Manitoba

  • population: 1,208,000
  • capital city: Winnipeg
  • music industry: 370 businesses and over 4,000 artists
  • music industry: annual revenue of over $65,000,000
  • Winnipeg is home to Canada’s only Aboriginal music cluster

“Dress in layers, order the perogies, there’s lots of good coffee, and don’t complain about the weather.”

Manitoba has a long musical heritage and a vibrant music scene. It’s the birthplace of music legends including The Guess Who, Loreena McKennitt, Fred Penner, Crash Test Dummies, and Chantal Kreviazuk – not to mention more recent headline-makers Doc Walker, Venetian Snares, Propagandhi, The Weakerthans, Comeback Kid, and Tanya Tagaq.

Manitoba Music is the hub of Manitoba's vibrant music community

MANITOBA MUSIC

We are a member-based, not-for-profit industry association representing over 750 members in all facets of the music industry. Manitoba Music serves all genres from rock to roots, hip-hop to hardcore, country to classical, and everything in between.

Through our programs and services, we provide information, education, communication, advocacy, industry development, and networkingopportunities to nurture, develop and promote the growth and sustainability of the Manitoba music industry.

Manitoba Music offers a resource centre, a website with member profiles, resources and news, a comprehensive series of music industry workshops, a far-reaching market development program, and the only Aboriginal music program of its kind in the world.

Manitoba Music also has a strong focus on presenting market development showcases and networking events in major music markets in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and Australia, including International Folk Alliance, The Great Escape, SXSW, NXNE, M for Montreal, Folk Music Ontario, the Americana Music Festival, BigSound, Reeperbahn Festival, as well as an inaugural industry showcase in Minneapolis.

Manitoba Music has representation with the Western Canadian Music Alliance (WCMA) and is an active participant in BreakOut West.

These events have helped Manitoba artists and music companies connect with influential international industry names, build important business relationships, and reach new markets.

Explore the Province of Manitoba

At the heart of Canada is Manitoba, a culturally-diverse province that runs from beautiful prairie expanse to lush lakes and wetlands, boreal forest to northern tundra. A province of four distinct seasons, Manitoba is known for its sun-filled summers [average 26/13°C (79/55°F)] and its blue-skied cold of winter [average 13/20°C (9/-4°F].

Manitoba’s reputation for its strong roots scene is well known. Homegrown acts have garnered attention from major international media outlets and toured to sold-out halls throughout North American, Europe, Australia, and beyond.

Located in the south of the province, Winnipeg is the capital and home to the majority of Manitoba’s music industry.

In Winnipeg, Aboriginal artists are able to connect through the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), NCI FM and the National Aboriginal Music Countdown, Rhythm 104.7FM, SAY Magazine, four Aboriginal newspapers, and several music companies, to North America’s largest urban Aboriginal community.

There’s also plenty of music to be found outside of Winnipeg, and the province is well known for its amazing music festivals, including major destination events like the Winnipeg Folk Festival, TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival, Aboriginal Music Week, and Festival du Voyageur, as well as numerous grassroots festivals, ag and country fairs, and more.

For more general information about the Province of Manitoba, please visit:

http://www.aboriginalmusic.ca
http://www.musiquefrancophone.ca
http://mbfilmmusic.ca
http://www.travelmanitoba.com/
http://www.tourismwinnipeg.com/
https://www.gov.mb.ca/

Key Regions in the Province of Manitoba

Winnipeg population 709,253

Located in the south of the province, Winnipeg is the capital and home to the majority of Manitoba’s music industry.

Key venues/clubs: West End Cultural Centre, The Good Will, Pyramid Cabaret, The Park Theatre, Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club, The Zoo, Ozzy’s, Caver, Union Sound Hall, Windsor Hotel, Cavern, Maw’s Eatery, Le Garage Café, Centre culturel franco-manitobain, Centennial Concert Hall, Burton Cummings Theatre, MTS Centre, Club Regent Events Centre

Key Radio: 92 CITI FM, FAB 94.3, CKUW 95.9 FM, CBC Radio 2 Winnipeg, 99.1 Fresh FM, UMFM 101.5, 103.1 Virgin Radio, Energy 106, Classic 107, QX 104, NCI FM, Rhythm 104.7 FM

Universities & Colleges: University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg, Red River College, Université de Saint-Boniface

Brandon population 46,061

Key venues/clubs: Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium, Double Decker Tavern, The Dock on Princess, Lady of the Lake Pub, The 40, Keystone Centre

Key Radio: NCI FM; CBC Radio 1 Winnipeg; CBC Radio 2 Winnipeg; Star 94.7; 101 The Farm; CJ-106, 96.1 BOB FM

Universities & Colleges: Brandon University, Assiniboine Community College

Rural Manitoba population 452,700

Although it’s not technically a region – rural Manitoba is as alive with music as either Winnipeg or Brandon. Here are some of the great venues and flagship radio stations.

Key Venues/clubs: Ship & Plough Gastropub (Gimli), Watson Art Centre (Dauphin), The William Glesby Centre (Portage la Prairie), Cat & Fiddle Night Club (Portage La Prairie), Poor Michael’s Bookshop Art & Café (Onanole), Falcon Lake Hotel (Falcon Lake), Blue Dolphin Lounge (Scanturbury), Kenmor Theatre (Morden), The Merch (Selkirk), St. Norbert Arts Centre (St. Norbert)

Key Radio: CKDM – 730 AM (Dauphin), Arctic Radio (Flin Flon), CFAM Radio / AM 950 (Altona), CFRY (Portage La Prairie), CJ 1240 (The Pas), CKBJ-FM 93.9 (Beausejour), MIX 96.7 FM (Steinbach)

Manitoba's major festivals

TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival

http://www.jazzwinnipeg.com/Winnipeg, MB

Now in its 26th year, the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival features the best local, national and international music.

