What’s Up: Ballpark Brewfest, Timber Timbre tribute, Ai-Kon, Salsa Sundays, Neepawa ArtFest

Ballpark Brewfest

• Blue Cross Park, 1 Portage Ave. E.
• Saturday, 2-5 p.m.
• Tickets $70-$90

The Winnipeg Goldeyes are loading up the bases this weekend as the bulk of Manitoba’s craft breweries descend upon Blue Cross Park as part of the third Ballpark Brewfest.

The Goldeyes organization has long been friends of local brewers — in 2022 the club introduced the Craft Beer Corner with a rotating selection of local beers on tap for thirsty baseball fans. Later that year, Goldeyes general manager Andrew Collier pitched the idea of a craft beer festival at the ballpark to brewers and was met with widespread enthusiasm — and Ballpark Brewfest was born.

The inaugural Ballpark Brewfest in 2022 featured around 18 craft brewers taking part; the following year two dozen brewers were pouring lagers, ales, sours and all manner ofIPAs.

Saturday’s Ballpark Brewfest marks its return after a two-year absence, and will see over 20 breweries taking part in the afternoon tasting (which takes place rain or shine — breweries are set up under the roof of the concourse). Participating breweries include Barn Hammer, Dastardly Villain, Trans Canada, Devil May Care and Good Neighbour — in addition to core pours, many breweries will be bringing small-batch/exclusive brews.

Tickets are $70 including taxes and fees for general admission, and include a five-ounce tasting glass and all samples from 2-5 p.m. A VIP ticket costs $90 including fees, adding a meal voucher and, most importantly, gets beer lovers in the door an hour earlier. For designated drivers, $10 gets you in the door and a can of Trans Canada’s non-alcoholic Bluebeary Ale.

— Ben Sigurdson

 

A tribute to Timber Timbre

• Handsome Daughter, 61 Sherbrook St.
• Friday, 8 p.m.
• Tickets $15 at 3common.com

Just like the artists who give us their work to enjoy and to dwell on, we as listeners only have so much time. Oftentimes, when the sound reaches us, all we can do is to listen in retrospect.

Beginning in 2005, Timber Timbre, the gloom-folk doo-wop project from Toronto’s Taylor Kirk, cast an inviting shadow that cloaked the Canadian music scene, frequently drawing comparisons to artists such as Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen.

But unlike those artists, who were able to want it darker into their elder statesmen eras, Timber Timbre’s output was capped at seven full-length releases: 2023’s Lovage stands as the final record of Kirk’s songwriting prowess. In April, the artist died at the age of 44.

“Timber Timbre is known for being somewhat off-kilter in their sonic style — it’s a bit creepy, a bit haunting and isn’t exactly the kind of music you play to get a party started,” the Free Press’s Erin Lebar wrote in 2017. “It has always been interesting and beautifully composed, but not really what some would deem ‘fun’ music.” But it found its audience in Winnipeg, where indie groups such as Les Jupes and Yes We Mystic explored complementary catharses in stark shades of black, white and grey.

To honour the group’s legacy, artists from Winnipeg bands Abandoneers, Prairie and the Last of the Buffalo are diving into the Timber Timbre discography Friday at the Handsome Daughter. It might not feel fun, but you will feel it.

— Ben Waldman

 

Ai-Kon

• RBC Convention Centre, 375 York Ave.
• Noon Friday through to 5 p.m. Sunday
• Weekend passes $70; day passes $35-$45 at ai-kon.org

Manitoba’s largest Japanese anime and pop culture convention descends on downtown this weekend, promising non-stop fun — literally. Once Ai-Kon starts on Friday, parts of the convention run right through until Sunday.

Events include a cosplay contest, 24-hour anime screenings, competitive video game tournaments, panel discussions, drag, dance and musical performances, and a marketplace.

The full schedule and tickets are available at ai-kon.org, as well as an extensive costume and weapons policy for cosplayers.

— Jen Zoratti

 

Salsa Sundays

• Graham Avenue
• Sunday, 5-1o p.m.
• Admission $10

Confucius supposedly said, “Never give a sword to a man who can’t dance.” The ancient philosopher has said a lot of things according to the internet, and we won’t bother to verify this one either.

While there’s a depressing dearth of sword fighting and duelling these days, Winnipeggers can still cut a rug beside some of the city’s sharpest dancers at Salsa Sundays.

Graham Avenue thrives if you know when to frequent the pedestrian corridor. One of those whens is every Sunday evening in July.

“Live bands, sizzling performances and social dancing under the stars!” promises host Salsa Explosion on its website. “An unforgettable evening of live Latin music, dancing, delicious food and local shopping!” it writes on social media.

A wise philosopher would prescribe this as a cure to the Sunday blues.

— Conrad Sweatman

 

Neepawa ArtFest

• Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• ArtsForward; 293 Mountain Ave., Neepawa
• Free

Neepawa will be alive with new public artwork Saturday during the fifth annual ArtFest event.

Artists and community members have been “art bombing” the town 200 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg with murals and painted benches. The installations will be unveiled Saturday as new stops on the growing Neepawa Art Trail.

One of this year’s benches was conceptualized by local photographer Jodi Baker, who commissioned artist Shannon Desjardins to paint miniature versions of her photos from around Neepawa.

Visitors can also enjoy live music from noon to 1:30 p.m. at ArtsForward, a free barbecue and live art making.

Visit artsforward.ca for walking maps of the Neepawa Art Trail and more event details.

— Eva Wasney