17 Manitoba Acts to Showcase at Canadian Aboriginal Festival

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Manitoba Aboriginal artists are ready to show national audiences and industry the strength of the local music industry this week in Toronto. A delegation of 17 local solo artists and bands, totaling 32 individuals will attend and showcase at the annual Canadian Aboriginal Festival (CANAB) at Toronto's Rogers Centre (SkyDome). This year marks Manitoba's strongest showing in the 12-year history of the event. CANAB, which runs November 25 to 27, features a popular music festival and trade show as well as the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards (CAMA), for which Manitoba artists have received an unprecedented 21 nominations in 23 different categories.

In addition to many of the 2005 CAMA nominees, the Manitoba delegation includes several showcasing acts that will take over Toronto's Original Motorcycle Cafe & Lounge on Saturday night for an evening of incredible music, including Juno Award-winning rock act Eagle & Hawk, and CAMA nominees Kimberley Dawn and Billy Joe Green. All 17 acts will travel to Toronto with the Manitoba Audio Recording Industry Association's Aboriginal Music Program.

"Everyone at MARIA is incredibly proud of all the nominated and showcasing artists from Manitoba," says Errol Ranville, Aboriginal Music Program Director. "Aboriginal music from Manitoba had a record showing at last year's Canadian Aboriginal Music Festival as well as the CAMAs. In 2005, we're returning to Toronto with another strong delegation of talented acts. We are proud to be able to facilitate such an impressive local contingent and help these artists develop their careers. We know that audiences will love what they're going to hear."

The Aboriginal Music Program will offer networking opportunities for the Manitoba delegation, including a trade show booth at CANAB, the Manitoba Aboriginal Artists showcase at the Original Motorcycle Cafe & Lounge, and a special Manitoba Showcase at the Music Café at the Rogers Centre on November 26.

The showcase and trip to Toronto are signature events in MARIA's Aboriginal Music Program and coincide with the release of the second Manitoba Aboriginal Artists promotional CD, co-produced by MARIA and NCI radio. All 18 acts on the CD are participants in the Aboriginal Music Program, which provides promotional and professional development activities for Aboriginal artists organized by Ranville and Aboriginal Music Program Coordinator Alan Greyeyes.

The delegation will be traveling with the support of The Department of Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts, Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism – Arts Branch, and MANITOBA FILM & SOUND, as well as the Manitoba Music and Motion Picture (M3P) program.

With the support of MARIA's Aboriginal Music Program, Aboriginal artists will participate in workshops, showcases and business development programs targeted to develop their careers in music. Other partners in this program include Western Economic Diversification Canada and Manitoba Advance Education and Training – Employment and Training Services.

Manitoba Showcasing Acts at CANAB 2005

Kimberley Dawn
Eagle & Hawk
Wab Kinew
Dominique Reynolds
JJ Lavallee
Jay Ross
Tracy Bone
Spirit Sands Singers
JC Campbell
Ryan D’Aoust
Rayne DeLaronde
Billy Joe Green
Killah Green
Team Rezofficial
Jessie Higheagle
C-Weed Band
Ray St. Germain

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