Category: Features

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Brandon Folk Festival gears up for 29th year

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by Andrew Friesen

Although the grove of cottonwood trees beside Brandon’s Keystone Centre may not look like much from the outside, hidden within is the home of one of the best musical celebrations on the Prairies. Located in the heart of this province’s second largest city, the 29-year-old Brandon Folk, Music and Art Festival has slowly made a name for itself as a worthwhile stop on the folk circuit for both artists and fans alike. And despite it’s decidedly urban location (the site is bounded by a hockey arena, a high school, and a car dealership), the festival “under the trees” feels decidedly rural and intimate – the sprawling Winnipeg Folk Fest this is not. Continue reading “Brandon Folk Festival gears up for 29th year”

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Hillbilly Highway – Mary Gauthier, Scott Nolan, Joanna Miller @ Park Theatre

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by Sheldon Birnie

Monday night’s packed show at the Park Theatre was one of those perfect stops along the Hillbilly Highway that at once make you feel so glad that you’re wherever you happen to be at, while at the same time igniting (or rekindling) an “aching wanderlust” to hit the road at once. Backed by Winnipeg’s own Scott Nolan and Joanna Miller (who also opened the night), the crowd at the Park was treated to a magnificent performance from one of the best songwriters (and a dang entertaining performer and storyteller, to boot) in the biz, Mary Gauthier. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Mary Gauthier, Scott Nolan, Joanna Miller @ Park Theatre”

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Introducing : field////

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by Daniel Emberg

field//// has been active around Winnipeg since late 2010, and are about to embark on a follow-up to last year’s debut album. The group recently sat down with Stylus on the patio of a local diner to chat about that, some upcoming video projects, and the philosophical stance that partly guides their work. Continue reading “Introducing : field////”

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Hillbilly Highway – Recovering from a wild week(end) at Bird’s Hill

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by Sheldon Birnie

It’s that time of year again, where brain cells struggle to regrow after an onslaught of booze, chemicals, smoke, and sun. The week(end) that is Winnipeg Folk Fest failed, once again, to disappoint this festival goer. With a diverse and interesting line-up, beautiful weather, and wild & wacky times in the campground, I’m feeling exhausted and inspired once again. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Recovering from a wild week(end) at Bird’s Hill”

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The Good, the Bad and the Folked; Reflections on the Winnipeg Folk Festival

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 by Zach Fleisher

The Good, the Bad and the Folked

One of my roles within Stylus Magazine has been to scurry around the Winnipeg Folk Festival, just to talk about it; tell the story and elaborate on my experience. With that in mind, I’m writing a couple of quick posts elaborating on what I enjoy, aspects that I didn’t like as much and…well, the more unique aspects of the Winnipeg Folk Festival. I’m not sure if this is going to be a daily kind of feature, but we’ll try to keep those in the city updated as we go.

Continue reading “The Good, the Bad and the Folked; Reflections on the Winnipeg Folk Festival”

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Danny Michel brings eclectic mix to Folk Festival mainstage

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by Isaac Würmann

The Caribbean waters and dense rainforests of Belize may seem like a dramatic departure from the rugged northern landscapes of Canada, but that’s exactly where Ontario-born musician Danny Michel went to record his latest album. Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me, which was recorded exclusively in Belize and features the Belizean music group the Garifuna Collective, is an equally dramatic departure from the sounds of some of Michel’s earlier albums. Continue reading “Danny Michel brings eclectic mix to Folk Festival mainstage”