A free summer concert is set to bring classic Canadian rock energy to Brandon’s riverfront, as tribute band The Incredibly Hip prepares to take the stage at the Riverbank Discovery Centre. Scheduled for the evening of July 9, the outdoor show will start at 7pm., offering a full night of live music celebrating the iconic sound of The Tragically Hip. The event is being promoted as a “live and free” experience, inviting residents and visitors alike to gather along the Assiniboine River for an evening of music and community. The concert will be held at the Riverbank’s amphitheatre, a popular summer venue capable of hosting thousands and known for its scenic backdrop and lively atmosphere. Attendees can expect a high-energy performance filled with familiar hits, big singalongs, and a celebration of one of Canada’s most beloved bands. With no admission cost, the event is expected to draw a strong crowd, continuing the Riverbank Discovery Centre’s tradition of accessible, family-friendly programming throughout the summer months. Local organizers are encouraging concertgoers to bring lawn chairs, enjoy the riverside setting, and take in what promises to be a memorable night of live entertainment. The performance is part of a broader summer lineup at the Riverbank, which regularly hosts concerts, festivals, and community gatherings in the heart of Brandon.      

Canada’s most celebrated artists Dean Brody and The Reklaws are joining forces this fall for their co-headlining Hometown Heroes National Tour. The tour will  bring the two chart-topping acts to stages across the country, coming to Assiniboine Credit  Union Place at the Keystone Centre November 14th, delivering a must-see live experience  packed with career-defining hits, standout storytelling, and the high-energy moments fans have  come to expect from both artists.  Keystone Centre BACKSTAGE newsletter subscribers will get an exclusive pre-sale offer  Wednesday May 6th, and tickets go on-sale to the general public May 8th at 10am CST.  Tickets can be purchased at the Keystone Centre box office by calling 204-726-3555, or  online at www.keystonecentre.com.   “There’s something special about getting out across the country and playing these songs for  fans in every corner of Canada,” says Dean Brody. “This tour is all about celebrating where we come from and the people who’ve been there along the way. Getting to do that alongside my  friends, The Reklaws, is going to make it even more memorable.”   “Canada let’s go! We’re so fired up,” add The Reklaws. “We’ve shared so many moments with  Dean over the years, and getting to bring that to fans across the country on this kind of scale is  unreal. We cannot wait to see y’all out there!”  HOMETOWN HEROES NATIONAL TOUR DATES  August 28 - Ottawa, ON* September 24 - Toronto, ON September 25, Cambridge, ON* October 30 - Grande Prairie, AB November 1 - Red Deer, AB November 3 - Cranbrook, BC November 5 - Abbotsford, BC November 6 - Penticton, BC November 7 - Calgary, AB November 8 - Lethbridge, AB November 9 - Moose Jaw, SK November 10 - Edmonton, AB November 12 + 13 - Winnipeg, MB November 14 - Brandon, MB  November 17 - Thunder Bay, ON November 19 - North Bay, ON November 20 - Windsor, ON November 21 - Owen Sound, ON November 22 - Peterborough, ON November 24 - London, ON November 27 - Moncton, NB November 28 - Halifax, NS  *Festival Date - Already Announced  Building on the momentum of their latest single, “Hometown Heroes,” which was penned after  seeing our nation united behind their home baseball team last fall, the tour will bring country  music across Canada to celebrate the people that make each city feel like home. The ones who  show up for their team, their neighbours and their people every day. The real heroes in every  community from coast to coast. As Brody prepares for the biggest album release of his career, his 10th studio album, a double  project with side A arriving early this summer, he’s also set to take the stage at the Formula 1  Grand Prix du Canada in Montréal on May 23, placing him at the center of one of the country’s  biggest cultural moments. With a decade-spanning catalogue and no signs of slowing down,  Brody is entering a year that redefines his legacy.   With a wave of new music on the horizon, including a highly anticipated album later this year,  The Reklaws are setting the stage for their most impactful year yet. The duo will hit the road this  fall for their largest tour to date, bringing their high-energy live show to more fans than ever  before and solidifying their position at the forefront of Canadian country.

High-octane excitement is set to return to the Wheat City as the popular Monsters & Mayhem event rolls back into Brandon for a full weekend of adrenaline-fueled entertainment. The three-day spectacle will take place at the Keystone Centre Outdoor Grounds, bringing with it a thrilling lineup of monster trucks, freestyle motocross, and high-energy entertainment for all ages. Fans can catch the action beginning Friday, July 24 at 7 p.m., followed by afternoon shows on Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26, both starting at 2 p.m. The event is expected to draw large crowds from across southwestern Manitoba, adding to the city’s busy summer events calendar. Ticket and additional event details can be located here.

