Local indie music promoter Real Love Winnipeg’s multi-day and multi-venue festival, Winterruption, is set to return for another year from Jan. 20 to 25. Altogether, the sixth annual iteration will feature over 50 artists. They are mostly prominent local acts, but some are coming to Winnipeg from other provinces, the U.S. and Germany.
Real Love co-founder Gilad Carroll commented, “We would love for people to go out and experience the band that they’ve maybe never heard of before, and for the opportunity to have their worldview shifted.” “People will see an act that we’re bringing in, and get excited about [discovering] new artists and things like that. So that feels good,” Carroll added.
The festival is designed to give Winnipeggers the opportunity to break the low mood and isolation typical of midwinter and spend the week socializing and exploring music instead. Other Winterruption festivals also occur annually across the other cold prairie cities of Saskatoon and Edmonton.
Prominent acts Fear, Hiss Golden Messenger, Open Mike Eagle and Thumpasaurus will all be performing at Winterruption shows. The bands Discovery Zone and Sour Widows are both returning after previously being featured at Real Love Summer Fest, and Sean Nicholas Savage will be performing in Winnipeg for the first time in roughly a decade.
“I remember [Savage’s previous] performance was so amazing and interesting,” Carroll recalled. “I’m really excited to have him back to see what he’s doing nowadays […] He’s a really unique, talented artist. Very artsy performance style and […] unique vocal technique.”
Among the most notable local acts to be featured are Christine Fellows, Strawberry Punch, Synthetic Friend, Virgo Rising and Jupiter Meltdown.
“[Strawberry Punch and Synthetic Friend] are really fun, newer, younger bands in the scene that we really love,” Carroll elaborated. “There’s no shortage of amazing local bands playing.”
Jupiter Meltdown will play alongside Sophie Stevens and Synthetic Friend at the Handsome Daughter on Jan. 24. They released their debut EP, Haunt, last June. Many of their songs are inspired by singer Tuva Bergstrom’s personal struggles with their sexuality, relationships, family and autism. The band has a focus on making their songs danceable and keeping energy up throughout their shows.
“But it’s hard to verbalize what [“energy”] means,” Bergstrom said. “Because sometimes the songs are really sad and sappy and depressing. And then sometimes it’s super upbeat and silly, but you’re trapped in this bubble of vibe.”
Bergstrom noted that they are especially glad to have the opportunity to play alongside Sophie Stevens for the first time, despite attending the same high school in different years. “It’s super important that Winnipeg, being a winter city, has winter festivals.” Bergstrom argued. “Because what else do we do when it’s -30 [degrees] all the time?”
“It’s a good feeling to […] keep the community of it going, even though [Real Love Summer Fest is] not around,” Guitarist James Baines also complimented.
Some non-musical events are to be part of the festival as well, such as amateur wrestling and a screening of The Room. Though, Carroll suggested the possibility of a surprise musical performance at the wrestling event.
For more information on Winterruption, visit winterruptionwpg.ca.
