By Darlene Barss

Winterruption 2017 Saskatchewan is the focus of our playlist today. It includes music of most of the artists playing January 19 – January 22 in Regina and Saskatoon.

Regina Folk Festival have partnered with The Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon for a second year to present 4 wonderful days of musical warmth on some of the coldest days of the year. Winter on the prairies can be very long and cold and artists tend not to want to travel here in the middle of winter. These partners working together to bring the artists here is a brilliant idea and a very welcome one indeed.

In Regina, the focus is on music and the schedule includes 3 days, 3 venues, 40+ artists, 16 groups, 6 musical shows, 1 live podcast.

Here’s the quick and easy guide to Winterruption 2017 for Regina:

January 19th at The Exchange: Elliott Brood, Begonia, IsKwé

January 19th at The Artesian: Rosie & The Riveters, Quique Escamilla, Danny Olliver

January 20th at The Exchange: Said the Whale, Northcote, The Garrys

January 20th at The Artesian: Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Children (live podcast recording)

January 21st at Knox Metropolitan Church: Fred Penner matinee

January 21st at The Exchange: Connie Kaldor, Heather Bishop, Annette

January 21st at The Artesian: Danny Michel, William Prince, Mohsin Zaman
You can see the full schedule and find out more about the artists on the Regina Folk Festival website.

In Saskatoon it has grown into 7 venues , with more than 17 shows to give you a great reason to get out of your house in the longest, coldest, darkest month of the year. A variety of acts from live theatre, to podcast tapings to live music will be presented.

Here’s the quick and easy guide to Winterruption 2017 for Saskatoon:

Thurs Jan 19:
Cross Canada Fiddle Fest at The Bassment
The Pack AD and The Garrys at Louis’

Fri Jan 20:
An Evening with Steve Patterson at Broadway Theatre
Danny Michel at The Bassment
Canadaland with Jesse Brown at Cosmo Senior’s Centre
Elliott Brood with Begonia at Louis’

Sat Jan 21:
Vande Vasudevam at Broadway Theatre
Ali Hassan “Muslim Interrupted” at The Bassment
Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids at Cosmo Senior’s Centre
Said the Whale with Northcote at Louis’

Sun Jan 22:
Fred Penner at Persephone Theatre  There are also a lot of what they are calling Satellite Events such as Amigos having TUNS on Friday night and Holy Fuck on Saturday night. You can see more of what is going on in Saskatoon at the Broadway Theatre website. Unfortunately due to a recent non-life threatening physical injury, the PACK AD show slated for Jan 19 at Louis’ was cancelled. WINTERUPTION organizers were sad to not see the show happen but totally support Becky Black’s speedy recovery, wish the Pack a great 2017 and hope to be able to bring them back to Saskatoon in the near future!

 

I went to the Elliott Brood/Iskwe/Begonia show last night and had a great time. The night started with Iskwe with powerful lyrics and her strong vocals. She was backed with drums, keyboard and violin and some digital backing voices and sounds effects along with visuals. Interesting but I had mixed feelings about the not completely live sound. Begonia came on next and was all real and live. Her voice is amazing and interesting compositions to accompany it. I look forward to the day she has an album out. Elliott Brood ended the night with their usual great performance. Guitars, banjos, ukeleles, drums, great voices and clapping. What more you could you ask for? They had a great mix of new songs with old favourites, ending on Miss You Now. Fantastic show! A great start to the weekend of music.

Enjoy the playlist!

 

 

Links for music from artists not found on Spotify:

Danny Olliver

The Garrys

Annette

 

What’s going on in your town? Any winter music festivals near you? Tell us about it.