logo
Black Eyed Peas to headline 2025 Wake the Giant Music festival

Black Eyed Peas to headline 2025 Wake the Giant Music festival

CBC11-04-2025

Social Sharing
Chart-topping group the Black Eyed Peas will be performing in Thunder Bay this fall, headlining the 2025 edition of the Wake the Giant Music Festival.
The group - which is made up of will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo - is one of eight that will take the stage for the day-long festival.
The rest of the lineup includes:
Prozzak
Neon Dreams
Crystal Shawanda
The Poets
Wyatt C. Louis
G DUBZ, and
Walking Bear Drum Group
The 2025 lineup was announced on Friday at a media event at Dennis Franklin Cromarty (DFC) High School in Thunder Bay.
"This has always been the dream!" Wake the Giant co-founder and organizer Sean Spenrath said in a statement. ""The chart-topping, hit-making legends — The Black Eyed Peas— are bringing their signature energy to Wake the Giant, and for the first time in our festival history, an Indigenous artist is leading the charge as a headliner."
A media release states Taboo from the group is known for Indigenous rights advocacy.
"The rapper that is proud of his Shoshone heritage, doesn't just talk the talk— he's walked it his whole career," the release states. "He's authored a children's book inspired by his own journey of embracing his heritage and makes it his mission to bring Indigenous artists into the mainstream."
Wake the Giant was created to welcome students from northern First Nations, as they arrive in Thunder Bay in the fall to attend high school.
The music festival will also include a kids zone, Indigenous craft market, food vendors, and art activities.
The 2025 Wake the Giant Music Festival will take place on Sept. 6 at Marina Park.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Winnipeg radio host gains wide audience among incarcerated in part by not being judgmental
Winnipeg radio host gains wide audience among incarcerated in part by not being judgmental

Winnipeg Free Press

time6 hours ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg radio host gains wide audience among incarcerated in part by not being judgmental

For those of us with Spotify and Internet access, it's easy to take for granted that radio-request shows are all but obsolete; most have already dropped from the dial. But there are vast expanses of northern Canada where Internet access remains patchy, and old-fangled AM-FM radio is still the go-to audio source of news and entertainment. No surprise, here we find programs such as Native Communications Inc. in Manitoba and CKLB in the Northwest Territories offering local listeners call-in and request-based programming. BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS Rez Vibe Connections host Stephanie Kersey, 43, shows an image of her show's logo on her cellphone inside the CKUW DJ booth at the University of Winnipeg. Stephanie Kersey, a Winnipeg-based radio DJ and personal support worker with a professional background in addictions and homelessness, uses her CKUW 95.9 FM program Rez Vibe Connections (which runs from 4 to 6 p.m. Fridays) to take song cues from an even more isolated population: the incarcerated. 'The show's for everyone, and I do get callers from all cultures and levels of society. But right now, the jails are the main focus. And people are being gracious enough to accept that,' she says. 'And just talking to (inmates) a few minutes, showing compassion, gets them excited and brightens their light.' Kersey says calls are now coming in from most of Manitoba's correctional centres, since the show's picked up steam in the past few months. Inmates share a quick, friendly chat while making their song request — often swapping a few jokes or words of encouragement. 'At first, I was wondering, are the people listening? Can they hear me?' she says. 'I was just building dialogue with them. 'Now they're calling in like crazy.' Kersey, who is of mixed Indigenous and Black ancestry, says that for all the talk of reconciliation and inclusion today, those values often vanish where those with criminal records are concerned. 'No one actually wants to talk them,' she says. 'They're pretty much excommunicated from society.' The DJ, who's 43 and has two children, has spent her life thinking about what it means to live on the social outskirts. 'I do get callers from all cultures and levels of society. But right now, the jails are the main focus. And people are being gracious enough to accept that.'–Stephanie Kersey As a Black and Indigenous woman, she's often felt the usual cultural categories don't fully include her and her family. 'The government said that we (the Kersey Clan) are Métis! But we're not Métis,' she says. Kersey grew up in Amherstburg, Ont., where her father was a Black Panther and legal activist whose causes included fighting to ensure that youth were not charged as adults. In this crucible, a future social advocate was forged. 'My father fought inside and outside the system without formal education to back him up, and so did many of our elders and all of our family members,' she says. 'And we're now at a pivotal moment in time where we, the next generation, have had the privilege to go to school, get the diplomas, be in these higher positions so we can decolonize (the system) from the inside out.' As a personal support worker, Kersey says she's been drawn to helping those struggling with homelessness and addictions. To do effective work in this field demands you leave harsh judgments and condescension behind, and that's also how she approaches Rez Vibe Connections. 'The people aren't perfect … and there's levels to it,' she says. 'But brother, (let's) leave your labels at the door.' Kersey believes the connections and informal networks she's building with callers could help support people once they're released. 'It's the frequency that resonates through us all, that connects all of our spirits.'–Stephanie Kersey 'A lot of them are calling me after they get out, saying, 'I just got out! I just got out. I'm so excited!' I'm like, cool, holler at me, we can collaborate,' she says. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. 'I have a lot of resources and programs I can (direct you to) so you won't fall through the cracks.' She's interested to see how far this might develop, but doesn't want to be heavy-handed either. For her, the starting point has to be something uplifting, like music. 'Music is the baseline, it's the foundation, it's the platform for us to all come together,' she says. 'It's the frequency that resonates through us all, that connects all of our spirits.' Conrad SweatmanReporter Conrad Sweatman is an arts reporter and feature writer. Before joining the Free Press full-time in 2024, he worked in the U.K. and Canadian cultural sectors, freelanced for outlets including The Walrus, VICE and Prairie Fire. Read more about Conrad. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