One of Westman’s most anticipated family events is set to return this spring, as Westman Dreams for Kids prepares to host its annual Children’s Country Fair on Sunday, May 24, 2026. The beloved community celebration, which coincides with the spirit of the season following the arrival of Spring, promises a full day of free entertainment for families across the region. Organizers say the event continues to grow each year, offering children and parents alike a chance to come together, enjoy the outdoors, and create lasting memories. The fair will feature a wide range of activities designed to appeal to all ages. Children can look forward to bouncy castles and inflatables, face decorating, interactive crafts and games, and a popular petting zoo. Returning favourites such as horse and wagon rides will also give families a taste of country charm right in the heart of Brandon. In addition to the free activities, a cash-only canteen will be available on-site, offering a variety of snacks and treats throughout the day. The Children’s Country Fair is a signature event for Westman Dreams for Kids, a local organization dedicated to supporting children and families in need across southwestern Manitoba. Proceeds and community support generated through events like this help fund meaningful programs and initiatives throughout the year. Local businesses and community members are also encouraged to get involved. Sponsorship opportunities remain available, giving supporters a chance to contribute directly to the success of the event while helping strengthen community connections. With no admission cost and something for everyone to enjoy, organizers are inviting families from Brandon and surrounding communities to mark their calendars and attend. The Westman Dreams for Kids Children’s Country Fair takes place Sunday, May 24, offering a full day dedicated to fun, laughter, and community spirit.

This week in Winnipeg and next week in Brandon the Manitoba Band Association (MBA) Family of Festivals Level One Band Festivals welcome more than 5,300 younger band students. In total 104 concert bands and nearly 5,300 students will share music, learn, and grow through what is for many their very first band festival experience. The MBA Family of Festivals, which began in February and runs over a total of 15 days through June 7, 2026, is one of the largest of its kind in Western Canada. The Family of Festivals concludes in early June with a non-competitive and non-adjudicated Community Band Festival June 6 - 7 at beautiful Coronation Park in Winnipeg. Donations Encouraged in Support of Main Street Project We are encouraging festival-goers to bring donations of new and gently used adult clothing and toiletries in support of Main Street Project, who lost their entire inventory of supplies when the Manwin Hotel burned down this winter. This campaign is being organized the 2026 Leadership Winnipeg cohort that our Executive Director, Brent Johnson, is participating in this year - a program jointly offered by The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and Volunteer Manitoba. Celebrating National Volunteer Week Volunteers are the heartbeat of our Family of Festivals, and we could not provide these experiences or keep them so accessible without their support. Everywhere you turn, there is a friendly human helping and not only ensuring our festivals run smoothly and on time, but helping ensure these are positive, educational experiences for the thousands of young band students and hundreds of music educators who participate in them. Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers! Festival Program & Schedule The full digital program & festival schedule can be viewed online here. Winnipeg: April 21 - 24, 2026 (9am - 4:30pm daily) at My Church Winnipeg (955 Wilkes Ave) Brandon: April 28 (1pm - 4pm) & 29 (9am - 4pm) at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium and the Brandon University School of Music Clinicians Each band will work with up to three clinicians, providing them feedback, encouragement, next-steps, and encouragement to continue their journey as young musicians. Each Band receives written and recorded feedback during their performance, and then a live post-performance workshop with one clinician, and their experience concludes with a third clinician providing a band basics workshop, reinforcing important fundamentals that are so critical at these early stages of musical growth. Family of Festivals Full Overview The Manitoba Band Association (MBA) Family of Festivals (formerly the Optimist International Band Festival) have been a Manitoba tradition since 1976 and is growing this year to include the Concert Band Festival, Jazz Band Festival, the Level One Band Festivals in both Winnipeg and Brandon, and a Community Band Festival. These educational, non-competitive experiences are designed to celebrate music-making, community, and promote students’ and community members’ growth & development through a long-standing culture of positivity and encouragement. Bands come to share, learn, grow, and support each other and they leave these festival experiences inspired, energized and ready for more. Building on the success of our 2025 festivals, we are excited to be sustaining growth in several areas of our 2026 Family of Festivals:   The Concert Band Festival experienced nearly 30% growth in participation in 2025 necessitating the addition of a third performance stage at RBC Convention Centre. This year the size of several bands has outgrown available facilities in the traditional format, and an alternative festival flow is being implemented on Friday to accommodate these large ensembles of up to 150 students meaning this year’s festival will be even more exciting with more students involved and engaged with these experiences.   To accommodate more bands at the Level One Festival in Winnipeg, and bands that have grown too large for the stage at My Church, we are adding a full additional day with an alternative use of space and festival flow to ensure all bands and students can have this experience without having to limit how many musicians can take part.   To accommodate growth in participation at the Brandon-based Level One Festival, we continuing the addition of a second festival day taking place at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium and Brandon University School of Music and made possible in part thanks to funding from the Brandon Area Community Foundation.   For the 2nd year, a Community Band Festival at beautiful Coronation Park in Winnipeg celebrates lifelong music-making and encourages students and adults alike to engage with lifelong music-making. These additions and expansions will ensure that no one is left behind and that hundreds more students, educators, and community musicians can have an MBA Family of Festivals experience in 2026 that will stay with them for a lifetime. Digital Festival Program Continuing our commitment to environmental sustainability, the Family of Festivals digital program featuring adjudicator and clinician bios, and the full festival schedule is available in an improved format: https://www.mbband.org/family-of-festivals/festival-programs Full Festival Dates & Locations: Concert Band Festival: February 17-20, 2026 at the RBC Convention Centre Jazz Band Festival: March 5 & 6, 2026 at Centre culturel franco-manitobain Level One Winnipeg Festival: April 21 - 24, 2026 at My Church Winnipeg Level One Brandon Festival: April 28 & 29, 2026 at Brandon University & Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium Community Band Festival: June 6 - 7, 2026 at Coronation Park in Winnipeg