Nikki Komaksiutiksak | Image Source: Aboriginal Music Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB – Aboriginal Music Manitoba (AMM) and the Spence Neighbourhood Association (SNA) are excited to announce that the third annual Spence Neighbourhood Block Party during Aboriginal Music Week is moving from the Sunday afternoon of the festival to its Wednesday evening this year and the legendary Winston Wuttunee has been confirmed as the headliner for the concert.
The free outdoor event is set for 4PM to 8PM on August 19 at the Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre and the audience will also be entertained by Inuit throat singer Nikki Komaksiutiksak, country/rock veterans Joe Maxim Band, and three youth performers who will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
- Winston Wuttunee is a household name in the Canadian music industry who has wowed audiences across North America as well as Europe and Australia as a singer, keynote speaker, and comedian since 1973.
- Nikki Komaksiutiksak is a traditional Inuit throat singer from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut who now calls Winnipeg home.
- Joe Maxim Band is an Aboriginal country/rock band with well over 10,000 hours of performance experience under their belt.
“Our partnership with SNA is one of the things that makes Aboriginal Music Week great,” explains AMM chairperson Alan Greyeyes. “We moved the celebration to Wednesday night to make it a bigger priority for our festival production team and I think that’s going to translate into an even better experience for the community. Plus Winston Wuttunee is super funny and personable so I’m positive that everyone’s going to have an incredible time.”
The Spence Neighbourhood Block Party will be completely free. Audiences can expect a family friendly environment (no beer gardens) with great sound and exceptional music in a great community setting. Aboriginal Music Week produces concerts in neighbourhoods throughout the city in an effort to make it easier for families to walk to the venues, but music lovers from outside the neighbourhood are more than welcome to attend.
The concert is set for an outdoor stage beside the Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre and SNA has several other activities planned for the celebration.
“SNA is super excited about hosting the Spence Neighbourhood Block Party again,” says SNA Executive Director Jamil Mahood. “The last two years have highlighted world class Aboriginal artists and the whole community is really excited to take in the music again this summer. Can’t wait!”
Spence Neighbourhood Block Party
Winston Wuttunee, Nikki Komaksiutiksak, Joe Maxim Band, and special guests
Wednesday, August 19, 2015 | 4PM – 8PM
Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre, 430 Langside Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Free Concert | Free BBQ | Free Music Workshops
All Ages, Families Welcome
www.aboriginalmusicweek.ca | #IndigenousExcellence
The BBQ menu will include hotdogs, drinks, and snacks. It will begin at 5PM and will conclude when all the food runs out.
Aboriginal Music Week 2015 is set for August 18 – 22 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It will include four community celebrations at the Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre, the Turtle Island Neighbourhood Centre, the Austin Street Festival, and St. John’s Park. Four lunch hour concerts, three days of music workshops, two ticketed concerts, two networking dinners, and mentor meetings with three international artists round out the festival programming this year.
Please note that a performance by Ernest Monias was originally announced for the Spence Neighbourhood Block Party, but he received interest from a presenter in British Columbia and is no longer able to commit to this event.
AMM has announced the following details for Aboriginal Music Week 2015 to date. Full details for the festival will be released in the next five weeks.
Aboriginal Music Week welcomes the Austin Street Festival to it’s family; performers announced (read here).
About Aboriginal Music Week
Aboriginal Music Week was launched in 2009 to develop Aboriginal youth as an audience for live music. The festival presents between 25 and 35 First Nation, Métis, Inuit, Native American, and Indigenous music acts each year. It is held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and is produced by AMM.
AMM would like to acknowledge the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Province of Manitoba, and the Winnipeg Arts Council for their financial support of Aboriginal Music Week 2015.
AMM would like to acknowledge RPM.fm, the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR) and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters, Grassroots News, North End Revitalization Incorporated, the City of Winnipeg, the Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation, the National Music Centre, and Amiskusees: Semaganis Worme Family Foundation for their support of Aboriginal Music Week 2015.
We acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.
Visit aboriginalmusicweek.ca for more information about the festival.
Visit ammb.ca for more information about AMM.
About Spence Neighbourhood Association
SNA works with the people of Spence to revitalize and renew their community in the areas of Holistic Housing, Community Connecting, Community Economic Development, Environment and Open Spaces, and Youth & Families.
Visit spenceneighbourhood.org for more information about SNA.
For more information about Aboriginal Music Week, please contact:
Alan Greyeyes, Chairperson
Aboriginal Music Manitoba
P: (204) 296-9790
E: alan@ammb.ca
aboriginalmusicweek.ca
ammb.ca
For more information about the SNA, please contact:
Jamie Manhood, Executive Director
Spence Neighbourhood Association
P: (204) 783-8607
E: jamil@spenceneighbourhood.org
spenceneighbourhood.org
