Rez Fest Sure to Impress

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Gerry McIvor and Aaron Peters & The Mosquitoes will be joining headliners Eagle & Hawk and Derek Miller on Saturday, July 22, 2006 for Rez Fest in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. This day-long festival has been hosted by the Arrowhead Development Corporation and Long Plain First Nation’s Rez Radio 101.7 FM since 2001 and was originally established to celebrate the station’s first anniversary.

Now in its fifth year, Rez Fest has expanded its mandate and seeks to promote the best Aboriginal music in Canada and introduce new artists to Aboriginal music fans. “We’ve got Juno Award, Canadian Aboriginal Music Award, and Indian Summer Music Award winners this year,” says Tim Daniels, General Manager of the Arrowhead Development Corporation. “I think people are going to come because they’ll be able to see the best music from Aboriginal Canada.”

To support new and emerging artists, Daniels plans to open the stage up between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm. “If anyone is interested in performing before the show, they can call me or just show up,” he explains. “The only thing is, they’ll still need to buy a ticket to get in.”

In previous years, Rez Fest has featured Aboriginal stars like George Leach, Ernest Monias, Billy Joe Green, the C-Weed Band, Slomojo, Shawn Roulette, Yoza, Heritage, Wayne Lavallee, Clyde Roulette, the Pappy Johns Band, and Chester Night and the Wind. Daniels has been booking the acts since the festival’s second year and attributes his success to the help of Vince Fontaine (Eagle & Hawk), who connected him with these big names during his first couple of years at the helm.

The name “Rez Fest” falls in line with the branding for the community’s radio station, Rez Radio, which is available within a 30 mile radius of Long Plain First Nation. “If you’re driving west along Highway #1 from Winnipeg, you should be able to pick it up around Elie,” explains Daniels.

REZ FEST 2006
DATE:          Saturday, July 22, 2006
TIME:           Doors @ 4:00 pm
PLACE:       Keeshkeemaquah Conference & Gaming Centre
                     5008 Crescent Road West
                     Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
TICKETS:   $20.00

For advance tickets or for more information about Rez Fest, contact Tim Daniels:
Tim Daniels
Tel: 204.857.8591
E: tdaniels@arrowhead-longplain.com

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