Call out to musicians: $500 grand prize
Eriksdale is getting set to rock with battling bands, high energy performers and plenty of musical chops when the 2nd Annual ROGer’s Rhythmic Rumble gets underway in a few weeks.
The rumble is friendly music competition that will showcase local and area talent and help raise money for the ROGerKimLee Music Festival this summer. The rumble is open to all musicians, including solo artists, full piece bands and musicians with original work and cover songs.
The Eriksdale Music & Custom Frame Shop, a retail music store, sound equipment rental and arts hub, is hosting the rumble. The music store is owned and operated by Derrick McCandless and Dawn Mills.
McCandless said the rumble is one of their pet projects and is held in honour of three musicians and friends, Roger Young, David Kim Russell and Tony Leon Oreniuk, all of whom have sadly passed away.
“We were very, very dear friends,” said McCandless. “It’s kind of neat because we have Roger’s stepson playing with his band in the battle of the bands, and Lee’s friends are playing as well. That’s very cool.”
The rumble is a musical offshoot of the ROGerKimLee Music Festival, an annual event that’s held in August. The rumble will help raise funds for the festival.
The music shop, which provides sound-equipment rentals, will be supplying the sound system for the rumble, and McCandless said they’ll be stepping in as roadies to get everything ready for big night.
“It’s a bit of a project for us. We’re organizing the rumble and running the music store at the same time,” said McCandless. “And we’re supplying a good-sized sound system for the rumble. We’ll be setting it all up and tearing it all down.”
Passionate about the arts, McCandless and Mills transformed a local shop in to the Eriksdale Music & Custom Frame Shop, a creative centre that sells instruments, offers music lessons, handmade pottery and custom picture-framing services. It also brings together community musicians through Saturday afternoon jams, boot camps in the summer and live music events.
Not only will the rumble showcase Eriksdale and local talent, but it will also provide musicians with a prize, prime festival spot and bragging rights.
“There’s a $500 prize for the best band, and they’ll earn a prestigious playing spot at the RogerKimLee Music Festival, on the Friday or Saturday evening, which is a pretty good spot,” said McCandless.
Jude McCudden, a volunteer with the music festival, said the rumble brings together talent from Eriksdale and beyond.
“In its second year hosting the Roger’s Rhythmic Rumble, [the festival] has collaborated with the Eriksdale community’s Winter Carnival to offer a great night out … where musicians compete in a fun and friendly event for a $500 prize,” said McCudden. “This is a perfect opportunity for local and Manitoba performers to show their talent while you sit back with refreshments and friends in the warmth of Eriksdale’s Rec Hall without driving too far.”
The 2024 rumble featured, rock, blues, a solo saxophonist from Ukraine, a guitarist from Clarkleigh and a young songwriter.
The 2nd Annual ROGer’s Rhythmic Rumble is set for Saturday Feb. 15 at the Eriksdale Recreation Hall. It will start at 8:30 p.m. with entry by donation.
For more information or to enter the competition, call the Eriksdale Music & Custom Frame Shop at (431) 334-7558.
For more information about the festival, scheduled for Aug. 15-17, email: rogerkimleemusicfest@gmail.com or visit www.rogerkimleemusicfest.com
