The 2017 Indigenous Music Awards, presented by Casinos of Winnipeg, will welcome to the stage a list of high-calibre Indigenous talent to entertain the crowd between the presentation of awards in 15 different categories on May 19, 2017, at the Club Regent Event Centre.
Line-up includes:
Crystal Shawanda
With an impressive array of awards and accolades including a recent JUNO win, thousands of concerts to rapturous audiences throughout North America under her belt, and a remarkable recording pedigree to her credit, Crystal Shawanda, like many, still struggled mightily for many years to find her place within the music industry.
Fred Penner
Fred Penner is the pre-eminent name in family entertainment. His 14th and latest album release are Where In The World. Fred continues to tour extensively across North America with his own concerts as well as the keynote speaker for early childhood conferences. Penner is branching out and connecting with the generation of young adults who were his first audience, and now are university students and parents having their own children. Penner was also the songwriter for the award-winning children's television series, Tipi Tales, produced by Eagle Vision.
Christa Couture
Winner of the 2008 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for Best Folk Acoustic Album, Christa Couture has built a reputation for transforming tragedy into musical triumph, capturing tiny snapshots of grief and elevating each to a unique work of art – sometimes desolate but more often uplifting in its encapsulation of a single treasured memory or moment of hope.
Mariame
Mariame is of Cree heritage and sings of the joys and challenges she faces. Dubbed the “Cree Rihanna” by the Quebec Cree communities of James Bay, Mariame has been touring the communities of the territory since she was 13. Last May, she took her musical career to the next level by releasing her first album, Bloom.
Northern Cree
The Grammy-nominated and JUNO-winning group was founded in 1982 when the Wood brothers of Saddle Lake, Alberta, Canada, traveled to Lapwai, Idaho, to compete in a stick game tournament. One of the brothers borrowed a drum from a local museum so they could sing at the Pow Wow to earn enough money to get home. When the arena director asked the name of the group, they looked down at the faded words “Northern Cree” written on the drum and gave that as their drum group name. Thus, the Northern Cree Singers began their career as one of the most respected and influential groups on the Pow Wow trail. Since then, they have performed at the 2017 Grammy celebration. They are past Indigenous Music Award winners, and at this year's award show, they will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award for their success.
Felipe Gomez
Gomez’s music interprets the world we live in, through the eyes and mind of a musician and adventurer touring on a bicycle for his North-Manitoban tour, Bike, and Bass, presenting and performing in various Indigenous communities on his way to the Manito Ahbee Festival. This solo troubadour is inspired by the challenges that Mother Nature throws at him while he travels on his own steam for thousands of kilometers, testing his own physical limits while braving the elements and the unexpected wildlife encounters along the way. Gomez previously won an Indigenous Music Award in the Best International Indigenous Release category.
Chante Assiniboine and the Spirit Horse Singers
Chante Washake Albert Mandamin-Assiniboine turned 5-years-old on March 12, 2017. Chante took interest in drumming when he was four months old, he wasn’t even sitting on his own. He had the help of a Bumbo chair to help him sit up in front of his drum. Chante is a part of the youth drum group, Spirit Horse Singers. Chante practices with this group every week then goes home and sings for another couple hours.
The 2017 Indigenous Music Awards will be hosted by artists, Kimberly Dawn and Jerry Sereda.
View the full list of nominees for the 2017 Indigenous Music Awards
Tickets for the 2017 Indigenous Music Awards presented by Casinos of Winnipeg are now available for $20.00 (includes fees & taxes) at Ticketmaster.ca. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the show starts at 8:00.
Watch it LIVE on PowWows.com!
