Just imagine: One minute, you’re grooving to the rhythms of the Caribbean. The next, you’re rocking out to ‘80s hair metal. Finally, you’re throwing on your cowboy hat and singing along to your favourite honky-tonk tunes.
We’d like to let you in on a little secret…
It’s possible—and all FREE with your Red River Ex admission!
During the Ex’s 10-day run, you can catch more than 200 hours of free concerts. Whether you want to dance the night away or enjoy a casual beer with friends, the Ex awaits you!
“It’s really a big buffet of music—there’s something for everyone,” says Mike Dedieu, owner and agent of Morris Entertainment, coordinating this year’s musical acts. “You can watch a Led Zeppelin tribute, then walk down to the next stage and watch a Johnny Cash tribute.”
Aside from the headlining acts, all of the musicians showcase homegrown Manitoba talent. “We’ve got such a rich music scene here, which is reflected through these bands for all ages—everything from old classics to current music,” Dedieu adds.
Historically, the Ex has had one main music stage, but this year, three stages will welcome about 70 entertainers across genres.
Loop Stage
New this year is the Loop Stage, located in the racetrack on the west side of the Ex grounds. Canadian rock legends The Northern Pikes (June 18) and pop star Delaney Jane (June 22) will take the stage to headline alongside various tribute bands.
Festival Stage
Smack dab in the heart of the midway action, you can’t beat the energy at the Festival Stage. Check out the many tribute bands for what’s sure to be the life of the (dance) party.
“Since it’s a festival, we wanted to keep things festive,” says Dedieu. “We chose acts that are well-known and theatrically entertaining to watch.”
Red Barn Stage
With a mix of community and local bands, the Red Barn Stage offers the perfect low-key spot to escape from the sun with a cold beer in hand. It’s also home to special celebrations like our Caribbean and Filipino Days.
Looking to quench your thirst while jamming out to some good tunes? All three stages are adjacent to beer gardens, with a variety of beverages available for purchase.
On top of the hundreds of hours of free musical entertainment, the three stages will also host programming like Pow Wow 101 with Ray “Coco” Stevenson on National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 and a popular arm-wrestling competition.
Be part of the action this summer! Check out the full music schedule for 2023.
To find out everything else you need to know about this year’s action, read our Ultimate Guide to the 2023 Red River Ex.