That Manitoba sound

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This article was published 11/01/2024 (979 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — Manitoba’s sterling reputation for singers, songwriters and musicians received a buff and a polish in 2023 from artists across the musical spectrum.

It feels as if Winnipeg churns out folk-rockers, country singers and songwriters like Detroit rolls cars off the assembly line — not to mention hip-hop, metal and jazz artists.

Listeners all over have begun to take notice of many Manitoba acts, thanks to their strong recordings and heavy touring schedules in 2023.

Here are five tunes by Manitoba artists that caught the attention of their fans at home and a growing legion of listeners around the world:

‘Tanqueray,’ William Prince

What a 2023 it was for the Peguis First Nation country-folk singer. He established a foothold in the United States with his album “Stand in the Joy” — which includes Prince crooning on this lovely tune — performing at the world famous Grand Ole Opry radio show, at the Americana Awards (where he earned a nomination for emerging act of the year), with Willie Nelson at the Red-Headed Stranger’s reunion concert in Texas and, to round out the year, a visit to Washington, D.C., for NPR’s trend-setting online show Tiny Desk Concerts.

Prince will aim to build on his success next year, starting with a cross-Canada tour of soft-seaters that includes the Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg on March 2.

‘Right Here,’ Begonia

An angel and the devil are on Begonia’s shoulders in this banger from February’s “Powder Blue.” Whichever spirit’s advice she heeded, it proved to be the charm for Begonia, Alexa Dirks’ onstage persona, in a busy and successful 2023.

The song is a big part of why the Polaris Music Prize jury chose the recording for its 10-album shortlist, and it played its part on Begonia’s tour of North America, Europe and a two-night Vegas-inspired residency at the Club Regent Event Centre in Winnipeg in September.

‘Guts,’ Leith Ross

Tender moments and challenging memories abound in the transplanted Winnipegger’s debut pop record, “To Learn.”

Few songs are as challenging as Guts, in which Ross recounts the pain, betrayal and resentment stirred by sexual violence.

The song came with a trigger warning when Ross released it in May, but that hasn’t deterred the artist from gathering almost 1.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify. It shouldn’t deter you either.

‘Mountain Road,’ Boy Golden

If anyone took advantage of a golden opportunity in 2023, it was Liam Duncan, the Brandonite behind the Boy Golden persona. The Winnipeg Folk Festival called on Boy Golden and compadres Fontine and Kris Ulrich to pinch-hit for a mainstage no-show and they hit it out of the park while giving fans a preview of Boy Golden’s songs from his upcoming EP “For Jimmy.”

“Mountain Road,” a tune connected with Riding Mountain National Park and western Manitoba, opens with an ultra-catchy baritone guitar riff, and earned Boy Golden another primo gig, headlining the Burton Cummings Theatre in Winnipeg on Nov. 24.

‘Push it Down,’ Taylor Janzen

The Winnipegger embraced her emotions in February when she released the album, “I Live in Patterns,” which includes this cool piece of synth-pop.

The album cover includes a photo of Janzen crying, but it will be her Winnipeg fans who are weeping. She held a farewell concert in August, just prior to her leaving to expand her music career in Nashville. May there be tears of joy in 2024 when Janzen finds bigger and better songs and success.

There were many other memorable songs by Manitobans in 2023; here are 15 more that round out a Spotify playlist you can check out at wfp.to/mbsongs23:

“I Told You So,” Del Barber; “Guillotine Dreams,” Super Duty Tough Work; “Love You to Death,” Desiree Dorion; “Rapture,” Will Bonness; “He Was a Good Man, He Was a Taxpayer,” KEN Mode; “Cold Coffee,” Mitchell Makoons; “The Kicker,” Jocelyn Gould; “Got It Back,” Emma Peterson; “Cypress Tree,” Kyle Briscoe; “Endangered Man,” Billy Joe Green; “Grand Marquis,” Slow Leaves; “Je suis un arbre,” Andrina Turenne; “Souvenir,” Sean Burns; “I Wish That We Never Met,” Ariel Posen; “Live and Learn,” Almost Insight.

» Winnipeg Free Press