Homegrown Music Shines as BreakOut West Returns to Winnipeg, Sep 24 - 28

Posted on September 16, 2025

Paquin Entertainment / Paquin Artists Agency

Manitoba Music to Present Events at 23rd Annual Showcase Festival and Industry Conference

Homegrown music will be in the spotlight when BreakOut West returns to Winnipeg for the 23rd annual showcase festival and industry conference. A dozen local artists will take over stages at various city venues, while local industry pros will share their expertise on panels.

On September 25, the BPM | Black Professionals in Music program at Manitoba Music will present a panel on Supporting Black Professionals in Music. Manitoba Music’s Manager of Industry Development, Alex Sannie, will speak alongside HYFIN-Radio Milwaukee’ Program Director Element Everest-Blanks and KP Communications’ Director Michelle Kambasha. BPM is made possible by the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada and Canada’s private radio broadcasters, the Manitoba Government, and Manitoba Film & Music. Click here for more info

Manitoba Music will present a special edition of the BPM X WAG-Qaumajuq showcase and mixer in partnership with BreakOut West on September 26 at the iconic gallery through BPM. The evening will feature three emerging artists from Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan, presented along with the African Nova Scotia Music Association and Music Nova Scotia. Click here for more info

On September 27, the Indigenous Music Development Program at Manitoba Music will present a discussion on Decolonizing Your Music Business with speaker Alan Greyeyes of sākihiwē festival and the Indigenous Music Office. The IMDP is made possible by the financial support of the Manitoba Government, Manitoba Film & Music, and FACTOR, the Government of Canada and Canada’s private radio broadcasters, the Manitoba Government. Click here for more info

“We’re thrilled to welcome BreakOut West back to Winnipeg and to shine a spotlight on the incredible music scene in Manitoba, including the artists, venues, companies, and entrepreneurs,” says Manitoba Music’s executive director Vanessa Kuzina, who co-chairs the BreakOut West Host Committee alongside Manitoba Film & Music’s Stephen Carroll. “BreakOut West is a marquee event on our industry landscape, and we’re excited to build lasting creative connections with national and international industry players.”

A genre-spanning cohort of artists from Manitoba is ready to shine at the BreakOut West Festival, which will include 55+ artists from across Western Canada over three nights and over a dozen venues centred primarily in the downtown and Exchange District. French Canadian hip hop artist and producer Alpha Toshineza, indie pop act Boniface, contemporary R&B and singer/songwriter CEC, rapper Dill the Giant, indie pop/rocker FONTINE, country/Americana singer/songwriter Jade Turner, electronic artist Lhasa Petik, folk/roots act Noah Derksen, folk singer/songwriter Slow Leaves, rock 'n' roll band The Haileys, Afrobeat innovator TOMMYPHYLL, and indie pop/rock band Virgo Rising will each perform twice during the festival’s three-night run. Click here for the full festival schedule

“We’re thrilled to welcome BreakOut West back to Winnipeg and to shine a spotlight on the incredible music scene in Manitoba, including the artists, venues, companies, and entrepreneurs. BreakOut West is a marquee event on our industry landscape, and we’re excited to build lasting creative connections with national and international industry players.” – Vanessa Kuzina, Manitoba Music

Manitoba-based speakers sharing their experience and guidance at the conference, which takes place at Fairmont Winnipeg, include over 25 music entrepreneurs and company representatives, including festival buyers, agents, managers, producers, artists, funders, and more. The roster includes Alan Tshinza (Alpha Toshineza), Alan Greyeyes (sākihiwē festival / Indigenous Music Office), Alex Sannie (Manitoba Music), Amber Neufeld (Good + Plenty Artists Organization), Bonnie Seidel (Manitoba Film & Music), Brenton Thorvaldson (Indigenous Music Office), Cassidy Mann (Manitoba Music), Cathleen Enns (Manitoba Arts Council), Claire Boning (Misfit Music Inc.), David Schellenberg (Signal Noise Music), Elise Roller (Misfit Music Management), Elliott Walsh (Trinnipeg Live Mixtape / Manitoba Music / Trinnipeg / Synonym Sound), Gil Carroll (First Date Touring / Real Love Winnipeg / Living Hour), Ila Barker (Good + Plenty), Jenel Shaw (Arts AccessAbility Network Manitoba), Jeremy Giacomin (Paquin Artists Agency), Jorge Requena Ramos (West End Cultural Centre), Kamal Oderino (DXXN), Katie Hohne (Winnipeg Folk Festival), Lana Winterhalt (Good + Plenty), Larysa Musick (Music Managers Forum Canada), Laura Smith (Sprkl Studio), Morgan Hamill (Winnipeg Folk Festival), Rachel Andrushuk (Paquin Artists Agency), Rayannah Kroeker (Hyperart), Rosalyn Dennett (Folk Canada), Stephen Carroll (Manitoba Film & Music), Teresa Horosko (Folk On The Rocks), Tomiwa Omolayo (TOMMYPHYLL), and Tyler Sneesby (DJ Hunnicutt). Click here for the complete list of speakers

There are also plenty of chances to sing about the music community in Manitoba when at the Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMAs), which will be handed out during BreakOut West on September 25 at the Park Theatre. Local artists and music companies are up for 31 awards in 21 artistic and industry categories, recognizing those making a significant impact in Western Canada’s music scene and beyond. The Awards Reception will feature performances by FONTINE, The Haileys, Virgo Rising, and more. Click here for more info

