What’s up: Bands as Bands, monster trucks, Soul in the Square, children’s music festival

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This article was published 04/07/2024 (812 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Bands as Bands

Blue Note Park, 220 Main St.

Friday, 9 p.m.

Tickets $19 at reallovewpg.com

Is your life changing every day, in every possible way? Or maybe despite all your rage, you’re still just a rat in a cage. Either way, I bet you look good on the dance floor.

If you clocked those lyrical references, then this al fresco edition of Bands as Bands — Real Love Winnipeg’s popular concert series in which local acts take on the discographies of other bands — is for you.

Strawberry Punch will be performing as the Cranberries, Guilty Sleep will be Smashing Pumpkins and the Love Letters will be doing their best Arctic Monkeys at a show sure to be steeped in ‘90s/’00s alt-rock nostalgia.

This is the 22nd edition (!) of Bands as Bands. The first band is on at 9 p.m.

 

— Jen Zoratti

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party

Canada Life Centre, 300 Portage Ave.

Saturday and Sunday, 12:30 p.m.

Tickets $32-$75 at Ticketmaster

Grab the kids (and a whole lot of earplugs) and check out some of the biggest, loudest machines on four wheels as they tear around the arena this weekend — in the dark.

The Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party goes down Saturday and Sunday and will feature a number of the most notorious monster trucks, including Bigfoot, Mega Wrex, Demo Derby, Bone Shaker and more, including HW 5-Alarm, the all-new firetruck monster truck.

These bruisers will be lit up in special colours and banging around the floor of the arena in the dark, with special sound and laser shows and a whole lot of jumps, spins, burnouts and crushing of cars.

For an additional $11.50, thrill seekers can get access to the Hot Wheels Crash Zone pre-party from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., which allows those in attendance down on the floor to see the trucks up close and to meet the drivers. For those really looking to rev up the fun to full throttle, the guided VIP tour (an additional $86.25) starts at 9:30 a.m. and includes some schwag.

— Ben Sigurdson

Soul in the Square

True North Square, 242 Hargrave St.

Saturday, 4-9 p.m.

Free

Celebrate the rhythms that move you at the second annual Soul in the Square. This free event is a celebration of soul, R&B, reggae, soca, dancehall, and other genres of music that highlight Afro culture.

Presented in collaboration with Black History Manitoba, the event will feature music from DJ Chubby from Winnipeg and the Real DJ Big C from Toronto, along with other guests. The musical lineup should have people dancing throughout the evening whether you’re a fan of soulful classics or vibrant dancehall hits

Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

— Thandi Vera

Kid & Play

Earl Grey Community Centre, 360 Cockburn St.

Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

Tickets $10 at Eventbrite.ca; children two and under free

Recapture the raves of your youth and make new memories with your kids Sunday at this inaugural children’s music festival featuring the skills of DJ DLO.

Strap on those dancing shoes and teach your minis a dance move or two as you boogie the afternoon away at this family-friendly event.

Take a break from all that grooving by checking out the activities on offer including a bouncy castle, ride-on cars, flat scooters and trikes, and climbers.

There will be a cash-only canteen at the event serving bottled water, juice boxes, chips and coffee. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets in advance, or admission $15 at the door.

— AV Kitching

Bike-in Movie at the Ballpark

Blue Cross Park

Tonight, 7 p.m.

Admission $4

Here’s the pitch: ride your bike right onto the diamond to watch an underdog soccer story from the comfort of the Winnipeg Goldeyes’ field.

The Goldeyes will use the jumbotron tonight to screen Taika Waititi’s Next Goal Wins, a 2023 based-on-a-true-story comedy about a Dutch-American soccer coach (Michael Fassbender) installed as the manager of the lowly American Samoa side, a team which lost by a 31-goal margin in a 2001 matchup against Australia. Ouch. A movie in line with other feel-better, washed-up coach films like The Mighty Ducks, Hardball and The Bad News Bears — apologies to Billy Bob Thornton, but Walter Matthau’s Morris Buttermaker is better.

Timed to coincide with a major summer for the sport in Canada — the defending champion women’s team, as well as the men’s, will vie for Olympic glory in Paris — the breezy comedy should capitalize on surging interest in international soccer.

Snacks and beverages will be available, but blankets won’t be provided, so bring your own. If you’re far-sighted, grab a seat in the shallow infield — Max Poulin territory — or if you’re near-sighted, plant yourself in outfielder Max Murphy’s domain.

 

— Ben Waldman

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