Shakey Graves @ Burton Cummings Theatre - Winnipeg
May 9th 2022: Shakey Graves with Begonia @ Burton Cummings Theatre - Winnipeg
Shakey Graves’ first appearance in front of a Winnipeg audience was back in 2014 at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. His presence was so beloved, that he was invited back the following year. Clearly making lifelong fans in the prairie city, Shakey Graves returned May 9 to a sold-out crowd at the city’s historic Burton Cumming’s Theatre.
The evening began with Shakey Graves solo on stage with a guitar and suitcase kick drum. He grabbed the audience’s attention immediately and kept the Monday night crowd captivated for the duration of the night. After a stripped-down version of the Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind”, Shakey Graves brought out his 5 piece band and performed songs spanning his entire discography. The band ripped through “Kids These Days”, “Mansion Door” and “Family and Genus” before launching into fan-favorite sing-along “Dearly Departed”. Returning to a solo set up Shakey Graves regaled the crowd with an antidote of his adventure in the Winnipeg Folk Festival campground before playing “If Not For You” and break out hit “Roll The Bones”. The show was wrapped with a duet of Neil Young’s “Unknown Legend” with the opening act Begonia.
Winnipeg’s own Begonia opened the night with a powerful 45 min set. The excitement to see a hometown artist kicking off the night was palpable and the crowd welcomed the band with open arms. Alexa Dirk’s voice was in peak form as she screamed her way through “Fear” and then brought it right back down for fan-favorite “Hot Dog Stand”.