Aug. 15, 16 and 17 at the Eriksdale Sports Ground
Eriksdale is holding its 5th annual music arts festival next weekend that will provide music-loving day trippers and die-hard festivals fans with a wide selection of made-in-Manitoba musical talent and a chance to unwind on a patch of prairie.
Organizers are in the midst of setting up the RogerKimLee Music Festival at the Eriksdale Sports Grounds on Highway 6.
Bring a lawn chair, grab a beverage and enjoy the bucolic countryside with all the mod cons on site such as restrooms, ample parking, food and drink vendors, a campground and craft vendors offering unique items.
Craig Sidwall, who sits on the non-profit festival board, writes grant applications and helps with site organization, said for years he wanted to see a festival or other event taking place in Eriksdale, and now members of the community are making it happen.
“It’s a very relaxed atmosphere at the music festival. You can walk around. You can visit people. You can sit and talk and have a beer and enjoy the music,” said Sidwall, who was born and raised in Eriksdale. “If you like sitting around, having a drink, talking to new friends and listening to music, you’ll love this.”
The festival was started by Derrick McCandless and Dawn Mills, who run the Eriksdale Music & Custom Frame Shop. The festival honours three friends, Roger Young, Kim Russell and Tony Leon (Lee) Oreniuk, all of whom have passed away and who shared a passion for music and bringing people together.
Attendance at the festival has been increasing year over year, said Sidwall, and as of last week pre-ticket sales were about the same as the 2024 event. The board is hoping to grow the festival. They’ve improved the venue by giving the space more of an “amphitheatre effect” and attracted a variety of musical acts.
This year’s musical line-up includes The Wrigley Brothers, Sunshine Singers, Maija Kaartinen, Mark Reeves, Tannis Bumbry, DB & the Deadbeats, Gilles Crevier, Sol James, The Brett Schulz Band and Grape Raisin.
Grape Raisin are young musicians from Eriksdale and St. Laurent. They made their debut at the festival’s 2025 winter offshoot called Rogers Rhythmic Rumble.
“Grape Raisin is a success story. They’re local high school students. They are a success story for the festival because we’re trying to enliven our local arts scene. The festival [the rumble] was their first appearance on stage. They’re all excited about being in this band,” said Sidwall. “And that’s really what we’re trying to accomplish. If you think you can play, audition. And if you’re good enough, we’d love to put you on stage.”
While the focus is on providing a venue for and highlighting local and other Manitoba musical talent, Sidwall said the festival is open to hosting musicians from farther afield.
“While we’d never expect to book Bob Dylan – he’s alive and he won’t stop touring even though he’s in his 80s – he’s welcome to apply online and send us a demo tape,” said Sidwall.
Part of the musical entertainment includes musician-hosted “workshops” that provide an opportunity to for informal jams and experimentation.
“A workshop could consist of several musicians on stage taking turns playing a song with a particular theme or collaborating on a song,” said Sidwall. “It’s meant to be an informal jam where the musicians can relax and share their skills.”
In addition to the festival’s lineup of musical talent, the event includes food and beverage options (pancake breakfast, food trucks, outdoor beer garden), games for kids and adults, camping facilities and an outdoor Maker’s Market.
Some of the handmade items that will be available include macrame, leather, musical instruments (the festival is offering a raffle for an instrument), clothing, jewelry and pottery, said Sidwall. The artisans are mainly local people from Eriksdale, Arborg, Hilbre and Fairford.
The RM of West Interlake is supporting the festival, for which the board is very grateful, he said, and business owners from afar are also getting into the act.
“Interlake Brewing in Gimli is sponsoring a craft beer for us. We are so pleased that they stepped up for us,” said Sidwall.
Any profits the board makes from ticket sales are used to improve the festival.
“As a non-profit, we just want to make enough money to survive and do it again next year. If we’re profitable, we sink that money into the festival and improve the site and get other talent,” said Sidwall. “We don’t expect to become a world destination, but we’d love to be an Interlake destination. If people remember that we’re here and set aside the time to come out and enjoy the festival, that would be fabulous.”
Festival-goers should bring a lawn chair or a tarp, water bottle, sunscreen, and clothing such as hats, rain coats, windbreakers, wellies and good footwear.
Spots at the campground are limited as it’s small, and people should “hurry” if they plan to stay in their camper or RV for the weekend, said Sidwall. To reserve a camping spot, people have to buy a weekend festival pass online.
The RogerKimLee Music Festival runs from Aug. 15-17 in Eriksdale at the sports grounds located near the junction of highways 6 and 68, across from the Havakeen Lunch diner and Esso gas station. Visit the festival online.
