Whoop It Up In Portage!

A medley of Manitoban and Canadian folk, roots, country, and blues artists will perform at the 8th annual music festival on Aug. 27 & 28
It’s looking like a promising season ahead for outdoor summer events in Manitoba, and the Whoop & Hollar Folk Festival will cap it off on the weekend before September Long.
The award-winning festival returns to its usual format and venue near Portage la Prairie on August 27 & 28, and recently announced its ever-eclectic lineup of performing acts that include Jérémie & The Delicious Hounds, Scott Nolan, Ila Barker, and Bobby Dove.
Be sure to check out Whoop It Up with UMFM — an interview series hosted by Beer For Breakfast’s Broose Tulloch, who will be speaking with just some of the artists playing this year’s festival!
“We are excited for a solid revival and celebration of live music and art at Whoop & Hollar this year,” exclaims festival artistic director, Josh Wright. “It feels like this will be a post-pandemic renaissance, if you will, with all the new works and creations of many talented musicians and songwriters.”
While Whoop & Hollar traditionally showcases local artists from across Manitoba, the festival will feature artists from out-of-province or who have recently settled in Manitoba from overseas. “Whoop & Hollar is thrilled to welcome touring artists from Toronto and the Ottawa-Gatineau region this year,” says Wright. “Festival-goers will also get to travel the world with new Manitoban artists, who have recently moved here from places as far as Montréal, QC; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Brisbane, Australia.”
In addition to the primary genres of folk, roots, indie, and blues music typically offered at the festival, music fans can look forward to elements of country, funk, pop, soul, jazz, flamenco, Métis fiddle, world fusion, and children’s music.
Each year, Whoop & Hollar ensures the festival lineup is carefully curated to include Indigenous, Francophone, and female-lead performers; a balance of emerging and seasoned performers; and a collaborative, on-stage workshop where artists get to network, perform each other’s songs, and create new sounds together.
“Whoop & Hollar has always focused on representing the diverse cultures and backgrounds of Manitoban musicians in particular, and this year is no different,” adds Wright. “Love, peace, inclusion, and diversity have always been important to us and are perhaps even more so in this day and age.”
The full performer lineup, early bird tickets, and all festival information can be found at www.whoopandhollar.com.
Whoop It Up…With UMFM Series Episodes:
Episode 1: Chris Ghidoni
Episode 2: Scott Nolan
Episode 3: Festival Co-Founders Linda Omichinski & Josh Wright
Episode 4: Onna Lu
Episode 5: Lisa-Marie Serafin
Episode 6: JC Campbell
Episode 7: Rob Knaggs
Episode 8: Taylor Abrahamse
Episode 9: Judy And Ruby
Episode 10: Morgan Grace
Episode 11: Toad Turner/Prairie Soul Acoustic