Oogimah Ikwewok 3 – Photo by: Doug Thomas
Winnipeg, MB – Aboriginal Music Manitoba (AMM) is excited to announce that traditional singers Oogimah Ikwewok, hoop dancer Jacob Pratt, singer/songwriter Logan Staats, rising star Ila Barker, Arctic country/blues artist Leanne Goose, hip hop emcee T-Rhyme, and cinematic electronic music producer Exquisite Ghost are on board for performances during the Aboriginal Music Week at Lunch (AMW at Lunch) concert series presented by DigitalDrum.ca. The four-part series is set for Aug. 18-21 at Air Canada Park and is part of the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ’s new Host It Downtown program.
- Oogimah Ikwewok are traditional women hand drum singers who perform ceremonial, spiritual, round dance songs in Anishinaabemowin, Cree, Dakota, and Algonquin languages.
- Jacob Pratt is a hoop dancer from the Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan who also runs a First Nations performance group and performs original flute compositions.
- Logan Staats is a Mohawk singer/songwriter from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory who recently released his first solo album after picking up an Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award in 2014 for the Best Rock CD with his former band.
- Ila Barker is a singer/songwriter from Winnipeg who is gaining momentum in Canada’s folk and roots scene. The artistry demonstrated in her 2013 self-titled EP earned her spots in the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s Galaxie Young Performer Program and a national development program for female artists called Honey Jam.
- Leanne Goose is a country/blues singer from the Dene and Inuvialuit Nations of North America’s Arctic region. Her three albums have racked up 15 nominations to date.
- T-Rhyme is a lyricist from northern Saskatchewan who uses the spirit and sound of golden era hip hop to the shine a spotlight on the Native experience. Along with music, her artistry flows through her Beads, Rhymes & Life jewellery line.
- Exquisite Ghost, born Jordan Thomas, creates complex yet vague soundscapes in the tradition of Flying Lotus. He is a member of the Peguis First Nation in Manitoba.
“I’m hoping that the series will encourage downtown professionals to bring their families out to some of our other concerts during the week,” says AMM chairperson Alan Greyeyes.”They’ll have a chance to see some really great performances during these four lunch hours and I think they’ll notice that our events are just as safe and enjoyable as those produced by non-Aboriginal presenters. We’re really hoping to reinforce and build some bridges with this series.”
AMW at Lunch presented by DigitalDrum.ca
Air Canada Park, Portage Avenue & Carlton Street
12PM – 1PM daily
Free | All Ages
Tuesday, Aug. 18: Oogimah Ikwewok, Jacob Pratt
Wednesday, Aug. 19: Logan Staats, Ila Barker
Thursday, Aug. 20: Leanne Goose
Friday, Aug. 21: T-Rhyme, Exquisite Ghost
AMW at Lunch presented by DigitalDrum.ca will be completely free. Audiences can expect a family-friendly environment with great sound and exceptional music in a community setting over the lunch hour. The artists will perform on the northern stair case at the park, facing Portage Avenue.
Aboriginal Music Week 2015 is set for Aug. 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.
AMM has announced the following details for Aboriginal Music Week 2015 to date. Full details for the festival will be released in the next week.
- JUNE 3: Aboriginal Music Week welcomes the Austin Street Festival to it’s family, performers announced
- JUNE 18: Spence Neighbourhood Block Party moves to Wednesday, concert lineup announced
- JUNE 25: Legendary country singer to headline third annual Aboriginal Music Week Stage at Picnic in the Park
- JULY 2: Turtle Island Block Party to mix blues with pow wow and square dancing
- JULY 15: International artists to help locals expand overseas during Aboriginal Music Week 2015
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 TD, DigitalDrum.ca, Manitoba Public Insurance, RPM.fm, the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR) and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters, Re:Sound Music Licensing Company, Ogichidaa Arts, NCI FM, Rhythm 104.7FM, Grassroots News, the Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation, the National Music Centre, the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, Amiskusees: Semaganis Worme Family Foundation, North End Revitalization Incorporated, the City of Winnipeg, and Manitoba Music 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.
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
