2011 Polaris Shortlisters Austra To Play Winnipeg

Toronto-rooted electro-pop makers Austra are coming to town for a show at the West End Cultural Centre on November 24th. The band continues to tour heavily in support of the 2011 Polaris Prize shortlist-making debut, Feel It Break. Check 'em out on a recent episode of Radio 3's The Breakfast Club. 

Along for the tour will be indie-folk act Tasseomancy. 

Evening Headlines: Young Galaxy Touring with Junior Boys; Wildlife with Hollerado

Exciting news: dream poppers Young Galaxy are touring with Junior Boys and will be supporting the latter on September 12th at the WECC, effectively making this a "don't miss" show. Above, check out their brand spankin' new video for "Blown Minded" off their sublime album, Shapeshifting.

Add Sheepdogs to the Kings of Leon show, October 4th at the MTS Centre.

And the all mighty Zeus to Sam Roberts's Winnipeg gig, November 1st at the Centennial Concert Hall.

Also, indie-rockers Wildlife are hitting the road with Hollerado and are on the September 17th bill at the WECC.

Then finally, in two days' time, Australian pop act The Little Stevies take the stage at the Gas Station Theatre w/ Low Flying Planes.

Hollerado Pay A Visit To The WECC

On Saturday, September 17th, Manotick Ontario's finest pop rockers Hollerado pay a visit to the West End Cutlural Centre. Along for the ride is Young Rival and Wildlife.

Tickets are $12 in advance (at the WECC) or $15 at the door.

Junior Boys Stop By This September

Electronic pop purveyors Junior Boys will be out and about for a world tour in support of their latest disc, It's All True, a 50+ date tour that can't possibly be complete without a Winnipeg date. Check out the boys at the West End Cultural Centre on September 12th. (Thanks to Dave for the heads up).

Evening Roundup: Cannon Bros. to open for Gmac; Folk Thief @ Ellice Theatre

Cannon Bros. by Vimala Jeffery-Howe

Lots and loads of show listings and local happenings to pass along, so here goes:

Cannon Bros are opening for the Greg MacPherson loud show on September 9th at the WECC. Look for their much buzzed about debut Firecracker/Cloudglow something this fall via Disintegration Records. I know I will be.

Local folkies The Crooked Brothers play the WECC on September 23rd.

Songstress Mary Gauthier is there on August 13th w/ Tania Elizabeth.

Vancouver progressive metal act Abriosis play the, umm, Death Trap on August 20th w/ Artice Circle, Auroch, and Alpha Kill.

Folk Thief (also from Vancouver)  has booked a gig at the Ellice Theatre on July 30th and will also be performing at Music Trader earlier in the day at 2:30 p.m.

Montreal folk artist Charlotte Cornfield drops by Times Change(d) on July 28th.

Rah Rah are opening for Said The Whale, September 19th at the Park Theatre.

And finally, Wax Mannequin and Burning Hell will be there on July 25th.

The Deep Dark Woods Bring The Place I Left Behind To Town

Saskatoon-situated folk act The Deep Dark Woods are currently gearing up for the release of their new record, The Place I Left Behind, due out on August 2nd via Six Shooter, before taking the fresh material on the Canadian roads in September and October. Look for them to materialize on stage at the West End Cultural Centre on September 15th.

Polaris Short-listers Hey Rosetta! Return To Peg City

Fresh off scoring a highly coveted 2011 Polaris short-list nomination (10 albums remain), Halifax St. John's indie-poppers Hey Rosetta! have booked a North American tour, which includes a date at the surprisingly busy Garrick on November 17th. Along for the journey are special guests The Jezabels.

Presale gets underway here tomorrow; as a bonus, anyone purchasing advance tickets is automatically entered into a draw to win an autographed vinyl copy of Seeds (one giveaway per show).

Dan Mangan To Play Garrick In November

Photo by Jonathan Taggart

White-hot singer-songwriter Dan Mangan is releasing his third proper album, Oh Fortune, on September 27th (via Arts & Crafts) and has booked a cross-Canada tour in support. Coined The Oh Fortune Tour, the month-long trek sees the troubadour drop by the Garrick on November 1st. 

