Aboriginal Music Week Celebrates Music and Community in Winnipeg
Manitoba's summer of music festivals continues with the eighth edition of Aboriginal Music Week, which runs August 9-13 in Winnipeg. With a strong focus on community and a big contingent of Manitoba-based artists, this year's fest will feature a number of free shows and community celebrations, an open mic night, industry networking, and more.
This year's lineup includes performances by 27 Indigenous acts from North America, along with two guests from South America and Australia, in six neighbourhoods in and around Winnipeg's core.
Manitoba-based artists performing during the annual festivities include music legends Ray St. Germain and Billy Simard, JUNO Award nominee Tracy Bone, acclaimed MC and singer/songwriter Leonard Sumner, award-winning classical vocalist Rhonda Head, fiddling brothers Double the Trouble, along with songwriters Jade Turner, Ila Barker, Ashley Robertson, Mary Mahler, Renee Lamoureux, and more.
Touring artists taking the AMW stages this year include JUNO-winners Boogat and Digging Roots, operatic singer Jeremy Dutcher, singer/songwriter Frank Yamma, neo-soul singer David Morin, and hip hop emcee Eekwol.
MB Live and Aboriginal Music Week will team up to host the Open Mic on August 12 at St. Boniface hotspot Le Garage with host MJ Dandeneau.
The event will also host networking dinners offering this year's performers a chance to connect, build business relationships, and discuss the future of Aboriginal music.
Leading up to this year's event, AMW is also hosting free music workshops August 2-4 to give participating youth a chance to connect with some of the artists before they perform.
Find all the Aboriginal Music Week events in the free MB Live app for Android and iOS and in our online listings.