– Dauphin’s Countryfest and the Indigenous Music Development Program at Manitoba Music are shining a spotlight on featured Indigenous artists in Manitoba at the second edition of the Nipin (Summer) Showcase. Running June 28 – 30 at the country music festival, the longest running country music festival in Canada, the artistic programming features 11 acts including musicians and dancers.
The genre-spanning lineup includes established and up-and-coming artists including hard rock band Ash and the Arsonists, the legendary C-Weed Band, JUNO nominated singer/songwriters Desiree Dorion and Renee Lamoureux, Indie-folk/pop artist FONTINE, country roots/rocker Jerry Sereda, fiddle champion and recording artist Jason Lepine & The Metis Spirit Band, and singer/radio broadcaster/actor/author Kimberley Dawn. Three-time JUNO nominated singer/songwriter Don Amero will be a featured act on Main Stage on June 30. Acclaimed “hip hop jig” group the Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers and dynamic square dance group United Thunder Square Dancers will also perform.
“Indigenous artists continue to make important contributions to the country music scene in Manitoba and beyond. We’re excited to be partnering once again with Dauphin’s Countryfest to amplify some of these incredibly talented Indigenous artists at the 35th anniversary of this venerable festival,” says Cassidy Mann, the Indigenous Music Development Coordinator at Manitoba Music.
“We have been working very hard for the past couple years to ensure that festival patrons can take in the talented showcasing of Indigenous artists across Manitoba. There is no shortage of amazing artists in our Province and we are so happy to be able to feature more Indigenous artists than previous years as we work towards having a more culturally diverse festival for many years to come,” says Kamryn Winters, General Manager of Dauphin’s Countryfest.
Weekend Schedule
Friday, June 28
Credit Union Corral Stage
Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers
Renee Lamoureux
Jason Lepine & The Metis Spirit Band
Desiree Dorion
C-Weed Band
Saturday, June 29
Credit Union Corral Stage
United Thunder Dancers
Kimberley Dawn
FONTINE
Jerry Sereda
Ash and the Arsonists
Sunday, June 30
Main Stage Featured Act
Don Amero
IMDP was launched in 2004 to support First Nation, Inuit, and Métis artists and music companies develop sustainable careers in the music industry. The program delivers projects and services that respond to the needs of the industry as identified by a steering committee. IMDP is supported by the Province of Manitoba and Manitoba Film & Music.
Dauphin’s Countryfest is a three day country music festival running every July long weekend on the edge of Riding Mountain National Park. Since 1989 it has since established itself as a major economic driver within the region generating an economic impact of approximately $9.7 million over the course of the three day event. Revenue generated from the non-profit festival is re-invested into the site as well as community projects around the Parkland Area. The operations of the festival directly benefit numerous volunteer organizations who in turn are able to advance their respective organizational mandates. The festival provides a first class venue to showcase emerging artists of all musical genres, as well as established artists across the entire country music scene.
