Manito Ahbee Festival Celebrates Indigenous Arts, Culture, and Music

Manito Ahbee is ready to bring celebration Indigenous arts, culture, and music to Winnipeg this month. The annual festival, which runs May 17-21, features live music, one of the largest Pow Wows in North America, family friendly events, and a new free music industry conference component.

Offering a series of specialty workshops for recording artists facilitated by music industry entrepreneurs, the music conference is set to offer participants the opportunity to communicate, collaborate, and work towards developing new markets for their music.Taking place at the Delta Winnipeg Hotel on May 18, panelists for the conference include Canyon Records' Stephen Butler, NCI FM's David McLeod, Sirius XM Canada's Jeff Leake, RPM.fm's Jarrett Martineau, Bike and Bass Tour's Felipe Gomez, Exclaim! Media's Josiah Hughes, Waiata Maori Music Awards' Elisson Huata, Winnipeg Folk Festival's Chris Frayer, Manitoba Film & Music's Stephen Carroll, Paquin Artists Agency's Jeremy Giacomin, musician/artist manager Leanne Goose, musician Jerry Sereda, and more. Internationally-acclaimed artist Crystal Shawanda will offer some special insight into the music business with a keynote interview. 

Manito Ahbee will also host an open mic at the Pony Corral Downtown on May 18 at 7PM to give participants an opportunity to connect and share their songs and stories.

On May 19, Manito Ahbee will take over the Club Regent Event Centre for the return of the Indigenous Music Awards. Featuring performances from Crystal Shawanda along with a diverse group of stellar artists that span the genres including Northern Cree, Fred Penner, Mariame, Christa Couture, Felipe Gomez, Chante Assiniboine and the Spirit Horse Singers, the gala will be hosted by Kimberley Dawn and Jerry Sereda. Artists from Manitoba are nominated for several awards this year, including nods for Jade Turner, JC Campbell, Kimberley Dawn, Renée Lamoureux, The Bloodshots, The Deeds, Nadia & Jason Burnstick, Rhonda Head, Lisa Muswagon and more. Read more about the nominees from Manitoba

Other events taking place during the Manito Ahbee Festival include an International Pow Wow, art expo, youth education day, marketplace and trade show, square dancing and jigging competition, and more.

Check out manitoahbee.com for all the details.