Attend the “Hear All Year” concert series from Winnipeg Folk Fest

Like many Manitobans, ACU’s Senior Community Account Manager, Bill Dinsdale believes that the Winnipeg Folk Festival (WFF) might just be the epitome of summer in our province.

“It’s warm, inviting and fun!” Bill said of the festival, an institution of the Canadian music scene. And to keep that vibe alive year-round, the credit union has long been a sponsorship partner with the iconic festival, most recently as a supporter of the Hear All Year concert series.

Sponsorship to keep the music playing

The Winnipeg Folk Fest has been an ACU member since 1985 and Bill has worked closely with the group for the past decade. He said the organizations share values that promote a better community.

“Many of our members would certainly be people who attend the folk festival and take in their events,” he said. “We strongly believe that through sponsorship, we can make the community a better place.”

“We instantly see how sponsorships like these truly make the community a better place,” Bill added.

He represented ACU by helping give away branded sarongs (a popular item at the festival) and provided greetings at the concert series’ launch in late 2021, held at the Burton Cummings Theatre in Winnipeg. “It was a fantastic event. While people were wearing masks, we could still see the smiles in their eyes.”

WFF’s Hear All Year concert series gives music lovers a fix in between the big shows at Birds Hill Provincial Park. Dozens of concerts are presented at venues across Winnipeg including the Park Theatre, Good Will Social Club and Burton Cummings Theatre.

Staying connected during downtime

Chris Frayer, WFF’s Artistic Director, said these shows are providing a critical bridge, especially in pandemic times.

“It’s such a great way to keep connected with music fans, sponsors, volunteers, venue partners, suppliers and most importantly, artists,” he said. “We do these shows to keep the organization engaged with ALL of our stakeholders.”

Last fall, Hear All Year launched with their So Long, Bannatyne event in November and also presented the popular JP Hoe Hoe Hoe Holiday Show. In addition, the concert series showcased notable performers including Martha Wainwright, The Weather Station and Bahamas.

During the launch event, a house band led by Jonny Moonbeam and friends invited local artists to each cover another Manitoba artist and then share an original song. Like workshops held at the July event, this performance was more like a jam session where each artist took a turn to share a song while other musicians jumped in.

Upcoming shows!

Chris and the entire WFF team are excited about the lineup of performances on the roster this year, including Leif Vollebekk on January 27, Dan Mangan on February 28 and Five Alarm Funk on March 4 and 5.

The full lineup can be found on their site, with tickets available to purchase in advance. Ensure you get yours before these events are sold out!

Winnipeg Folk Festival returns to Birds Hill Provincial Park

And with much anticipation after two long summers without the live summer experience, the WFF is scheduled to return to Birds Hill Provincial Park on July 7 to 10! For devotees, a summer without the festival has been like mornings without coffee.

The inaugural WFF was first held in 1974 in the same location, intended to be a one-time celebration to mark the city’s 100th anniversary. It was a free event that attracted an estimated 22,000 people over the three-day weekend.

Now, the festival has become an institution and an integral part of our community. Everything is better with music, community and celebrations. So here’s to a wonderful 2022 of great musical acts and a fantastic festival season ahead!

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