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Manitobans are primed to enjoy their summer at some sort of festival.
Leading the events that most Manitobans will find themselves at this season is the Winnipeg Folk Festival.
By The Canadian Press
DAUPHIN, Man. – Relatives confirm that a Winnipeg man who disappeared while attending a music festival in western Manitoba has been found dead.
Danny Berhie Kidane, who was 24, was last seen with friends on Saturday at Dauphin’s Countryfest.
The complete lineup for this year’s Dauphin’s Countryfest is now out.
Canada’s longest-running country music festival is June 28 to July 1 and doesn’t just include artists from the country genre.
As Brody Jackson from QX 104 put it, “There will be 0 girls in Winnipeg on July long weekend of 2017.”
That’s because Dauphin’s Countryfest has a lineup of performers set to impress country fans of both sexes — but maybe leans a bit more towards the female crowd.
Tim Hicks and Keith Urban will officially open things up on Friday, June 30 along with Meghan Patrick.
Country fans will get a tribute performance to Merle Haggard at this summer’s Dauphin’s Countryfest.
The late Haggard, who passed away on April 6 on his 79th birthday, will be honoured by his sons Ben Haggard and Noel Haggard, along with his longtime band, The Strangers, on July 3.
“You cannot replace an icon like Merle Haggard,” said Countryfest promoter Rob Waloschuk. “We couldn’t think of a better way to pay homage to the life of this prolific singer/songwriter than to have his family and friends perform a tribute concert.”
Country legend Dwight Yoakam has been added to the lineup at next summer’s Dauphin’s Countryfest.
Yoakam is no stranger to the Countryfest stage, previously playing the festival in 2004.
“Dwight Yoakam performed a fantastic show the last time he was at Countryfest, and we’re looking forward to hosting him again,” said Eric Irwin, president of Dauphin’s Countryfest.
Country music legend Merle Haggard is slated to appear at Dauphin’s Countryfest this summer.
The three-time Grammy winner is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. It will be his first appearance at the Manitoba country music festival.
“Dauphin’s Countryfest can’t wait to bring the ‘Okie From Muskogee’ to our festival for the first time in our 27 years. This 78-year-old country music icon is sure to deliver a unique performance like only ‘The Hag’ can,” said Eric Irwin, the festival’s president.
The 26th annual Dauphin’s Countryfest is going down as one of the best weekends on record.
Organizers say the festival, which ran June 25-28, had a daily attendance of about 12,000 people. They’re also appreciative of the balmy temperatures.
“Sunshine really makes the festival a happier place,” said Eric Irwin, the festival’s president. “The freakish amount of rain we got last year was extreme to say the least, and it affected people’s spirits. All you can do is come back again and hope for better weather — and we definitely got that this year.”
Sixty bands performed on three stages over a four-day period.
Country music fans are singing their sorrows after Brad Paisley cancelled his appearance at Dauphin’s Countryfest next summer.
Singer-songwriter Miranda Lambert has been named as the replacement on the ticket.
“Announcing a confirmed artist is something we take very seriously,” said Rob Waloschuk, promoter of Dauphin’s Countryfest. “Our policy is to announce artists only once we have received confirmation from their management to do so. Sometimes circumstances are out of our control, and unfortunately, Brad Paisley, who had confirmed his performance at the 2015 Dauphin’s Countryfest, has had to cancel his date with us, due to unforeseeable scheduling conflicts during the weekend of June 25-28, 2015.”
UPDATE: Paisley will no longer perform at Countryfest 2015.
Country music superstar Brad Paisley will headline Dauphin’s Countryfest next summer.
Paisley will join Brantley Gilbert and Jake Owen as the two other big draws to perform at the annual festival in June.
“We just celebrated our 25th anniversary, and are kicking off our next 25 years by featuring the next group of great country stars,” said Eric Irwin, president of Dauphin’s Countryfest.
