Contest: Enter to win tickets to see Unknown Mortal Orchestra @ The WECC

(Yes, that's McLovin' stirring up trouble.)

Courtesy of the good folks over at the West End Cultural Centre, I've got a pair of tickets to giveaway for the Unknown Mortal Orchestra show going down on Friday, June 21st. Also on the bill is Bass Drum of Death. Oh, and there's Bike Valet that night too!

If you're interested in checking out the event, fire me off an email (on the right hand side, below the concert listings) by Friday, June 14th at noon CST with the subject line "Unknown Mortal Orchestra Ticket Giveaway" and your name in the email's body. Winning name will be drawn randomly sometime that afternoon and contacted shortly thereafter, with the first name and last initial published on my Twitter account.

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Afternoon Headline: Passion Pit coming to Winnipeg

Breaking news...

Electro-pop sensation (and fave of this blogger) Passion Pit is coming to Winnipeg for a gig at the Garrick on Wednesday, September 4th.

See you there!

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Noon Headlines: By Divine Right @ The Pyramid; Prairie Wind Music Fest

First up, By Divine Right is at the Pyramid on Saturday, July 6th.

Add Bass Drum of Death to the Unknown Mortal Orchestra bill taking place at the WECC on Friday, June 21st. Check back next week to win tickets to this event.

And finally, the second annual Prairie Wind Music Festival goes down in Cypress River, Manitoba on Saturday, June 1st. The event kicks off at noon, runs all day, and features over 25 musical acts including Del Barber, The JD Edwards Band, Vanessa Kuzina of Oh My Darling, Bad Country, The Reverend Rambler, Red Moon Road, Marcel Desilets Trio, The Bros Landreth, Carly Dow, and Nadia Gaudet. Tickets are $40 for the day and includes a camping spot.

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Afternoon Headlines: Bands v. Filmmakers III; Free Shows at Old Market Square

The Crackling is at the Windsor on Tuesday, June 18th. (side note: does anyone have an accurate listing for future events at the Windsor? If so, please email.)

Local a capella group Those Guys will perform at the WECC on both Friday, May 31st and Saturday, June 1st.

Lee Harvey Osmond is at the WECC on Friday, October 4th.

Bands vs. Filmmakers III is going down at the WECC on Thursday, June 6th. Featured bands: Mariachi Ghost, Mahogany Frog, Flying Fox & The Hunter Gatherers, JD Edwards Band, and Slattern. Featured filmmakers: Ian Bawa, Leslie Supnet, Doreen Girard, Nick Friesen  and Lotte Reinger.

Local act Poorboy is releasing its debut record on Saturday, June 15th at the Cavern w/ Surprise Party and Paincave.

Toronto psych-rockers The Highest Order is at the Park Theatre on Thursday, June 13th.

Scottish indie-folkster Alasdair Roberts pops in at the WECC on Monday, July 29th

Finally, a few readers have urged me to mention the free indie-rock-related stuff going down at this year's Jazz Festival, so here goes:

(All at Old Market Square)

Saturday, June 15th

4 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The F-Holes

Romi Mayes

Greg Arcade & His Rockin' Band

Cannon Bros

Boats

Maylee Todd

Royal Canoe

Sunday, June 16th

3 p.m. to midnight

Reggie San Miguel

Aaron Shorr

Soulstation

Maylee Todd

Orgone

Moses Mayes

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Morning Headlines: Iron and Wine to Play Pantages

This just in...Iron and Wine will play the Pantages on Thursday, September 19th. Tickets on sale this Friday and prices range from $25-$35 plus the requisite exorbitant fees.

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Contest: Enter to win tickets to see The Abramson Singers @ The WECC

Courtesy of our best pals over at the West End Cultural Centre, I've got a pair of tickets to giveaway for the The Abramson Singers show going down on Monday, May 20th. Joining them on the bill is Oshima, solo project of Michael P Falk (Les Jupes).

If you're interested in checking out the event, fire me off an email (on the right hand side, below the concert listings) by Thursday, May 16th at noon CST with the subject line "The Abramson Singers Ticket Giveaway" and your name in the email's body. Winning name will be drawn randomly sometime that afternoon and contacted shortly thereafter, with the first name and last initial published on my Twitter account.

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In The Know...Q & A with From Giants

From Giants is an up-and-coming local band definitely worth hearing.

This Thursday, May 9th, the foursome will take the stage at the Park Theatre to introduce the city to its whimsical and delicately crafted folk-pop stylings. Kerri Latimer gets the EP release party going.

