one-on-one meetings with music industry professionals, artist mentorship, keynotes and feature conversations, networking events, and more. Read more at https://breakoutwest.ca/conference/get-your-pass
Feedback is Manitoba Music’s open-house style networking, mentorship, and community-building event. It’s a safe space for members to get guidance from local industry professionals and an opportunity to share thoughts and exchange ideas with music peers. Every Feedback, we invite music industry mentors from different backgrounds and experiences to hang out, answer questions, and provide folks with some guidance. Join us!
Feedback | Get to Know BreakOut West
Wednesday, July 16 / 5 - 7 PM
Barn Hammer Brewing Company, 595 Wall St,
Free / All are welcome
Ashley Bieniarz
KWIAT
KWIAT (pronounced kwai·uht), is an avant-pop musician from Winnipeg, Manitoba whose essence is interwoven in piano soulful melodies and the heartfelt resonance of the human voice, knows how to create a sonic landscape that transcends conventional boundaries. Born of Métis and Polish heritage, KWIAT, which means "flower" in Polish, draws inspiration in the rich poetry of the indie pop melodies of Fiona Apple, Japanese Breakfast, and showtunes. Infusing her music with cultural authenticity thanks to her Métis and Polish roots, KWIAT's airy, lush, and organically style evokes a colourful floral imagery.
Recipient of the Women in Music Inaugural Honour Roll Award in 2023, KWIAT has already started making her mark on the Canadian music scene. Her dedication to her craft and advocacy for gender equality in the industry have earned her the 2020 Songsmiths Western Canadian Music Award Nomination for Community Excellence, showcasing her commitment to uplifting her musical community. The same year, KWIAT curated the "Indigeneity" playlist for the prestigious Polaris Music Prize, amplifying Indigenous voices and narratives within the music landscape.
Ashley is happy to chat about showcasing, conference networking, conference preparation, songwriting
Johnny Marlow
Submissions/Administration
BreakOut West
Has been in the music industry for 36 years. Record store, manager, label and booker, festival producer. There is not too much that Johnny hasn’t done.
For the last 22 years he has been a part of BreakOut West, looking after submissions, awards, and the jury. He has also produced the festival and a big part of the conference.
BreakOut West is an annual music event that includes an immersive, music development conference, music festival with 50+ artists performing across multiple venues. The festival highlights Western Canadian talent alongside select International and Pan-Canadian artists. hosted by the Western Canadian Music Alliance. The 2025 BreakOut West Festival will take place September 24 – 28, 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Johnny is happy to chat about showcasing, Conference networking, Conference preparation, and any other BOW questions you might have.
Kerri Stephens
Lost Cat Artists
Kerri Stephens has worked in the Canadian music industry for over 17 years, with experience in programming, artist development, event planning, and community outreach. She spent nearly a decade at Winnipeg’s West End Cultural Centre, where she held roles including Artistic Director/Associate and Marketing Coordinator. In 2020, she founded Lost Cat Artists, managing artists such as 2025 Juno nominee The Secret Beach, 2025 WCMA nominee Leaf Rapids, Petunia & The Vipers, JP Hoe, and Gabi Ocejo.
Kerri leads the Manitoba chapter of Women in Music Canada, developing programs that support equity in the music sector. In 2024/2025, she co-presented a live sound training program and co-executive produced HER (204), a Winnipeg 150 recording project featuring women and gender-diverse artists covering 150 years of Manitoban music.
Now in her third year on the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s Artistic team, Kerri oversees the Young Performers Program, the Minstrel program, and supports Artist Relations. A former touring artist, she continues to mentor musicians, write grants, and develop international initiatives with Enki Music (UK).
Kerri is happy to chat about conference networking, conference preparation, artist management, festival and tour booking
Matt Horseman
Writer / Photographer / Journalist
Matt Horseman is a writer, photographer, and journalist. His work has been published in National Geographic, The Globe & Mail, Canadian Geographic, VICE, Musicworks Magazine, No Depression, The A.V. Club, The FADER, and other fine publications. He's shaped narratives and done photo and video work for artists such as Mo Kenney, Joel Plaskett, Julie Doiron, Nico Paulo, Boy Golden, July Talk, Matt Mays, and Terra Lightfoot. He's been a Polaris Music Prize juror since 2016, and has served on Sappyfest's board of directors since 2022. He used to play in a band.
Matt is happy to chat about effective Bios, Useful press photo, Electronic Press Kits (EPK), and any other press related assets that you might use at a conference.
Mitchell Trainor
Day to Day Coordinator
Birthday Cake Media
Mitchell Trainor has over a decade of hands-on experience supporting artists at every stage of their careers. Beginning as a bassist in a DIY punk band that played around 100 shows a year internationally, Mitchell’s career in music gradually evolved to include roles in grant writing, campaign management, and music administration. He has worked closely with a range of musicians, from new punk acts to international touring projects. His experience includes grant and campaign work for Pirates Blend Records, Tiny Kingdom Music, Signal Noise Music, and other management teams. Mitchell now works as a Coordinator at Birthday Cake Media, where he focuses on connecting their artists with the resources they need to thrive within a sustainable, community-minded music ecosystem.
Mitchell is happy to chat about showcasing, campaign management, grant writing, touring, admin, video games, and Magic the Gathering!
Prince Balogun
Blur Events
Prince Balogun, the visionary behind Blureventsng, envisioned a company that not only organizes events but also crafted immersive experiences that resonate with individuals on a personal level. With a keen eye for detail and a love for fashion, lifestyle, and music, Prince Balogun set out to establish a company that goes beyond the ordinary and sets new standards in the event planning industry.
Prince is happy to chat about festival booking, connecting with industry, networking, conference preparation
Robyn Stewart
Executive Director
Women In Music Canada
Winnipeg-based Robyn Stewart has been executive director of Women In Music Canada since 2022, after more than eight years in the same position at Breakout West and Western Canadian Music Alliance. A frequent panelist and keynote speaker, the 23-year music industry veteran can discuss a range of topics important to women, such as advancement, pay equity, mentorship, #MeToo, research findings and work-life balance. She is also an expert in fund development, board governance, and has worked with all levels of government.
At the helm of this national non-profit organization, focused on strengthening the social economic balance of the music industry, Robyn has launched the Women in Music Canada Honours Awards, the three-day Summit, Mentorship Program, Leadership Accelerator, and Entrepreneur Accelerator. With diversity, equity and inclusion at the forefront of planning and engagement with the music community, Robyn has orchestrated campaigns to improve representation and work opportunities for underserved communities. Two important endeavours are WIMC’s partnership on groundbreaking research studies, 2024’s Share The Air, looking at gender representation in Canadian radio from 2013-2023, and a study currently underway with Music Publishers Canada, looking at caregiving (of a child, elderly or chronically ill) in the workplace.
Robyn, a mother of two, also sits on the Parenthood Committee for London, UK-based global ally community She Said So, and with WIMC is the music partner for Balancing Act’s 2024-2026 micro-grant and caregiver advocacy project Level-Up.
Robyn is happy to chat about conference networking, conference preparation, connecting with Industry, professional development