Submitted: Brandon School Division On Friday, April 28, 2017, Grade Five students and their music teachers from the Westman and Parkland regions and into Saskatchewan will come together for a day of creative music making at Orff Children’s Day 2017. This fun-filled and musically enriching event will take place at the School of Music, Brandon University from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Children’s Day, sponsored by the Manitoba Orff Chapter, will feature five excellent clinicians including Brandon’s own Kelsey Simpson. Under the leadership of these experts, students will take part in various workshops integrating choral singing, recorder, movement, and ensemble playing on drums and Orff instruments. The chosen theme is "Blast From the Past” – focusing on the works of Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman. The day's activities will culminate in a sharing session presented by all participating students from 3:00-3:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Students were selected to represent their individual schools at this fantastic professional development opportunity and event. Together with their music teachers, they look forward to taking part in exciting new musical experiences to bring back to their peers.

Suds, Student Union Drinking Spot, located inside Brandon University will be closing their doors for good on Friday, April the 7th. A letter released by the Brandon University Students Union reported a steady decline in business over the past several years resulting in a deficit of over $40,000. The last time the location was profitable was 5-years ago, back in 2012/13. The plan going forward includes using the space with the students in mind by approaching local businesses to service the needs of current, and future students. Located in the Mingling Area of the Knowles-Douglas Building, Suds was a place to relax and socialize on campus. Over the years they played host to a variety of events including karaoke, pool, jazz nights, club socials, and live entertainment.

April 3, 2017 (Dauphin MB)--Dauphin’s Countryfest is pleased to release the next round of artists slated to perform at Canada’s longest running country music festival, taking place June 29-July 2. “Countryfest fans have come to expect an exceptional and well-rounded music festival experience, and the superstar lineup shaping up for 2017 is one of the best we’ve ever put together,” says Eric Irwin, president of Dauphin’s Countryfest. “Dauphin is definitely the place that music fans want to be to ring in Canada’s 150th birthday this year!” Countryfest promoterRob Waloschuk is pleased with how it’s all shaping up: “With superstar headliners each night, this year’s Countryfest will be one of the most stellar we’ve ever put together. We’re bringing in a great mix of country, rock, blues and roots, with something for everyone.” COUNTRYFEST ARTISTS FOR 2017: **Denotes that artist has already been announced **Luke Bryan **Keith Urban **Johnny Reid **Doc Walker **Tim Hicks **Meghan Patrick **Madeline Merlo **Hunter Brothers Eric Paslay The Cadillac Three Jess Moskaluke Cold Creek County The Washboard Union James Barker Band Charlie Major Kenny Shields & Streetheart Jason Blaine Ridley Bent The Dungarees Johnson Crook JD Edwards Band Ryan Keown Kayla Luky Renee Lamoureux Jake Mathews Zachary Lucky Samara Yung Past The Perimeter Toque Sykamore Leeroy Stagger Ray Martin Band The 24th Street Wailers Bullrider Tyler Del Pino Justin Lacroix David Pestrak Russell Lee Kates Outlaw   LIMITED TICKETS REMAINING: A limited number of weekend passes, VIPs, camping and day passes remain for the 2017 Dauphin’s Countryfest. Tickets can be purchased online at www.countryfest.ca, by calling 1-800-361-7300, or in-person at the Dauphin’s Countryfest office (28 2nd Avenue NE in Dauphin).Ticket prices increase on May 1. ABOUT DAUPHIN’S COUNTRYFEST: The 28th annual Dauphin’s Countryfest takes place June 29-July 2, 2017. Canada’s longest running country music festival has been attracting the biggest names in country music to one of the most beautiful regions of Manitoba since 1990. Situated on the edge of Riding Mountain National Park, the unique outdoor amphitheatre built into the side of an escarpment provides every patron a perfect view from any one of the 14,000 seats in the house. Dauphin’s Countryfest is a not-for-profit organization that consists of a 12-member volunteer Board of Directors and a membership of more than 2000 loyal supporters. Organizers credit over 2000 volunteers who work tirelessly each year providing essential services for the festival weekend, while fundraising for their respective community organizations. In addition to various community contributions, Countryfest pays out approximately $150,000 each year to community organizations that provide services for the festival. Dauphin’s Countryfest took home the award for Festival or Event of the Year at the 2015 Manitoba Country Music awards, and was a finalist at the prestigious Canadian Tourism Awards in 2013, nominated for Tourism Event of the Year. The festival was awarded the 2012 Philanthropist of the Year Award from the Dauphin & District Community Foundation, given to individuals or businesses showing the true spirit of philanthropy and giving.  

Wayne Morris, a renowned Hypnotist Magician with more than 2000 shows to his credit, is bringing his “Mysteries of the Mind Tour” to Houstons. Born in Alberta Wayne first got the public's attention with his bungee jump escape from chains at the West Edmonton Mall. He has been performing his show travelling all over western Canada, and has been described as “a world-class entertainer who uses magic, hypnosis, and escapes to amaze audiences around the world.” As a former member of David Copperfield's "Project Magic", his Brandon show will provide an evening the audience will never forget and the volunteers may never remember! The show takes place at Houstons on Saturday, April the 29h with an 8 pm start time. Admission is only $10.

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!