Ontario Science Centre Kicks Off Annual 3 Communities, 3 Events Series with Free Indigenous Celebration at Harbourfront Centre on June 7
Ontario Science Centre Kicks Off Annual 3 Communities, 3 Events Series with Free Indigenous Celebration at Harbourfront Centre on June 7

Cision Canada

time16 hours ago

  • Cision Canada

Ontario Science Centre Kicks Off Annual 3 Communities, 3 Events Series with Free Indigenous Celebration at Harbourfront Centre on June 7

Presented by TELUS, the annual series showcases three vibrant communities with free events including Indigenous Celebration 2025, featuring live performances, hands-on activities and interactive storytelling and book signing with author and North of North TV star Maika Harper TORONTO, June 2, 2025 /CNW/ - The Ontario Science Centre, in collaboration with Indigenous partners, is proud to host a free, family-friendly event Indigenous Celebration 2025 on Saturday, June 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Harbourfront Centre. Presented by TELUS, this special event features interactive workshops, live performances, storytelling and fun hands-on crafts and activities that highlight Indigenous ways of knowing and foster connection with Indigenous community members. Indigenous Celebration 2025 is part of the annual 3 Communities, 3 Events series, showcasing the richness of diverse communities with free events throughout the year. Indigenous Celebration 2025 features a variety of interactive, hands-on learning experiences including vibrant performances by the Spring Creek dancers, engaging storytelling and book signing with author Maika Harper (star of CBC/Netflix series North of North), energetic Métis jigging, fiddling lessons, an animal pelt table, and much more. The 3 Communities, 3 Events series continues this year with two upcoming free, family-friendly celebrations. Celebrate Black Excellence takes place on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at Scarborough Town Centre, followed by Pride in STEM on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Harbourfront Centre. With the generous support of TELUS, these events celebrate diverse communities through interactive activities, engaging performances and more. Stay tuned for details and sign up for eNews to learn more. QUOTES "June is National Indigenous History Month—a time to honour and celebrate the cultures, traditions and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples," said Paul Kortenaar, CEO, Ontario Science Centre. "Through community events like Indigenous Celebration, we have a meaningful opportunity to learn from Indigenous voices and experiences, and we're grateful to our Indigenous partners and the generous support of TELUS for making our 3 Communities 3 Events series possible." "At TELUS, we recognize the transformative power of connecting communities and honouring the profound cultural heritage of Indigenous Peoples," said Patrick Barron, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability, TELUS. "As a long-standing partner of the Ontario Science Centre, we are proud to support the 3 Communities, 3 Events series, creating authentic opportunities for families to engage with Indigenous knowledge, traditions, and ways of understanding." For more details about our programming, upcoming pop-ups and events, and to book your visit to our Ontario Science Centre Experiences at KidSpark at Harbourfront Centre and CF Sherway Gardens, please visit About the Ontario Science Centre Spark your curiosity with Ontario Science Centre Experiences! For over 55 years, the Ontario Science Centre has inspired a passion for the human adventure of discovery through fun experiences that educate and entertain kids and adults alike. In addition to pop-ups at festivals and student-focused events, enjoy Ontario Science Centre Experiences at two satellite locations. Visit for more information and sign up for eNews to find out where we'll be next.

