Current Winnipeg returns with ‘weekend of summer luxury’

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After two years of pandemic postponements, Current Winnipeg will finally be debuting its upscale summer festival concept at The Forks this August.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/04/2022 (1604 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After two years of pandemic postponements, Current Winnipeg will finally be debuting its upscale summer festival concept at The Forks this August.

Organizers unveiled the event’s musical lineup Thursday and tickets went on sale Friday.

The entertainment features a bevy of well-known local artists, including Begonia, Royal Canoe, William Prince, Kelly Bado and The Bros. Landreth. The festival takes place Aug. 12 to 14 with evening concerts on Friday and full days of music Saturday and Sunday.

Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press
William Prince performs at the Unite Manitoba 150 celebrations at Shaw Park in downtown Winnipeg in 2021.
Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press William Prince performs at the Unite Manitoba 150 celebrations at Shaw Park in downtown Winnipeg in 2021.

Current is being billed as “a weekend of summer luxury” void of greasy food truck fare and basic beverages.

Festival founder and director Monica Derksen — who has previously been involved in local events like Table for 1200 and the Santa Claus Parade — is joined by a team of “sounds”, “sips”, “art” and “eats” curators.

The owners of Nomad Box Bar, a mobile beverage catering company, are in charge of the drinks menu and have partnered with Nonsuch, Sookrams and Barn Hammer brewing companies as beer vendors. Fireside Design will be taking care of the art and aesthetics and local chef Ben Kramer will be organizing a menu to be served in food hall on the festival grounds.

Early bird full weekend passes are on sale at currentwpg.ca for $170, single day passes will be available for $100 when weekend passes sell out. Note that the festival is an adults-only event.

ALEX LUPUL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Begonia performs at Shaw Park at the Unite 150 concert in 2021.
ALEX LUPUL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Begonia performs at Shaw Park at the Unite 150 concert in 2021.
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