Assiniboine Credit Union and Winnipeg Folk Festival Present So Long, Bannatyne! Join us for some much-needed Festival workshop vibes at Burton Cummings Theatre on November 20, 2021. This Manitoba 150 celebration event was set to take the stage at the 2020 Festival but due to COVID-19 we’ve turned it into its own event featuring a broad selection of Manitoba’s incredible talent. Backed by a custom house band led by jonny moonbeam and Friends, artists will cover another Manitoba artist and then share an original song. This night will take us on a multi-genre journey through the history of Manitoba music, both old and new.

COVID-19 has been difficult on so many local artists as they have not been able to play shows or connect with their fans in person. By purchasing a ticket to this event, you’re supporting our local artists as they get back on stage!

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. This show will also be available for livestream on Facebook and YouTube.

Due to current public health orders, True North Sports + Entertainment has outlined COVID-19 protocols for event attendees. Please visit their website for more information.

Interview with Artistic Director Chris Frayer

What’s the meaning behind the name So Long, Bannatyne?
The original project title was meant to be “So Long Bannatyne, Hello Birds Hill Park” as a play on the legendary 1971 Guess Who record called “So Long, Bannatyne” which happens to be the address of the Winnipeg Folk Festival office paired with the fact that we pack up each summer and head out to Birds Hill Park for the annual Festival. Since this Manitoba 150 workshop couldn’t take place at the Festival in 2020 we reworked the title but kept it fun and historical with reference to a quintessential Manitoba band.

What is a workshop and how does it work?
If you’ve ever been to the Winnipeg Folk Festival you’ve likely sat in on or stumbled across a workshop. Workshops are like jam sessions or songs in the round where each artist takes a turn to share a song and other musicians can jump in and participate. Every year we do a Manitoba-focused workshop at the Festival and it is always a very well-attended event. I’ve always wanted to rev it up a bit by putting together a custom house band with several artists and this seemed like a great opportunity to do that. For this themed workshop, each artist or band will share a song of their own and one by another Manitoba artist to create a curated song list that gives a multi-genre, broad view of the history of Manitoba music.

Why is this show so important to the community?
We cannot stress enough the importance of supporting artists as they get back to doing live performances. COVID-19 has been devastating to the live music industry and local artists who have not been able to play shows or connect with their fans in person. By purchasing a ticket to this event, you’re supporting our local artists and industry professionals as they get back on stage!