For ten days each June, more than 40,000 music fans fill the heart of the city to enjoy exceptional live music and the unique character of the historic Exchange District.

Winnipeg Folk Festival

http://www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca/Birds Hill Park, MB

The Winnipeg Folk Festival is one of North America’s premier outdoor music festivals, happening the second weekend of every July in Birds Hill Provincial Park, Manitoba, Canada.

A mix of local and international talent, it is the culmination of everything great about our vibrant folk community.

Festival Du Voyageur

http://www.festivalvoyageur.mb.ca/Winnipeg, MB

Every winter since 1970, Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg’s French quarter, is transformed into a winter paradise and becomes host to the largest winter festival in Western Canada.

Voyageur, Métis and First Nations histories are brought back to life, not only through the historical interpretation offered inside reconstructed Fort Gibraltar, but also through the many attractions inside Voyageur Park and at the festival’s various official sites.

Over 91,000 visitors attended the 46th Festival du Voyager in 2015, which featured 130 performers at 8 official sites during 10 days in February.

MEME – Manitoba Electronic Music Exhibition

http://www.memetic.ca/Winnipeg, MB

The Manitoba Electronic Music Exhibition (MEME) is the only annual event in Western Canada that highlights local and international electronic musicians at such a high profile and free public venue (The Cube).

MEME is a festival that presents refined cutting edge electronic music performed using the latest in new creative technologies.

The annual electronic music festival returns to Winnipeg this year, taking over The Cube and the Winnipeg Art Gallery for multi-level fun and with international names like Noah Pred, Berlin’s Sid LeRock, and My Favorite Robot, next to locals like Seed Organization, Joe Silva, and many (many more).

Aboriginal Music Week

http://www.aboriginalmusicweek.ca/Winnipeg, MB

Aboriginal Music Week was launched in 2009 to develop Aboriginal youth as an audience for live music.

Aboriginal Music Week presents Native, Métis, Inuit, and Indigenous artists who perform hip hop, electronic, traditional, world, folk, rock, country, and blues music. It is produced by the Aboriginal Music Manitoba Inc. (AMM)

AMW offers several events, including free concerts, featuring acclaimed Aboriginal artists from across Canada and beyond.

The upcoming 2016 festival will be held from August 9 to 13.

Big Fun Festival

http://www.bigfunfestival.com/Winnipeg, MB

Big Fun is an annual indie music festival taking place in multiple venues throughout Winnipeg’s downtown the last weekend of January. Using Winnipeg’s prairie winter as the backdrop, Big Fun showcases the wealth of Manitoba’s artists alongside our historic downtown.

Big Fun Productions is comprised of Winnipeg musicians and music lovers who are passionate about their city. Inspired by the layout of Pop Montreal and NXNE, Big Fun aims to create the same excitement within the music and art community in Winnipeg, by hosting several events throughout the year.

Big Fun 2015 featured over 40 local and national performers. Big Fun 2016 runs from Wednesday, Jan. 28 to Sunday, Feb. 01 at various venues around the city.

Interstellar Rodeo – Winnipeg

http://interstellarrodeo.com/Winnipeg, MB

Like its sister festival in Edmonton, Interstellar Rodeo brings a unique blend of important, inimitable music paired with fine wines and high-quality local food to the heart of Winnipeg.

With a mandate to offer a sophisticated and distinctive take on the festival experience, Interstellar Rodeo is a meticulously curated weekend celebration of music, wine and food excellence with a lineup that brings together some of the world’s most compelling, original and masterful artists ever to top charts and make headlines.

The 2015 lineup included Hawksley Workman, Tanya Tagaq, Scott Nolan, Sarah McLachlan, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Dwight Yoakam, and Blue Rodeo.

Brandon Folk Festival

http://www.brandonfolkfestival.ca/Brandon, MB

The Brandon Folk Festival is Western Manitoba’s largest folk music and arts event. It’s a weekend of fun and relaxation for the entire family. It features a main stage of performers, with various workshops during the days, plus a variety of vendors offering art, crafts, clothing and food.

The 31st Annual Brandon Folk, Music & Art Festival was held from Friday July 24th through to the evening of Sunday July 26th, 2015 at the Keystone Centre Grounds.

This year`s lineup included A Tribe Called Red, Digging Roots, (Brandon`s own) Tanya Tagaq, The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer, Zrada, Rory Mcleod, and bluegrass traditionalists The Osmond Davis Band.

Dauphin’s Countryfest

http://www.countryfest.ca/Dauphin, MB

Canada’s longest running country music festival, held every July long weekend. The festival is held on 3 stages, over 4 days, 5 nights, and hosts over 50 acts from Manitoba to Nashville.

Country, Roots, Bluegrass, Blues, and Rock n’ Roll make Countryfest Manitoba’s largest and most popular outdoor music festival hosting 14,000 patrons daily.

The 2015 lineup consisted of over 50 performers – from all corners of the country music realm. The 2016 Countryfest runs from June 30 to July 3, 2016 and will feature such headliners as Dallas Smith, Dean Brody, Thomas Rhett, and Lady Antebellum

Manitoba music biz news