Aboriginal Music Week kicks off Oct. 30 in Winnipeg. Now in its fourth year, the festival consists of five nights, 12 concerts and 34 bands, performing a variety of musical genres including blues, rock, hip-hop, singer-songwriter, electronic, pop, instrumental and experimental, with some traditional elements thrown in for good measure.

CBC Music asked some of the participating artists to tell us what their favourite song to play live is and why. Here is what they said:

Stevie Salas: "I think my favourite song to play depends on what country I am in and how big of a hit a song was in that country. In Japan, I love to play 'Break It Out' and 'Start Again.' In Europe they always want 'Indian Chief' or 'Tell Your Story Walkin'.' But for me I am feeling a new song I wrote about some Indian girls I met called 'Nishi Girl.' I played it on tour last year in Europe and people went bananas."

Salas headlines the Saturday Night 49er on Nov. 3.

Nicholas Galanin of Silver Jackson: "I lost a cousin who was close like a brother, this song came from the grief of it all. Performing the song 'For Wade' live is always very special to me, usually the audience is involved with the backing chorus."

Silver Jackson opens for Murray Porter on Nov. 2.

Murray Porter: "My favourite song to play live is ‘Is Sorry Enough?’ It is dedicated to the Indian residential school survivors and their families. Some people are unaware of what the residential school system was about, and for them it’s educational. But for the ones whose lives have been touched by this experience, it is very emotional and healing for them. Having my grandmother, and [partner] Elaine Bomberry’s mother go through this experience inspired us to write this song. Sometimes it’s very hard to sing this song, looking at the faces of those survivors, it brings tears to all our eyes."

Porter, the 2012 Juno winner for Aboriginal recording of the year, headlines Nov. 2 at the Windsor.

Gary Farmer: "'Hey Baby' is an audience fave. I love all my songs. Why? Cause I wrote them and produced them myself. My songs reflect stories in my life or my aspirations sometimes. Or my feelings. They come and are fleeting passages, so you never know. Talking about the songwriting. It's hard to put yourself in a song, sometimes it comes easy. But I like the impact of songs on people and love playing live."

Farmer, who is highly regarded for his acting career, headlines Nov. 3 at the Windsor, where you can catch me as the host for the show!