In the days leading up to BreakOut West, Manitoba Music will also host its annual The Road to BreakOut West event, featuring an export showcase, networking, and professional development. Public Domain will host the showcase on September 23 with performances from emerging locals building a buzz, including Afro-fusion artist SCUD, award-winning country artist Catie St. Germain, honky tonk singer/songwriter Bobby Dove, and indie pop/rockers Mise en Scene. International industry reps will be in town to take in the showcase, speak about international touring and promotion in MusicWorks sessions on September 22, and meet with local industry and artists. Manitoba Music’s export activities are made possible by the Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) through the Government of Canada; The Manitoba Government; FACTOR, the Government of Canada and of Canada’s private radio broadcasters; and Manitoba Film & Music. Click here for more info

Manitoba Music-Presented Events at the Break Out West Conference

Supporting Black Professionals in Music

Thursday, September 25 / 10:45 - 11:45 AM / Salon A
Speakers: Alex Sannie (Manitoba Music), Element Everest-Blanks (HYFIN-Radio Milwaukee), Michelle Kambasha (KP Communications)

Almost every popular form of music has roots in the artist labour of Black people the world over, and as we all know, this art and work is painfully underrecognized and undercompensated. Note the emergence of initiatives to support Black Canadian artists and business including Breaking Down Racial Barriers and ADVANCE, as well as the many incredible regional initiatives, specifically noting the success story that is Manitoba Music’s own Black Professionals in Music program. At BreakOut West 2025 hear from incredible Black activists, initiatives, business and community builders that are bringing equity in the music space one step closer.

Decolonizing Your Music Business

Saturday, September 27 / 2:45 - 3:45 PM / Salon B
Speaker: Alan Greyeyes (sākihiwē festival / Indigenous Music Office)

There are many amazing ways to do business, to come together around the shared goal of creating and finding opportunities to share art. Maybe the best practice, tool, or method of communication is just a little bit of listening away. At BreakOut West, we uncover where rigid methods of music business should be unseated, and how all ideas can enrich our work and creative lives.

Manitoba Artists at the BreakOut West Festival

Thursday, September 25

8:30 PM FONTINE @ Park Theatre
9:30 PM The Haileys @ Park Theatre
10:00 PM Boniface @ Blue Note Park
10:00 PM Alpha Toshineza @ Sidestage
10:30 PM Virgo Rising @ Park Theatre
11:30 PM Noah Derksen @ Times Change(d)
12:00 AM Lhasa Petik @ Blue Note Park

Friday, September 26

9:00 PM Dill the Giant @ WAG-Qaumajuq *
9:30 PM Slow Leaves @ Times Change(d)
10:00 PM Jade Turner @ Blue Note Park
10:30 PM CEC @ Public Domain
11:30 PM TOMMYPHYLL @ Public Domain
12:00 AM Noah Derksen @ Blue Note Park

Saturday, September 27

4:30 PM Dill the Giant @ Fairmont Hotel
5:30 PM Lhasa Petik @ Fairmont Hotel
8:30 PM CEC @ Times Change(d)
8:30 PM FONTINE @ Royal Albert Arms
9:00 PM TOMMYPHYLL @ The Forks
9:30 PM Boniface @ Times Change(d)
9:30 PM Jade Turner @ Royal Albert Arms
10:30 PM The Haileys @ Royal Albert Arms
11:30 PM Virgo Rising @ Times Change(d)
12:00 AM Slow Leaves @ Blue Note Park
12:00 AM Alpha Toshineza @ Darling Bar

* BPM X WAG-Qaumajuq X BreakOut West
Friday, September 26, 2025
Showcasing Artists: aRENYE, Dill the Giant, MELODNA
Winnipeg Art Gallery, 300 Memorial Blvd
Free / All Ages / Doors 8 PM / Music & Mixer 9 PM

Western Canadian Music Awards - Manitoba Nominees

Artistic Awards

Afrobeats Artist of the Year
DXXN
Tommyphyll

Blues Artist of the Year
Big Dave McLean

BreakOut Artist of the Year (Sponsored by FACTOR)
Boy Golden
Burnstick
Field Guide

Classical Artist or Ensemble of the Year
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra

Classical Composer of the Year
Glenn Buhr – Violoncello Concerto no.2 (7 Couplets) “Glenn Buhr Violoncello Concerti 1 & 2 – Ariel Barns with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra” – MB

Country Artist of the Year
Jade Turner

Francophone Artist of the Year (Sponsored by APCM – Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique)
Andrina Turenne
Kelly Bado

Global Artist of the Year
Kelly Bado

Jazz Artist of the Year
Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra

Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year
Holy Void

Pop Artist of the Year
Begonia

Producer of the Year
Jason & Nadia Burnstick
Liam Duncan

Rock Album of the Year
Field Guide

Roots Artist of the Year
Leaf Rapids

Songwriter(s) of the Year (Sponsored by The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada – SOCAN)
Boy Golden - Here To Stay "Boy Golden - Here To Stay"
Jason Burnstick & Nadia Burnstick - Made of Sin "Burnstick - Made of Sin"

Spiritual Artist of the Year
Danielle Savard