As if there wasn’t enough talent for one evening, the opening band for The Razberry Jam are none other than Manitou's own Sharpe Brothers (Will and James) and Charlie Howatt This trio project brings the brothers' harmonies to songs exploring the sounds of honky tonk music and country-western ballads. Joined by Charlie Howatt on pedal steel guitar, Will (guitar) and James (bass guitar) will kick off the evening!
The final member to meet is Jason “The Maestro” Vanwynsberghe on the violin. When he was 7, Jason was signed up for violin lessons even though he wanted to play guitar like all the cool kids. Eventually he realized violin could be cool too, and sought out a degree in violin performance from Brandon University with a minor in music composition. Since then he has worked as a freelance violinist and fiddle player on both acoustic and electric violin. He also has a full studio of violin students, and conducts the Advanced String Orchestra for the Douglas Kuhl School of Music.
Banging on the pots and pans is Mike “GrooveHound” Hiebert, prince of percussion. With roots tracing back to Southern Manitoba in 1987, Mike's percussion journey has traversed genres ranging from rock and pop, to jazz and folk. His musical footprint spans vast geographies, from Dawson City, Yukon, to Lima, Peru. A true professional in his own right, Mike's dedication to his craft led him to study under the esteemed Joe Porcaro at the Los Angeles Music Academy, graduating with top honors in Music Performance.
The Borderline Singers were taking care of business yesterday afternoon! 🎶🎸 thanks for the lovely journey from Canadian coast to coast! 🇨🇦🍁 (find some pictures in the comments!)
Next up - Henry “The Duke” Dueck. On bass, Henry, helps hold down the rhythmic foundation of the Jam. Henry’s musical odyssey commenced at the age of 15. Along the way he journeyed through various bands (Sour Gurkins, Alafalonga, Murtle, End Of Winter) before settling into the groove of the Razberry Jam. A seasoned professional since 1999, Henry’s diverse musical background brings depth and flair to group’s sound.
Let's meet the band - up first - Mason “Mason Jar” Weselowski. Hailing from Pilot Mound, Mason plays the acoustic guitar, drawing from his roots as a singer-songwriter. With a musical journey stretching back to his teenage years, Mason has shared the stages at festivals such as the Harvest Moon, Winnipeg Folk Fest, and Prairie Winds Festival. Beyond performances, he’s an active advocate of local music, volunteering with the Back Forty Folk Festival group to promote and organize musical events in the region. The Razberry Jam is his first band.
What a wonderful afternoon of music!! Thank you Konektis choir for stopping by and sharing your lovely talents with us! Thank you to everyone who came out and supported the choir despite the looming blizzard warning!
Last night's Coffeehouse left us craving more, when Mason Weselowski (1/4 of The Razberry Jam) stopped by and guess what?! 🎶 He gave us a sneak peek at electrifying performance we can expect at The Razberry Jam concert on May 4th, right here at the Opera House!
One down, two more to go! You don't want to miss out on what we have in store for you next! You can call 204-242-4287 to get your tickets now! More information will be released about these next two upcoming shows - so stay tuned!
Happy New Year everyone!! We want to extend our thanks to everyone who supported the Opera House and the events we hosted in 2023, and for all the memories we made this year with all of you. We look forward to making more memories in 2024!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at the Manitou Opera House! Wishing you all a safe and joyous holiday from our Opera House Family to yours! 🎄💚🎶 (Don't forget to turn on the volume to hear a snippet from the Carolling Coffeehouse Musicians and friends!)