Ridley Bent is back with his latest release Wildcard the anticipated follow up of Rabbit on My Wheel showcasing the Western Canada based Country artist's keen fascination for characters whose life on the straight and narrow rarely lasts past the nearest exit to a short, crooked road. Ridley Bent continues to weave tales of wisdom and intrigue with titles such as 'Fill Yer Boots' about a truck driving card player, and 'Crooked and Loaded' written about a shootout with a posse of outlaws. Produced by the John MacArthur Ellis and supported by an all star band of country musics finest Wildcard will take your mind away and get your toes tapping as Ridley Bent does what he does best..! On Wildcard the 2009 CCMA nominee and 7-time BCCMA winner's storytelling and songwriting chops are sharper than ever. Although the tales are still as tall as they come, and the characters as large as life or larger, the cast of hard-drinking, fast-driving characters Ridley unleashes on Wildcard tend to be a shade less hell-bent on self-destruction than they are with keeping their lives between the lines and out of the ditch. Channeling the high-energy performance ethic of artists like Dwight Yoakum and Little Feat, Ridley and his band tear a deep strip off the joint with tracks like 'Brooklyn Texas'. Of course these are love stories told the way only Ridley can; tracks that run the gamut from hard and bitter to hardly better, including a beautifully rendered, deliberately down-tempo take on the classic Tom Petty song , 'You Got Lucky' While much of Ridley's new material is drawn from real life experiences he's gathered up on the road, Wildcard still has its share of shady characters, jackknifing tractor-trailers and whiskey-fuelled bar fights. And for those who identify strongly with Ridley's less reasonable characters - the ones who tend to prefer to stir things up with a pistol in one hand and a bottle in the other - there's 'The Blood Trilogy'. A companion EP recorded during the same sessions and co-written with Dunn - a highly satisfying three-song western epic of violence and vengeance informed by Ridley's ongoing fascination with the bleak worlds of writers like John Steinbeck and Cormac McCarthy. Catch alt country artist Ridley Bent live in concert at Princess Park in downtown Brandon this Thursday night. It’s the second concert in the Summer Lights Concert Series. Show starts at 7pm admission is free!

(March 9, 2017) -- The Winnipeg Comedy Festival is pleased to add two more stellar names to the festival lineup. Tommy Chong, known for his many comedic film roles over the years, will host the Good Neighbours gala on Friday, April 7 at Pantages Playhouse Theatre. Shazia Mirza, one of the hottest comedians on the circuit today, will bring her hit stand-up show The Kardashians Made Me Do It to the West End Cultural Centre on Sunday, April 9.     “I’m delighted to have ‘free radicals’ joining the fest,” says Artistic Director Lara Rae. “Both of these artists have spoken their minds at great personal risk, and I have incredible respect and love for both of them – they make me laugh and think at the same time!” Also added to Sunday afternoon schedule is the FREE show You’re Welcome – ethnic comedy for new and old Canadians, hosted by Martha Chaves, and featuring performances by Fatima Dhowre, Chad Anderson, Mark James Heath and Nile Seguin. The 16th annual Winnipeg Comedy Festival takes place April 3-9, 2017 at venues around Winnipeg. Tickets are on-sale and available online, along with the full festival schedule, at www.winnipegcomedyfestival.com.  

Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School Dinner Theatre will be presenting the musical Rock of Ages, high school edition.  The unforgettable rock anthems will take you back to the times of big bands with big egos playing big guitar solos and sporting even bigger hair! This Tony Award – nominated Broadway musical features the hits of bands including Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, and others. It’s the tail end of the big, bad 1980s in Hollywood, and the party has been raging hard. Aqua Net, Lycra, Heavy Metal flow freely at one of the Sunset Strips last legendary venues, a place where legendary rocker Stacee Jaxx takes the stage and groupies line up for their chance at an autograph. Amidst the madness, aspiring rock star Drew longs to take the stage as the next big thing (and longs for small-town girl Sherri, fresh off the bus from Kansas with stars in her eyes). The rock and roll fairy-tale is about to end when German developers sweep into town with plans to turn the fabled Strip into just another capitalist strip mall. Can Drew, Sherri, and the gang save the strip–and themselves–before it's too late? Only the music of hit bands Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and more hold the answer. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});   To accompany the entertainment, the award-winning Crocus Plains Culinary Arts Department will create a delectable three-course meal. Seating is limited to 150 guests per show, so be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible. Tickets, at $35 per adult are available at the Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School front office. Please inform us of any special dietary concerns when purchasing tickets. Advance sales only. Dates: April 20-22, 2017 Evening performances: Seating at 6:15 pm. Show starts at 6:30 pm. Saturday matinee performance: Seating at 12:15 pm. Show starts at 12:30 pm. Tickets: $35 per person - tickets are available at Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School in the main office Location: MNP Hall, Keystone Centre

What do construction trucks, farm equipment, and emergency vehicles have in common? All those vehicles, and plenty more, will be on the grounds of the Keystone Centre, on Saturday, May 27, 2017, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm for Touch-A-Truck Brandon. Touch-A-Truck Brandon in a unique fundraiser that is an interactive, outdoor, family friendly experience, allowing kids to “touch”, climb, explore and discover all kinds of vehicles. The event is a fundraiser for both Kokum's Early Enrichment Program daycares run by the Brandon Friendship Centre! Their pedagogy and motto at both centres is to let kids get dirty and explore their surroundings. Cost is only $5 per person and kids under 2 years of age are free. Facebook event link. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});  

Manitoba-based Flipside Opera, group of young local musicians turned entrepreneurs who are dedicated to growing the diverse music scene in the province, will be hosting a concert event in Brandon on March the 10th. Greeriad, their current production, will take to the stage of the Lorne Watson Recital Hall and will feature Manitoban composer John Greer's music. Taking inspiration from Canadian folk song and prairie poetry, Greer's music is a new twist on well-known stories. You will become part of the action as singers and pianists weave among the audience with story and song. Greeriad, is a nod to the salon concerts popular with composers such as Schubert. John grew up in Manitoba and throughout his music, there was a sense that this music belonged on the prairies. There will be several arrangements of popular Canadian folk tunes, both new and old, performed in ensemble and by soloists. Additionally there will be 2 works featuring piano arrangements for 4 hands. This concert will feature 3 Brandon University Alumni: Laura Loewen, Lisa Rumpel and Judith Oatway. Also on the program are (Minnedosa native) Aaron Hutton, Jessica Kos-Whicher, Elizabeth Hoyt-Surdhar and Matthew Pauls.   (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});     Tickets are $25.00 for general admission and $15.00 for students and artists. They can be purchased, in advance, through their website. Flipside is in their second full season, and working hard to create roles for musicians in the province. This program, Greeriad, will be heard by audiences in Winnipeg, Brandon and Flin Flon during this tour. Friday, March 10, 2017 Start Time: 8pm Lorne Watson Recital Hall, Brandon University 270-18th Street, Brandon