Mass Appeal 2017

Mass Appeal returned to Winnipeg in September 2017 with five concerts held in different publicly accessible spaces around the city. The newest Mass Appeal kicked off the series with Stephen Kiz leading a dozen accordions around the world in 30 minutes as we took over the plaza at Winnipeg’s City Hall on September 7.

3-time Grand North American fiddle champion Patti Kusterok returned to the St. Norbert Farmers Market on September 9 to lead an enthusiastic crowd of players and audience members through the jigs and reels that make Manitoba music famous.

Saxes, trombones, and even a tuba joined Todd Martin in a concert featuring hot takes on some cool classics at The Cube on September 14, and then a torrential downpour hit our ukulele event on September 16. The rain soaked The Forks but it couldn’t dampen the spirits of ukulele aficionados, who quickly relocated from the Oodena Circle to the interior of Union Station. That only made it all the more fun and provided passers-by and VIA passengers with an all-Canadian lineup of songs from across Canada under the direction of Kate Ferris.

The 2017 Mass Appeal concert series closed with the event that kicked it all off in 2016. Choir Director Ben Campbell planned a new series of arrangements to be sung in an unparalleled Winnipeg setting, the Manitoba Legislature building.

All photos by Matt Duboff unless noted.

Mass Appeal Accordions directed by Stephen Kiz at City Hall, September 7 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Accordions directed by Stephen Kiz at City Hall, September 7 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Fiddles directed by Patti Kusturok at St. Norbert Farmers Market, September 9 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Fiddles directed by Patti Kusturok at St. Norbert Farmers Market, September 9 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Accordions directed by Stephen Kiz at City Hall, September 7 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Accordions directed by Stephen Kiz at City Hall, September 7 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Fiddles directed by Patti Kusturok at St. Norbert Farmers Market, September 9 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Ukuleles directed by Kate Ferris, Union Station, September 16 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Jeremy Rusu accompanies Mass Appeal Fiddles directed by Patti Kusturok at St. Norbert Farmers Market, September 9 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

The crowd does the Chicken Dance at Mass Appeal Accordions directed by Stephen Kiz at City Hall, September 7 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Choir directed by Ben Campbell, Manitoba Legislature, September 21 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Ukuleles directed by Kate Ferris, Union Station, September 16 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Reg Kelln (drums) and JIm Jackson (bass) at Mass Appeal Accordions directed by Stephen Kiz at City Hall, September 7 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Accordions directed by Stephen Kiz at City Hall, September 7 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Accordions directed by Stephen Kiz at City Hall, September 7 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Fiddles directed by Patti Kusturok at St. Norbert Farmers Market, September 9 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Horns directed by Todd Martin, The Cube, September 14 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Ukuleles directed by Kate Ferris, Union Station, September 16 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Choir directed by Ben Campbell, Manitoba Legislature, September 21 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Katie Erickson (piano) and Andrew Erickson (bass) accompany the Mass Appeal Choir directed by Ben Campbell, Manitoba Legislature, September 21 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Ukuleles directed by Kate Ferris, Union Station, September 16 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Choir directed by Ben Campbell, Manitoba Legislature, September 21 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Horns directed by Todd Martin, The Cube, September 14 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

Mass Appeal Accordions directed by Stephen Kiz at City Hall, September 7 2017. Photo by Matt Duboff.

The crowd gets into the Red River Jig (WAC Photo). Mass Appeal Fiddles directed by Patti Kusturok at St. Norbert Farmers Market, September 9 2017.