Native America North: Five Local Aboriginal Acts Perform for Influential Industry Presenters at the Pyramid, March 24

Manitoba Music's Aboriginal Music Program will be taking over the Pyramid Cabaret on March 24 for a showcase of emerging Aboriginal artists, dubbed the Native America North Showcase. The event -- which features sets by country singer/songwriters Jerry Sereda and Desiree Dorion, new country duo D’Aoust Brothers, singer/songwriter and rapper Lorenzo, and teenage pop singer Savannah Rae Boyko -- offers the performers an opportunity to connect with the industry tastemakers and continue to build on their success. CBC Music, the event's media sponsor, will be on hand to host the event.

The five acts will perform for the influential panelists in town for the Aboriginal Music Live presenters panel on March 22 at Manitoba Music. Visiting speakers include Patti Shaughnessy of Ode'min Giizis Festival, Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Association’s Adele Boychuk, Sky Bridges of APTN’s Aboriginal Day Live, and Shawn Termin of the National Museum of the American Indian in New York.

The performers come from every background and play music of all styles, yet all remain highly attuned to their heritage and communities. They demonstrate that aboriginal artists have moved beyond the narrow confines of niche markets and can hold their own on any festival stage, at any music club, or at any performing arts center.

Dauphin-born Serada won a North American Indigenous Image Award for Outstanding Music Video for his single “I Ain’t Learned Nothing Yet” and released his second album, Turn the Country On, this winter.

Dorion landed five award nods last year and a win for Outstanding Country Album at North American Indigenous Image Awards for her acclaimed debut, Soul Back Jack.

The D’Aoust Brothers, from Norway House, is a new project of top fiddler Ryan D’Aoust and singer/songwriter brother Clayton, formerly of award-winning act Highway 373.

Little Saskatchewan First Nation’s Lorenzo, aka Leonard Sumner, was named Best New Solo Artist in Uptown Magazine’s Best of Winnipeg 2011 after releasing his debut EP, Rez Poetry and landing songs Streetz FM’s radio charts.

Newcomer Boyko has performed for politicians and dignitaries, including former Prime Minister Paul Martin, and has been working on her debut album with legendary producer Chris Burke-Gaffney.

The showcase is part of the Aboriginal Music Program's market development initiatives, which promote Manitoba's wealth of Aboriginal talent on the national stage. Through events like these, Manitoba Music is able to increase the level of awareness and connectedness between our province’s music industry and the broader national and international industry, which is vital to the career advancement of Manitoba's Aboriginal artists and industry professionals. The Aboriginal Music Program is made possible by the generous support of the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, FACTOR, and Manitoba Film & Music.