Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/698724
INTERSTELLAR RODEO RETURNS TO THE FORKS THIS SUMMER RIDING A CREST OF LOCAL EXCITEMENT FOR THE SECOND-YEAR LINEUP, WHICH INCLUDES ALT ROCK ICONS WILCO, SUPERGROUP CASE/LANG/VEIRS, NEO- SOUL BUZZ BAND NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS, WHO WILL MAKE THEIR WINNIPEG DEBUT, AND VOCAL POWERHOUSE SERENA RYDER. This year's lineup also includes breakout country artist Margo Price (another Winnipeg first-timer) and Halifax rockers Wintersleep. Other artists making their Winnipeg debuts include Fantastic Negrito, Lee Fields & The Expressions and Henry Wagons to name just a few. The festival, which runs Aug. 12 to 14, is produced by Six Shooter Records. This year's lineup also features recent JUNO Award winners Whitehorse, international chart toppers The Strumbellas, California country artist Sam Outlaw, The Wet Secrets, NQ Arbuckle and Joe Nolan, all from Six Shooter's own ranks. This year's interlude performances will feature an emphasis on exciting emerging local talent including Begonia (a new solo project from Chic Gamine's Alexa Dirks), electric Americana band Blond(e) Goth, JUNO nominee Del Barber and cowboy-meets-hip hop poet Leonard Sumner. Last year, Interstellar Rodeo took Winnipeg by surprise with its top to bottom excellence, thoughtfulness, and attention to audience comfort and amenities. The festival exploded onto the scene with top-shelf talent (Dwight Yoakam, Sarah McLachlan and Blue Rodeo headlined the inaugural three-day event), delighting ticket-buyers with its unique music-and-wine concept and fully licensed festival grounds. The single stage weekend event offers a music-first experience that requires no schedule juggling. Festival organizers work closely with officials at The Forks to create a vibrant, dynamic downtown music experience that aligns with their mission to promote culture in the city's core. The festival is accessible by bike, ferry, bus, car and foot. The Interstellar Rodeo team works closely with other local partners across industries to support and celebrate Winnipeg's homegrown talent. Interstellar Rodeo transforms The Forks into an intimate and comfortable music festival space, complete with bleachers, standing and seated areas and shaded picnic tables. There are a variety of vantage points from which to enjoy the highest calibre of international and Canadian musical talent. In addition to the wine pairings, locally-minded food trucks ensure Interstellar's emphasis on quality at every turn, sip and bite. Interstellar also offers a paperless way to connect with programming, hospitality and general festival information with its free festival app, available for both Android and Apple devices. ✹ This year's Interstellar Rodeo at The Forks has a lineup that includes the likes of Whitehorse (left) as well as case/ lang/veirs, Wilco, Thao from Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, Serena Ryder and Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats. SUPPLIED PHOTOS Wintersleep. Other artists making their Winnipeg debuts include Fantastic Negrito, Lee Fields & The Expressions and The festival, which runs Aug. 12 to 14, is produced by Six Shooter Records. This year's lineup also features recent JUNO Award winners Whitehorse, international chart toppers The Strumbellas, California country artist Sam Outlaw, The Wet Secrets, NQ Arbuckle and Joe Nolan, all from Six amenities. The festival exploded onto the scene with top-shelf talent (Dwight Yoakam, a variety of vantage points from which to enjoy the highest calibre of international and Canadian musical talent. In addition to the wine pairings, locally-minded food trucks ensure Interstellar's emphasis on quality at every turn, sip and bite. Interstellar also offers a paperless way to connect with programming, hospitality and general festival Celebrate Icelandic culture and descent and enjoy food, music, family-friendly activities/events, and of course, Vikings!