Pride and power in place
Pride and power in place

Winnipeg Free Press

time19 hours ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Pride and power in place

Gena Boubard is checking off a lot of firsts this year. The Anishinaabe makeup artist is the first two-spirit contestant to compete in Miss Indigenous Canada and the organizer of the first-ever Pride celebration in Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation. Boubard, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, lives in Winnipeg and spends a lot of time visiting family in their home community, which is situated along the Winnipeg River 120 kilometres northeast of the city. SUPPLIED Gena Boubard hopes more First Nations host their own celebrations. SUPPLIED Gena Boubard hopes more First Nations host their own celebrations. Putting on a Pride event, which takes place Saturday, , June 7, has been a way to give back and empower LGBTTQ+ youth living in Sagkeeng; however, being the first came with some trepidation. 'I had so much fear around what people would think or say or how they would view me and I've received nothing but positive feedback. There's a lot more support than I could have ever imagined,' Boubard, 24, says. Saturday's Pride celebration kicks off at 11 a.m. with a parade beginning at the 'Welcome to Sagkeeng' sign featuring a local drum group and entertainment by drag performers, DJ Kaptain and the Bannock Babes. The parade will be followed by a two-spirit powwow, community feast and fireworks. There will be a craft market and speakers throughout the day, including Amazing Race Canada winners Anthony Johnson and James Makokis. The event is family-friendly and drug/alcohol-free. Event preview ● Fort Alexander, Saturday ● June 7 11 a.m. — parade ● 1:30 p.m. — two-spirit powwow and market ● 5 p.m. — community feast ● 10 p.m. — fireworks This is Boubard's first time organizing an event of this scale. 'I'm learning a lot very quickly. I'm overwhelmed, but in the best way. It's been really exciting getting things together and shopping and planning all the fun stuff for the day,' Boubard says. The event is open to the public and Boubard expects attendees from nearby communities and across the province, including Sagkeeng members living off-reserve and representatives from Eastman Pride, which helps co-ordinate Pride activities in eastern Manitoba. 'It really fills my heart and it actually makes me emotional and really proud of my community that so many people are stepping up to support and be involved,' Boubard says, adding the call for volunteers has been met with enthusiasm. 'I'm hoping (attendees) see just how large the two-spirit community is and how much it's really needed right now in the face of the homophobia and transphobia we're seeing throughout North America. And I'm hoping this sparks conversations within Indigenous families in regards to how we view gender identity and sexuality.' LORI PENNER / THE CARILLON Presenters and performers at last year's Pembina Valley Pride March and Rally LORI PENNER / THE CARILLON Presenters and performers at last year's Pembina Valley Pride March and Rally Boubard is already looking forward to next year's Sagkeeng Pride event and wants to see more local First Nations hosting their own celebrations. Discussions are also underway for year-round LGBTTQ+ programming in Sagkeeng. Boubard has been competing in beauty pageants for nearly a decade and says the events have been good training for their current advocacy work. 'It's been a beautiful experience. I've learned a lot of confidence, leadership skills, how to be involved in my community, how to use my voice,' says the Miss Southern Manitoba World title-holder and former Miss World Canada contestant. Miss Indigenous Canada is now in its second year with the 2025 winner set to be crowned in July at a pageant in Six Nations, Ont. Jessica McKenzie, representing Opaskwayak Cree Nation in northern Manitoba, was the contest's inaugural winner. If you value coverage of Manitoba's arts scene, help us do more. Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow the Free Press to deepen our reporting on theatre, dance, music and galleries while also ensuring the broadest possible audience can access our arts journalism. BECOME AN ARTS JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project. Eva WasneyReporter Eva Wasney has been a reporter with the Free Press Arts & Life department since 2019. Read more about Eva. Every piece of reporting Eva produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store