The Salamander Summer Music Festival 2024 is set to return to Rideau Park in Brandon, Manitoba from July 19th to 21st. This community-focused festival aims to celebrate the arts, music, and culture, bringing together local talent and providing a vibrant space for artistic expression and community engagement. Festival attendees can look forward to a variety of activities, including live music performances, art workshops, a free kids' zone, an artisan market, and food trucks. The event will run from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm on July 19th and 20th, and from 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm on July 21st​​​. The organizers recently held an event launch party where they revealed the names of the artists who would be performing at the festival this year. Among the artists scheduled to  appear include: Anastasia Jane, Young Pixels, Island Vibe, Ainsley Friesen, DJ Red, Shameless Folk, Sheriff Birch & more. Ticket prices are set at $25 plus taxes for adult day passes and $20 for youths. Weekend passes are available for $60 for adults and $50 for youths. Children under 12 can attend for free when accompanied by a paying adult. As a volunteer-run, non-profit event, the festival emphasizes community involvement and aims to create a welcoming environment where people can appreciate and participate in the arts. The organizers are currently looking for volunteers to help make the event a success​​. For more information and updates, you can visit the Salamander Summer Music Festival website​.

**Rescheduled for Saturday, September 21 2024** British Columbia rapper Madchild will be hitting the stage at Houstons Country Roadhouse on Saturday, September 21. The stop in Brandon will be the 2nd show of his "10th Anniversary of Lawn Mower Man" Canadian tour starting July 5th in Winnipeg and running through August/September. After many successful years with hip-hop group, Swollen Members, Madchild creatively branched out as a solo artist in 2012 with his debut title track ”Dope Sick.” Robbie G is on board as the tour’s special guest. Doors for the Brandon show open at 7:00pm with a meet and great, and the show starts at 8:00pm. Advance tickets are available here. Popular Vancouver hip-hop artist, Snak the Ripper is also coming to Houstons on Friday, August 23. His impressive body of work includes several million views of YouTube and tours of Europe. Snak’s first album was released in 2007 and over the years he has toured in “support slots with the likes of RA The Rugged Man, Sean Price, Camp Lo, Swollen Members, Cunninlynguists, Choclair, and Moka only to name a few.” Fans in Brandon are certain to enjoy his loud, aggressive vocal style.

Canadian singer, songwriter, actor and author Jann Arden is bringing her Christmas Tour to Brandon’s WMCA on Monday, December 16 at 7:30pm. Arden released her 15th studio album, Descendant, co-produced with Bob Rock and Russell Broom, in January of 2021. In total she has released 15 albums with 19 top ten singles. Arden has won 8 Juno’s including solo artist of the year in 1994 and Female Artist of the Year in 1995 and 2001. She has also found employment as an actress, starring in Jann, a comedy television series based on a “fictionalized version” of her own life. For additional information, or to purchase tickets, click here.

The Dock, Kickin' Axe and Section 6 Brewing are partnering once again to throw a Summer Block Party. The event will take place in downtown Brandon, in the 1100 block of Princess Ave, on Saturday, June 22.  The event has a number of activities/attractions on the go including music, food, beer, axe throwing and a makers market.  Live music starts at 1pm with local musicians Andrew McKenzie and Matt Cory Music & The Bad Decisions scheduled to perform. It runs until midnight for those interested in checking it out.

The City of Brandon’s popular “Music in the Park” summer program hits its opening note on the evening of Tuesday, June 4th, 2024 in Princess Park, Downtown Brandon. These diverse FREE music performances are presented each year by the City of Brandon’s Parks & Recreation Services Department and feature the amazing musical talents of some of Western Manitoba’s finest performing artists.   Kicking off the 2024 edition of the Music in the Park program will be a performance from the Vincent Massey school Bands. This year’s lineup can be found at brandon.ca/music.  Performances run every Tuesday, weather permitting, from June 4th through August 27th. All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. The public is encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket for personal comfort.