You can swap your email here here for the album's title track. 

tUnE-yArDs To Play West End Cultural Centre In November

One-woman loop-lovin' experimental pop act tUnE-yArDs (that's fun to type) continues to tour in support of her second record, whokill, and this new leg of dates includes a pit stop at our West End Cultural Centre on November 14th. (Thanks to those who emailed/twittered/commented about this. Was away from a computer all day).

Photos: Library Voices, Enjoy Your Pumas, and Mise En Scene

Library Voices w/ Enjoy Your Pumas, Mise En Scene

The West End Cultural Centre

Winnipeg, MB

Thursday, July 14th

Mise En Scene

Enjoy Your Pumas

Library Voices

All Photos by Sarah Gofflot

Chad VanGaalen Brings Diaper Island To The WECC

Photo by Jeff Thorburn

The interminably prolific Chad VanGaalen recently announced a string of Canadian tour dates in support of his latest recording achievement, Diaper Island. The singer-songwriter/animator/illustrator's tour itinerary includes a stop at our finest sound room The West End Cultural Centre on November 18th. No word on ticket deets just yet.

Contest: Enter To Win A Pair Of Tickets To See Dark Dark Dark @ The WECC

Courtesy of the West End Cultural Centre, I've got a pair of tickets to giveaway for Minnesotan chamber pop outfit Dark Dark Dark's show taking place there on Wednesday, July 20th.

If you're interested in checking out the show, fire me off an email (on the right hand side) by Saturday, July 16th @ noon CST with the subject line "Dark Dark Dark Ticket Giveaway" and your name in the email's body. Winning name will be drawn randomly sometime that afternoon and contacted shortly thereafter. As always, one entry per person please!

Said The Whale To Play The Park; Gobble Gobble @ The Lo

According to their Tumblr site, earnest Vancouver acoustic-rockers Said The Whale are currently hard at work recording their third studio album (due sometime in 2012) and are slated to embark on a X-Canada sojourn this fall, after the recording sessions. Check them out at the Park Theatre on September 19th.

Also, experimental pop outfit Gobble Gobble play the Lo Pub on July 16th (thanks to Anon for the heads up). 

Arctic Monkeys, Smith Westerns Rock The Burt

Sheffield England indie-rock foursome Arctic Monkeys make their heralded debut in Peg City (I think) on October 1st at the Burton Cumming Theatre, and indie darlings Smith Westerns open. Pre-sale is already underway via Arctic Monkeys official site if, you know, you're a member of their fan club.

I'm hearing public sales commence on Friday.

Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ The Albert; Arctic Monkeys @ Burt Rumours Bandying About

Photo Credit: Pavla Kopecna

As per Exclaim, NY indie-pop exports The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (above) will be dropping by the Albert on September 28th w/ Big Troubles.

Speaking of the Albert, 2011 Polaris long listers PS I Love You rock the joint on September 24th.

Matthew Good returns to town for a show at the Burt on November 7th.

Yukon Blonde are at the West End Cultural Centre on October 2nd.

And finally, the rumour mill is a’churnin’ that Arctic Monkeys will play Winnipeg for the first time (I think) on October 1st with the show going down at the Burt. Let’s hope for corroboration very soon.

Islendingadagurinn (aka The Icelandic Festival of Manitoba)

Royal Canoe appear at the Icelandic Festival on Saturday, July 30th

The music lineup for the122nd annual Islendingadagurinn in Gimli was recently revealed on the festival's new site and blog.

As in years previous, there's a full slate of intriguing independent acts worth checking out (for free!), with notable highlights including the still-kickin' and incomparable Nathan, 2011 WCMA nominees (and past winners) The Liptonians, and live act extraordinaires Royal Canoe.

One last thing to note: unlike years previous, the majority of the lineup features bands residing within New Iceland provincial borders (Saskatoon-based singer-songwriter Zachary Lucky being the exception). The likely reason is that Manitoba music runs strong and is intent on world conquest. Just like the Vikings.

But without horned helmets.

Friday July 29th
The Nobel Thiefs
Goldenboy
Attica Riots

Saturday July 30th
Childrens Entertainment - Alphabet Soup
Royal Canoe
The Liptonians
Yoyote
This Hisses

Sunday July 31st
Zachary Lucky
Ingrid Gatin
Romi Mayes
Andrew Neville and The Poor Choices
Nathan