Matthew Good and his band will be jumping on the bus for a coast to coast concert tour this spring. The tour kicks off in Edmonton on April 4 and ends in Vancouver on May 7 in Vancouver. The tour will be making a stop in Brandon and hitting The 40 Stage on Saturday April 6, 2024. “Hello Timebomb,” “Everything Is Automatic,” “Indestructible,” “Apparitions,” and “Load Me Up” are among the most notable singles for the group which also won a Juno Awards for Best Group in 2000. Pre-Sale tickets go live 11/23/2023 - using pre-sale code MGROCK2024 On sale to public 11/24/2023

Brandon’s favourite holiday art party is back! Shop some of Southwestern Manitoba’s best artists and crafters, enjoy live music, get your portrait done, enter a raffle, and entertain your kids with a free holiday craft room. This year the AGSM is bringing back the GREAT BIGLittle Chili Bowl Sale. By purchasing a handcrafted bowl, made in the AGSM studios, you get a heaping scoop of chili and a freshly made bun to go with your bowl. The Gala of Gifts runs from 10 AM to 6 PM on Saturday, November 25th. The first 50 guests and children 5 and under will get in for free, and entry is just 2 dollars for ages 6 and up. All proceeds from the Gala of Gifts support the AGSM’s ongoing programming and the cultural life of Southwestern Manitoba. Sponsored by Kuipers Bakery, Ranyor Bookkeeping Services, Safeway Corral Centre, Chez Angela, Sobeys Brandon South, and Komfort Kitchen. Saturday, November 25th, 2023 from 10 AM to 6 PM At the AGSM. 710 Rosser Avenue, Unit 2 Brandon, Manitoba. Admission: $2. Free entry for children under 5 and first 50 guests. Associated Links Website Information Facebook Event

Rockers Foreigner will bring their historic Farewell Tour to Brandon for a show at the Keystone Centre on May 14, 2024. Hear them perform classics like "Juke Box Hero", "Urgent", "Cold as Ice", "Hot Blooded", "Double Vision" and more. Tickets are on-sale this Friday (November 14) on Ticketmaster or by calling 204-726-3555. Set to begin on May 3, 2024 at the Abbotsford Centre in Abbotsford, BC, FOREIGNER will be joined by Headpins, one of Canada's 80's hit-makers.

The Manitoba Country Music Association celebrated the hard work and talent of Manitoba's country music community again this month. The annual Manitoba Country Music Awards gala handed out the hardware at The Club Regent Event Centre on November 4. Emma Peterson was the big winner this year, picking up wins in three categories: Female Artist of the Year, Interactive Artist of the Year, and Music Video of the Year. Jade Turner was a double winner with Song of the Year and Single of the Year for "Deadweight". Hosted by Canadian country music star Aaron Pritchett, the event handed out the hardware and featured performances by Peterson and Turner as well as Emerging Artist Award winner Catie St.Germain, Desiree Dorion, Don Amero, Male Artist of the Year winner Jason Kirkness, Album of the Year winner Kendra Kay, Mitchell Makoons, Roots Artist of the Year winner Nelson Little, and The Sean Taylor Band. MCMA partnered with Indigenous Music and MusicWorks to host a roundtable for artists on what country music radio wants to hear on November 3 featuring Pritchett, Dorion, David McLeod of NCI FM & Indigenous Music Countdown, 730 CKDM's Alex DeVries, Naomi Kay from Now Country 104.7 & NCI FM, and moderator Shaneen Robison-Desjarlais of Indigenous Music / Manitoba Music. The MCMA is a non-profit organization, dedicated to the promotion, development, and enhancement of all aspects of Manitoba country music at the local, national, and international level. The MCMA endeavors to create venues for the promotion of Manitoba country artists through sponsorship of its own events and involvement in other organizations' events. Check out this year's winners... 2023 MANITOBA COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD NOMINEES FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR Emma Peterson MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR Jason Kirkness GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR Petric NCI FM INDIGENOUS COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD Brandi Vezina FAY WALKER SONG OF THE YEAR (SONGWRITERS) “Deadweight” – Jade Turner (Writers: Jade Turner, Crystal Shawanda) ROOTS ARTIST, DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR Nelson Little EMERGING ARTIST AWARD Catie St. Germain MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR “Got It Back” – Emma Peterson SINGLE OF THE YEAR “Deadweight” – Jade Turner ALBUM OF THE YEAR Homegrown Heart – Kendra Kay INTERACTIVE ARTIST, DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR Emma Peterson FANS' CHOICE Quinton Blair COVER/TRIBUTE ARTIST, DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR The InClines – Sweet Dreams of Patsy Cline ALL STAR BAND OF THE YEAR – GUITAR Lachlan McLean ALL STAR BAND OF THE YEAR – BASS Jon Mushaluk ALL STAR BAND OF THE YEAR – DRUMS Josh Ayers ALL STAR BAND OF THE YEAR – SPECIALTY (BANJO, FIDDLE, MANDOLIN, KEYS, STEEL) Michael Audette RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR 730 CKDM AM (Dauphin) RADIO ON-AIR PERSONALITY OR TEAM OF THE YEAR Brian Cook DAUPHIN'S COUNTRYFEST FESTIVAL OR EVENT OF THE YEAR Manitoba Stampede & Exhibition VENUE OF THE YEAR The Royal George Hotel (Source: www.manitobamusic.com)

Music has the incredible power to evoke emotions, transport us to different moments in our lives, and create lasting memories. When a band celebrates a significant anniversary, it's not just a marker of time but a testament to the enduring impact their music has had on their fans. One such band, Clubbing Fraggles, is gearing up to celebrate a remarkable milestone, 16th anniversary. Their journey through the years has been a testament to the power of music to bring people together, and this anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on their remarkable career. The group began their musical journey in June of 2007, when a group of talented individuals with a shared passion for music came together. The band’s name is an homage to the ’80s television series "Fraggle Rock," since their focus was going to be on 80’s music they wanted their name to reflect that. The “Clubbing” portion was intended to be interpreted as a nightclub or venues where they would be performing. All three original members remain today. "Our first show was at The 40 here in Brandon. I believe it was at the Band Jam for Cancer and there would have been approximately 150 in attendance when we played. None of us can really remember playing it! We do remember being stoked to play a show with other bands at one of Brandon’s best live music venues." said band member Tim Epp. "Clubbing Fraggles decided to go with a “uniform” for the simple fact that it identifies the band members and gives us  a consistent look on stage." Over the years, Clubbing Fraggles has gifted the Westman region with an array of chart-topping 80's hits that have left an indelible mark on the local music scene. "These days we are averaging around 24 shows a year. "We have done upwards of 30 shows in a year, and as we are all still working day jobs, that’s a lot of weekends! Sometimes we play two different shows in one weekend. At the end of this month into the beginning of December we have four shows on the books." As Clubbing Fraggles prepares to celebrate their 16th Anniversary at The 40 on December 2 , fans can look forward to a special event and guest appearances. They will be augmenting their core band with additional instrumentation and there will be a different look to the band that evening. Clubbing Fraggles would like to invite everyone to join them for this extra special celebration. To guarantee your entry tickets are $10 and available at the bar in The 40. Entry at the door will also be available for $10 on a first come, first served basis.