MCMA’s 2021 Roots Duo/Group of the Year, Two Crows for Comfort are a touring folk-roots duo from the prairie wonderland of Manitoba. These wandering troubadours, accompanied by their pup, Elliot, travel across North America in an 18-foot camper, playing countless shows from coast to coast to coast.
Whether it's a major festival or intimate listening room, Two Crows will have you whisked away to the coziness of your living room as they weave a warm blanket of fine crafted lyrics, powerful lead vocals and intricate harmonies. The duo's unique arrangements and memorable melodies will stay with you long after the night is over.
We were introduced to the Crows at the 2023 Fire and Water Festival, and they became a fan favourite immediately! We are excited to welcome them back to this year’s Festival!
These champions of the local roots scene (arguably the best roots scene in the country) have emerged in recent years as some of Winnipeg's most versatile and talented bunch. Don't let their tongue-in-cheek group name fool you, rather let their self coined “dixiebillygrass” music take you in a trip through music history; from the early days of Louis Armstong's New Orleans Dixieland, to the modern sounds of Bela Fleck nu-blue-grass, and the F-Holes don't stop there. Their live shows have wooed audiences of all ages and they are now expected to bring their unique brand of vintage inspired class to listeners around the world. We warmly welcome these friends of the Festival (and a former artistic director, Patrick Alexandre) to this year’s stage!
Some things in life are greater than the sum of their parts. This band is an excellent example, in particular because the parts are already some of Canada’s most celebrated performers and songwriters.
Dry Bones bring an element of traditional folk but turned up a notch or two on the dial. Leonard Podolak (The Duhks) provides the melodic hook and banjo hustle every band dreams of having. JD Edwards (Small Glories, JDEB) is the soulful voice of all the lonely spaces in between one side of this country and the other. He plays guitars and harmonicas.
Nathan Rogers (w/ Dale Brown, Unglüd) plays guitar, stomp and kazoo and he’s a throat singer with a vocal range approximate to a piano. He makes it all sound pretty. Jeremy Penner (Stanley County
Cut Ups, The Duhks) is the newest member of the band, playing fiddle/violin and lending his voice to the harmonic tapestry. He is a delight both onstage and off. Gilles Fournier (Ego Spank, various artists) has played bass with the band for many years in their “off and on state”, providing both warm undertones and driving basslines. He is a legend in his own right and we are delighted to have him. Together Dry Bones are the true synergistic, energetic, synchronistic, syncretic heroes of modern folk music. They are an indefatigable folkloric force with which to be reckoned.
Consistently recognized as one of Manitoba’s most promising young country stars, Emma Peterson is known not only for her captivating performances, but for a powerful voice and all too relatable lyricism. It’s that gift for telling familiar, relatable stories that continues to set the singer/songwriter apart. Growing up in Winnipegosis, MB (which at last count boasts a population of about 617), Emma knows first-hand what it’s like to grow up country proud. And while she may have since moved on to bigger digs, it’s those fond hometown memories that continue to fuel the fire, and initially lit the spark on her country music career — no matter how cheesy she thinks her origin story may sound.In 2019, she headed to the Manitoba Country Music Awards in Winnipeg with a slew of nominations including Fans’ Choice, Female Artist and Music Video of the Year, ultimately taking home a win in the Emerging Artist category.
Dirty Catfish Brass Band’s aim is to inspire, create and instigate – but, mostly, they just want you on your feet. Undeniably tight, yet reckless as hell, Dirty Catfish Brass Band deals in powerful phrasing and performances drenched with rhythm. Invoking the sounds of brass bands and funk ensembles, the collective dares to reimagine the streets of a prairie city as one that is hot, alive, and brimming with soul. Based in Winnipeg, MB, the crew strives to surprise, challenge, tickle and pay homage to the New Orleans tradition by giving it a new audience in an unsuspecting locale. From street corners to festival stages, and community celebrations to sporting events, DCBB use the power of music to bring joy to their audience. Get ready to move. Dirty Catfish Brass Band has become a constant at local festivals and venues. Much like the great brass bands from New Orleans, DCBB are dedicated to offering their community a gathering place to feel the joy of music and dance.
David Graham is a notable prairie artist with some serious guitar chops, undeniable vocal skills, and incredible songwriting. Some call him Manitoba’s best kept secret, but maybe he likes it that way. This musical enigma known as David Graham has a rich musical background that is as multicultural as his heritage and has a multi-instrumentalist nature to rely on as well. Normally found on the backside of a guitar, David Graham is dedicated to the glorious task of mixing up your ears with his melodious, harmonious nature. Get ready to relax and enjoy something beautiful from this wonderful artist from small-town Manitoba.
Song by song, story by captivating story, Métis roots powerhouse singer Patrick Alexandre takes audiences through the tumultuous years of the Red River Resistance as seen through the eyes of his ancestors. His heartfelt songs offer an original and intimate perspective of Metis life resisting, fighting and dying in the days of Canada's Confederation. This Juno nominated producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist blends stories and songs, taking you on an emotional journey through Canadian history. The experiences of his ancestors provide a very human and personal perspective to a complex issue. Using his unique blend of Folk, Blues, and Country music, Alexandre gets down into the gritty truths of the turmoil faced by his relatives and the people around them in a difficult and ever-changing time, demonstrating the resilience and Joi de vivre the Métis People are known for.
From hard drivin' banjo solos to four part harmony singing, blues infused mandolin breaks and hair-raising fiddle tunes, this quintet covers all the bluegrass bases. Some nights, when the moon is just so, you can even hear the wail of a lonesome dobro. Since 2018 the Cut-Ups have been performing their brand of Canadian bluegrass across the country and their performances have been described as "more than fine" and "refilling my folk music cup" by audience members. The Cutups include Jess Reimer on bass, Jeremy Hamm on mandolin and fiddle, fiddler Jeremy Penner, banjo/dobro player Tim Osmond and guitarist T.J. Blair. All sing two-, three- and four-part harmonies in a bluegrass style over original compositions and traditional numbers.
Donnie McDougall
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