I recently caught up with the promising Winnipeg act for a short Q & A, and here’s what they had to say:


1.  From Giants evolved from a Jaymie Friesen solo project to a full-fledged band. How did this come to be?

From Giants began when Jaymie Friesen recorded a full length album together with Nathan Blanchard and various other friends out in the woods of Marchand, MB. Upon completion of the album "Wake Up Oh Sleeper" by From Giants, Jaymie found herself in Winnipeg with an album but with few musicians to help her translate the album into a live performance. After moving in with an acquaintance, Jaymie learnt that her room-mate Gabriella had a gorgeous voice. The two of the started singing together in their free time just for the fun of it. Not long after, Nathan Krahn and Charles Enns graced Jaymie's life and offered to collaborate with her. So in the Spring of 2011, these two women and two men found themselves in a living room week after week creating music and decided to carry on under the name From Giants.

2. So, then, who comprises the band?

Jaymie Friesen - lead vocals, guitar
Gabriella Neaufeld - vocals, drums
Nathan Krahn - cello
Charles Enns - banjo, electric guitar

3. What is the band’s songwriting process like? Is Jaymie still the principal songwriter?

Jaymie continues to write the songs and lyrics for From Giants. However, each song goes under a major transformation as every musician in From Giants offers insight and musicality to each song that allows the process to be collaborative.

4. Where was the EP recorded?

The EP was recorded at Private Ear Studio and MCM Studio

5. Michael P Falk produced the record – what did he lend to the process?

Michael P. Falk (of Les Jupes, Head in the Sand) offered a great deal of care and patience with each song. He held a great understanding for the essence and language of the songs, giving each song the space and time it needed to unfold. Being a band on a serious budget, Michael was still able to shape our EP in a way that reflected the spirit behind the music

6. When can fans expect an LP?

An LP? Fans can expect one when the season is right :)

7. And finally, what are the band’s summer plans?

We are checking our tour plans for the Summer with hopes to revisit a tour in the near future. Otherwise we will be playing at a couple local music festivals throughout Manitoba this Summer.

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Afternoon Headlines: Fish & Bird @ The Park

West coast folk act Fish & Bird is at the Park Theatre on Tuesday, May 21st w/ JD Edwards, Kacy & Clayton.

BC's Shred Kelly is at the Windsor on Monday, July 29th w/ Loon Choir.

You know what Greg MacPherson show I mentioned a few posts ago? It has conspicuously disappeared from the Albert's Facebook page. So consider that "not happening."

Plumes is at the CYRK on Tuesday, May 28th.

Overheard at the Gym approx. 5-6 years ago "I had to drop $400 to see The Eagles, but it's worth it since they never tour." Speaking of which...The Eagles will be here for the third time in around six years. Check them out at the MTS Centre on Monday, September 16th or if money's tight wait until next year.

Alice in Chains is at the MTS Centre on Monday, July 8th w/ Monster Truck and Chevelle.

And finally, Lauren Mann & The Fairly Odd Folk is at the Park Theatre on Tuesday, June 25th.

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Concert Review: Purity Ring w/ Blue Hawaii @ The WECC

Purity Ring w/ Blue Hawaii

Wednesday, May 1st

The West End Cultural Centre

Winnipeg, MB

It’s been a banner year for Canadian electro-pop band Purity Ring.  They began making waves in 2011 when a steady drip of songs were picked up and hyped online by Pitchfork, and have gone on to garner buzz at SxSW and, more recently, a high-billed slot at Coachella.  Their July 2012 debut record Shrines was hotly anticipated and did not disappoint, receiving near universal plaudits from across the blogosphere.

Blue Hawaii kicked off the evening. Despite releasing an underwhelming sophomore record, Untogether, earlier this year, its set was altogether more expansive and developed and earned a warm reception from the audience. And a highly rare encore song (from an opener!). Look for vocalist Raphaelle Standell-Preston to return to her other project Braids soon; the follow-up record to Native Speakers will be released later this year.

Finally, came Purity Ring. Making its second stop at the West End in less than a year, it is evident Purity Ring has cultivated an impressive live show, which revolves around a multimedia, translucent-paper-cocoon-lantern light show.  It was a long developed project in which they sought to both create a more interactive audience experience and make themselves feel more comfortable on stage.  It presented itself nicely on Wednesday night, in a well-versed and tight 45-minute set that spanned its debut plus a cover.  Throughout, Roddick conducted musical proceedings while James drifted around stage and evoked a séance medium persona amidst the shimmering cocoons and smoke.

Maybe one of the reasons that Purity Ring has achieved such success is owing to the different aural spheres that both Roddick and James are working from.  Roddick creates sounds that have a sweet otherworldly aura with elements of R n’ B and these stylings fuse brilliantly with James’ delicate and highly literate vocals.

The capacity crowd at the West End certainly agreed.

-Will Burton

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