Brief
Winn$tock battle‑of‑the‑bands fundraiser returns to Winnipeg after seven‑year break
The concert, featuring financial and legal sector musicians, aims to raise funds for KidThink’s mental‑health programs.
By Felo News Desk · Published
After a seven‑year hiatus, the Winn$tock battle‑of‑the‑bands charity concert is back on Thursday evening at the Cowboys venue in Winnipeg’s Windsor Park neighbourhood, Winnipeg Free Press reported.
What happened
The event will feature six bands composed of members from the city’s financial and legal services sectors: the Redliners, Outperforming Assets, Corporate Distortion, Reckle$ $aint$, Full Coverage and Arm Candy. A three‑person celebrity judging panel – traffic reporter Dev Oza, former Streetheart guitarist Jeff Neill and local singer Lisa Windsor – will award a “best band” trophy and a fan‑favourite prize voted by the audience. Organisers expect a sold‑out crowd of roughly 800 people.
What the reports add
According to the article, Al Jacks, who founded Winn$tock after seeing a similar Toronto event, said the first edition ran from 2005 to 2019 and raised more than $1.2 million for children’s charities. The concert also inspired Techapalooza, a separate fundraiser that has generated over $1 million for the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. The hiatus began when the COVID‑19 pandemic started, and planning for the return began two years ago, involving about 40 volunteers and multiple sponsors.
What was said
Brian Taylor, a retired wealth adviser on the 11‑person organising committee, described Winnipeg as having many “closet musicians” and said participants “come out and just give ‘er.” Lindsay Pateman, fund‑development manager at KidThink Children’s Mental Health Centre, said the charity was “super excited to be chosen as the beneficiary” and highlighted the event’s role in supporting the Funding Futures for Children and Caregivers program, which provides free or subsidised mental‑health care to Manitoba families.
How it came about
Winn$tock was launched in 2005, ran annually until 2019, and paused during the pandemic. Organisers began plotting its comeback two years ago, recruiting volunteers, sponsors and a celebrity judging panel to recreate the community‑spirit of the original concerts. The event continues the tradition of industry‑driven fundraisers that link professional networks with local charitable causes.
Key facts
- Winn$tock returns Thursday night at Cowboys in Winnipeg's Windsor Park neighbourhood. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- Six bands from financial and legal sectors will compete: Redliners, Outperforming Assets, Corporate Distortion, Reckle$ $aint$, Full Coverage and Arm Candy. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- KidThink Children’s Mental Health Centre is the beneficiary, supporting its Funding Futures for Children and Caregivers program. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- Organisers expect about 800 attendees, according to Al Jacks. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- The original Winn$tock ran from 2005 to 2019, raising over $1.2 million for children’s charities. (winnipegfreepress.com)
Sources
- [1] winnipegfreepress.com — originally reported as “Winn$tock fundraising concert returns to Winnipeg stage”
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