Aboriginal Music Week in Winnipeg, Manitoba recently announced its 2011 lineup, showcasing the vibrant new energy of young First Nations artists. The event will take place November 1-6, bringing together a broad sweep of North American artists and a growing, young urban audience.

This year's headliners show the diversity and range of Aboriginal music: A Tribe Called Red's hard-hitting, pow wow-powered electro; Leela Gilday's reflective folk; Derek Miller's rootsy rock; John Arcand's generations-old, masterful Métis fiddle Winnipeg's Most and their fresh, wildly popular hip hop .

"It's an exciting time to be Aboriginal in Canada right now," enthuses Bear Witness of the DJ collective A Tribe Called Red. "The community across Canada is coming together more and more, especially around the arts and music. There's so much going on, so many interesting things, so many strong artists."

"We have found that Aboriginal people want to see Aboriginal artists perform all kinds of music," explains Alan Greyeyes, festival curator.

"We produce the festival for Aboriginal people but we really want to use the festival and the music to build bridges with other communities. And it's working."

Connecting Aboriginal artists-from different scenes, at different points in their career-is part of the broader mission of festival producer Aboriginal Music Manitoba (www.ammb.ca). "We want to create a stronger professional infrastructure for Aboriginal performers," says Greyeyes. The festival, along with night after night of high-calibre concerts, provides opportunities for artists to network with local community music bookers, and to create moments of contact with new, mostly young audiences.

Aboriginal Music Week Lineup:

11/1/11 Take the Fort!:
John Arcand at West End Cultural Centre - Winnipeg, MB Canada

11/2/11 Hip Hop Night:
Winnipeg's Most at West End Cultural Centre - Winnipeg, MB Canada

11/3/11 Aboriginal Songwriters:
Leela Gilday at West End Cultural Centre, SaskMusic Showcase at Pyramid Cabaret & All My Relations Stage at Windsor Hotel- Winnipeg, MB Canada

11/4/11 The Electric Pow Wow:
A Tribe Called Red & World Hood at Pyramid Cabaret - Winnipeg, MB Canada
All My Relations Stage at Windsor Hotel - Winnipeg, MB Canada

11/5/11 The Saturday Night 49er :
Derek Miller & Sherry St. Germain at Pyramid Cabaret - Winnipeg, MB Canada
All My Relations Stage at Windsor Hotel - Winnipeg, MB Canada