Hey Winnipeg, the weekend is almost here. Have you made your plans yet? Check out the Classic 107 Arts & Entertainment Calendar!

If you’re a film enthusiast, the Cinematheque might be a good place to start. Thursday July 03 the theatre presents a retrospective of Winnipeg filmmaker Kevin Nikkel. Winner of this year’s Manitoba Film Hothouse award, Kevin Nikkel is an extraordinary film director, writer and curator based in Winnipeg. His deep love of history and research is revealed in a series of remarkable documentary portraits of the people and architectural landmarks of Winnipeg.

This documentary and more like it will be featured along with three of Kevin’s pencil sketch animated films. Showtime is 7:00 tonight. Tickets are available at the box office ranging from $6.00 - $9.00 dollars. Or you can go buy them online.

 

Also on Thursday night (July 03), is the Winnipeg Art Gallery's longest running concert series Live on the Rooftop. Formerly known as Jazz on the Rooftop, the concerts are hosted on the gallery's stunning rooftop sculpture garden. Live is the perfect summer evening, offering warm breezes, the Winnipeg skyline and great local entertainers. From Jazz to Blues to Soul, there is music for everyone this summer at the WAG. Thursday night you'll be treated to the musical sounds of the The Keith Price Double Quartet. They made quite a splash last year as part of Jazz Winnipeg’s Nu Sounds Series. Guitarist Keith Price composed a new score for the classic film The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, for an eight-piece band with two bass players and two keyboardists. The group’s sound is heavily funkified, with space for improvisation and spontaneity. Inspired by Miles Davis’ electric period (think Bitches Brew), Price’s band features Neil Watson (saxophone and flute), Jeff Presslaff and Will Bonness (keyboards), Marty Theissen (electric bass), Julian Bradford (upright bass), Scott Senior (percussion) and Jamie Carrasco (drums). For this Live on the Rooftop performance, the band will free themselves from the film and follow the muse wherever it may take them.

Tickets are $25 for non-members/$22 for WAG members. Online ticket sales for this show have now closed, but tickets are still available in person at the WAG's admission desk, or by calling 204-786-6641.

An optional BBQ dinner prepared by Storm Catering is available for an additional $25 per person. Cash bar.

BBQ Menu: 6oz Blackened Grilled Ahi Tuna Steak with fresh Tomato Salsa Rice Pilaf Stuffed Pepper House Greens with Ginger Sesame Dressing Plantain Spring Roll

Dinner is served between 6pm and 7pm Concert begins at 7:30pm

 

Friday night July 04 is First Fridays in the Exchange District. The first Friday of every month, participating businesses stay open until 9:00 PM with special events happening throughout the exchange from 7:00 – 9:00 PM. The idea is to bring together artists, artist run galleries, independent businesses and the public. One of the activites featured is an Art Talk/Art Walk. For $30 you can have dinner, a lively interactive talk followed by a guided walk through Exchange galleries & studios. Tomorrow night the subject is Michelangelo’s Ego & The Van Gogh Myth. Art and culture writer Alison Gillmor examines our culture’s many myths about the artist by delving into history, from the Renaissance and Post Impressionism to legendary street artist Banksy. 
You’ll be surprised to discover just how much art history has informed your thinking.

You can reserve tickets at The Winnipeg Free Press News Café or by calling 204.697.7069

 

So, uhm . . .  only 173 days until Christmas people! And to get you in the mood might I suggest a special concert put on by the Handbell Guilds of Canada. Saturday afternoon (July 05) the public is invited to attend a concert based on Charles Dickens A Christmas Carole with handbell music from Christmas past, present & future. The concert starts at 2:00 PM at the Victoria Inn at 1808 Wellington Avenue by the airport. And it is absolutely free!

 

And finally, Sunday Night Smooth Jazz at the Lyric begins this this weekend (July 06) with JUNO and Western Canadian Music Award award winning jazz guitarist Jack Semple. Show time is 7pm to 9pm and it is absolutely free. Classic 107 is very proud to be a sponsor of the summertime series. Make sure you say hello to Le Baiser Sale host Roxane Gagne who will be your emcee for the evening. And don’t forget to tune in tomorrow night to Jazz After 9 to hear more about Jack Semple with host Neil Coligan and series curator Wallee Larson.

Those are some of the things happening in Winnipeg this weekend. Listen for the Classic 107 Arts & Entertainment Calendar with Claudia Garcia de la Huerta every Thursday, Friday and Saturday twice a day on Classic 107.