Matthew Froese
@matthewfroese
mech engineer in building commissioning, affirming mennonite, triathlete & ironman, coffee enthusiast, jello fanatic, he/him, Winnipeg
The singer from Of Monsters and Men “We only have bumblebees in Iceland… it’s so nice to see dragonflies with my own eyes.” 🥺
Kathleen Edwards playing lots of stuff off her latest (2025) album Billionaire, which is great. Tells us she has spent many birthdays (yesterday!) in Winnipeg because of the timing of Folk Fest! #folkfesthappy
Not the best angle to catch Red River Rambler, as there are a couple of musicians in back too, but they’re a very solid and enjoyable Métis fiddle group. Get your toes tapping, and even at +33 they’ve got a few people jigging! #folkfesthappy
The Vaudevillian is a very cute ragtime band - here performing “Baby your biscuits are plenty big enough for me” 🤣 #folkfesthappy
So excited for this concert at the Winnipeg Folk Festival - Yagody does contemporary Ukrainian folk music, and they’re very, very good. We’re all out here fighting for our lives in the heat and they’ve emerged for sound check looking for all the world like elven princesses from LoTR #folkfesthappy
This cold brew coffee lemonade from sheepdog coffee is a little weird, but delicious and refreshing. If you’re out at the Winnipeg Folk Festival today, stay hydrated! #folkfesthappy
Bison bannock burger from The Indigenous Kitchen food truck at the Winnipeg Folk Festival - quick and delicious! Would recommend.
Angine de Poitrine was just what I was hoping for last night at folk fest - a weird and wild performance with a massive crowd!
Folk fest food - the jerk chicken from Miss Christine’s Kitchen is delicious, but man they are slow and disorganized over there. Tasty if you have the patience!
Tinge has a super fun alt rock sound - lots of new songs that will be out on an upcoming release #folkfesthappy
Jesse Welles is out here living out the maxim that bad politics makes for great folk music. So glad to have staked out some shade this afternoon! #folkfesthappy
Fish in a Birdcage - in from Alberta, live-looping with an electric cello, playing with a single glove. Weird, super talented, has a very open and spacious kind of sound. #folkfesthappy
DUG - very entertaining if you like Americana with folk political commentary. Feel like I could use a bourbon in hand when they’re playing. #folkfesthappy
This morning at Snowberry - Anna Tivel is new to me, has an absolutely lovely voice #folkfesthappy
Whoever is doing lighting for Father John Misty at the Winnipeg Folk Festival is just crushing it. And Screamland was gorgeous.
This version from his instagram on May 28 also seems to be more imaginative than accurate, but I’m not one to comment on anyone’s taste:
And Mike V’s website graphics seem to be mostly AI, too. I don’t think the photo radar vans have ever had clear labels on the back window. Looking closer, there’s a line of traffic emerging mysteriously from a backhoe, and the “Granq Caravan” is almost a real vehicle. Loses details on the plate.
For reference, the completely fine City of Winnipeg logo looks like this, as I think it has for quite a while now, although I prefer the crest:
Leaving aside the viability of these promises - what’s going on with these logos? I don’t think the Winnipeg Sun has used that logo in a while. I also don’t think the Sun is affiliated with the candidate in any obvious way. And the “Citz of Winnipeg” logo needs work.
I’m glad we have an active local political scene in Winnipeg - it’s important for people to speak up and be involved! But the AI slop is definitely in the campaign this year: this is from the latest TikTok post from Mazher Alam, who registered quite early.
I don’t think he’s registered officially yet, but apparently there’s at least one more coming:
Seen on this morning’s run - Winnipeg is so quietly and consistently gorgeous
400 athletes out for the St Malo Triathlon today! I’m just here on sherpa duty, but it’s good to see local races growing and engaging so many people! #manitoba #triathlon #thriathlonmb
Healthy road trip snacks. Unfortunately the seasonal “cherries and cream” Pepsi is not great.
Rose update: the Winnipeg Parks rose comes in clutch, first to bloom this season.