Indigenous Artists Abound at Aboriginal Day Live

Indigenous Artists Abound at Aboriginal Day Live

May 13, 2015, Winnipeg, Manitoba – Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) announced today the lineup and hosts for Aboriginal Day Live, a free evening concert that’s a smashing onstage display of Indigenous superstars on Saturday, June 20, 2015.

APTN broadcasts the annual concert LIVE to the nation from twin stages, and this year concerts will be held in Winnipeg, MB at The Forks and in Edmonton, AB at Louise McKinney Riverfront Park.

Aboriginal Day Live Broadcast: APTN will bring the celebration to Canada via the LIVE broadcast, radio waves, online and mobile devices. The exclusive 4-hour Aboriginal Day Live concert will be broadcast on APTN and APTN HD at 8:30 p.m. ET.

WINNIPEG LINEUP:
Live from The Forks in Winnipeg, Tina Keeper, actor and star of Cashing In will co-host the main stage performance with Kyle Nobess, star of the APTN hit series Mohawk Girls.

• Andy Desjarlais Tribute Performed by Patti Kusturok: From Manitoba, Kusturok’s energizing fiddle tribute to Andy Desjarlais will prompt toes to tap, hands to clap, and smiles to spread on faces all around. She’s not only the first woman and Western Canadian to claim the Grand Masters Fiddling Championship, but she’s also held the prestigious title: three times in a row.
• Brett Kissel: A multiple award-winning Canadian country star from Flat Lake, Alberta. Concertgoers and country jamboree fans have been singing and clapping along to Kissel’s feel-good hits for more than a decade. And he is only in his twenties! Kissel also teams up with Don Amero to perform and captivate all with a momentous one-off collaboration dedicated to the bridging of relations between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Peoples.
• Don Amero: Well-known Winnipegger with a musical style that’s described as “John Mayer meets Keith Urban.” Amero captivates audiences with powerful melodious vocals, percussion-style guitar play, and engaging storytelling: coast-to-coast, on the festival circuit and even with the symphony.
• Federal Lights: A foursome of Winnipeggers who perform an award-winning style of alternative pop. Emerging on the scene with their debut release, We Were Found in The Fog, has garnered this gang the ‘Aboriginal Recording of the Year’ at the 2014 Western Canadian Music Awards.
• Lightning Cloud: A duo based out of Los Angeles. Crystle Lightning and MC RedCloud mix West Coast hip hop and electronic trap. Their show delivers a vibrant, multimedia stage performance.
• marijosée: Her dynamic, alluring voice is backed by Franco-pop and jazzed up world beats. Pas tout cuit dans l’bec – marijosée’s latest release – garnered the ‘Francophone Recording of the Year’ at last year’s Western Canadian Music Awards.
• Mike Bone: They’ve performed on America’s Got Talent, and their hit song “Rain Dance” exploded across the U.S.A. Twin-like brothers who are a hip hop duo from Oklahoma City.
• Shayne and Taylor May: Two sisters from the Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation on Manitoulin Island. In 2014, they co-wrote the song “Drowning” as part of their high school Music Business course. Mentor Ashley Buchholz, lead singer and guitarist of Toronto-based USS, gave the two girls their first chance at a commercial hit by producing their song.

EDMONTON LINEUP:
Live from Louise McKinney Riverfront Park in Edmonton, Michelle Thrush, star of the APTN hit series Blackstone will co-host the twin stage performance with Don Kelly, star of the APTN hit series Fish Out of Water.

• Crystal Shawanda: She grew up with the musical heritage of the Wikwemikong First Nation on Canada’s Manitoulin Island. Now based in Nashville – aka Music City, USA – this JUNO award winner and country music chart-topper sings deep sounding roots, blues and Americana.
• Derek Miller: From the Six Nations of the Grand River in Ontario, he’s a singer-songwriter who mixes “hillbilly soul with some Mohawk/Onondaga swagger.” Miller’s also been awarded ‘Best Blues CD’ at the 2012 and 2013 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards.
• George Canyon: Nova Scotian but now resides in Alberta. Canyon shares his journey through songs inspired by integrity and dedication to his family. He’s also amassed multiple awards – including JUNOS and a Canadian Country Music Award for ‘Humanitarian of the Year.’
• Ghostkeeper: A Calgary-based foursome. Traditional storytelling influences are at the core of their lyrics that are layered with noisy blues and a catchy pop sensibility. The result is an organic, energizing, and heartfelt sound.
• Leanne Goose: Inuvialuit and Dene roots add to the core of her country, blues and inflections of the guitar. Goose’s lyrics originate from the North and heart of the Mackenzie Delta.
• Murray Porter: : A Mohawk master of the piano from the Six Nations of the Grand River, but now based out of the West Coast. He’s shaped his own style of blues, country and humour. When Porter hits the stage, audiences follow his foot-stomping, hand-clapping blues lead.
• Nathan Cunningham: A country singer originally from Sucker Creek First Nation, who blends inspiration from many genres but stays true to the country sound. Cunningham was given nods for both the ‘Best Country CD’ and ‘Male Entertainer of the Year’ at the 2013 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards.
• Northern Cree Singers: Released over 30 albums and is comprised of members from throughout the Treaty 6 regions. Their work is found on the soundtrack for the Hollywood blockbuster Grey Owl. To top it off, they’re the only Canadian Aboriginal group to ever be nominated – many times over – for GRAMMY Awards.

In 2014, more than one million people were reached by the LIVE broadcast on APTN, APTN HD, Aboriginal radio stations across Canada and internationally via the livestream on aboriginaldaylive.com

For the latest details on Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration, visit aboriginaldaylive.com

ABOUT APTN:
September 1, 2014, marked the 15-year anniversary of the launch of the first national Aboriginal television network in the world with programming by, for and about Aboriginal Peoples to share with all Canadians and viewers around the world. APTN is available in approximately 11 million Canadian households and commercial establishments with cable, direct-to-home satellite, telco-delivered and fixed wireless television service providers. The network launched its high definition channel, APTN HD, in the spring of 2008. APTN does not receive government funding for operations but generates revenue through subscriber fees, advertising sales and strategic partnerships. APTN broadcasts programming with 56% offered in English, 16% in French and 28% in Aboriginal languages. For program schedule or for more information, please contact APTN at (204) 947-9331 or toll-free at 1-888-278-8862 (Canada), or visit the website at www.aptn.ca