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Thurs Aug 13 Music Crawl more info to come

Fri Aug 14, 9:15 PM Boogie Bar-N Rockin’ Highliners Revue

Sat Aug 15, 1:45 PM Shade Stage Portage and Main WORKSHOP

Sat Aug 15, 12:30 PM Blues Stage            

Sat Aug 15, 3:00 PM Blues Stage Rockin’ With the Highliners WORKSHOP

Brent Parkin is a veteran of the Winnipeg music scene and has been playing for audiences in Winnipeg and across Canada for well over 40 years.  His music is a mix of Chicago style Blues, Swing, Roots music with some Country and Roots Rock and Roll thrown in for good measure. He is comfortable playing with his band whether it be a 3 piece or up to 7 piece, solo or duo.

In the early 70’s he co-founded several popular blues bands including the popular band Houndog in 1976.

In the last 43 years he has been part of the backup bands for such legends as Bo Diddley, Gatemouth Brown, Otis Rush, Billy Boy Arnold, Johnnie Johnson and Jimmy T99 Nelson and many more. As well as opening shows for such greats as James Cotton, Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, John Prine just to name a few. A career highlight was sharing the tour bus and stage with BB King and his band as his opening act on a Western Canadian tour in 1983.

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Numerous appearances at the Winnipeg Folk Festival also made it possible for Brent to play and share many workshop stages with a lot of great artists over the years. This experience has come in handy when doing shows in schools and such.

Over the years he has appeared on many TV and radio shows. Some of the most memorable were 90 Minutes Live CBC with Peter Gzowski. Jimmy King Presents CTV’s Live at the Warehouse.

Some of the honours that have come Brent’s way over the years include:

• 1993 Juno Award for his performance on Saturday Night Blues CBC Compilation.
• 1996 & 1999 Maple Blues Award Nominations
• 2013 & 2014 Maple Blues Award Nominations for the Blues With A Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement)
• 2011 Western Canada Music Award Nomination in the Blues Category for Brent Parkin Vintage Rhythm

“One of my favourite musicians is Winnipeg bluesman Brent Parkin. Why? First of all, he’s a rock solid player who says more with less. Tasty solos coupled with soulful singing, but wait, there’s more! Parkin can also craft songs about what’s on people’s minds, a kind of community blues player if you will.”

Kinsey Posen – CBC Music Producer