Get on your boots! Only one more sleep till U2 in Winnipeg.

The claw has finally touched down at Winnipeg’s Canadinns Stadium and the band followed close behind. It seems that this weekend before the massive U2 360 Degree concert the Dublin quartet are filming a documentary at the Burton Cummings theatre.

Arriving Friday evening to a Irish drizzle of rain Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton greeted fans who had staked out ” The Burt” theatre in hopes of meeting the band.

Adam Clayton Meets fans at the Burt (Winnipeg Free Press)

Lead Guitar, The Edge presses the flesh with wet but excited fans Friday afternoon. (Winnipeg Free Press)

Bono signs an autograph for an eager fan. (Winnipeg Free Press)

My own reconnaissance took my camera to the stadium where the massive stage nicknamed The Claw is taking shape. Let me tell any of you who have only seen video or pictures of this monstrosity that it is easily the largest stage set up that has ever seen fit to land in Manitoba. With a footprint of approximately 40 yards square on the football field and reaching a height that matches the top rows of the stadium upper deck seating there will not be a single poor seat in the house when the show begins.

The Claw takes form behind a tight band of security.

Look, No guards here!

My seat for the concert of the year!

Apparently Bono is also very interested in a little project that rivals his own stage set up for sheer scale. The rising Canadian Museum for Human Rights at the forks, has been put on his agenda as a must see item. No doubt the spearhead of the museum project Gail Asper is dying to have a chat with the U2 front man about the project and it’s fund-raising arm.

Construction continues on the Canadian Museum for Human Rights

The Museum that is being constructed at The Forks complex will highlight the successes and failures of humanity in its ongoing struggle to find a noble path through the struggles of life. Genocides and conflict, rights movements and hero’s will be featured inside the massive “Glass Mountain” structure on the banks of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers.

With a limited time in Winnipeg before they move on to the next stop on their world tour I would like to personally wish the boys a hearty welcome and hope they enjoy Winnipeg as much as Winnipeg is going to enjoy them.

Sláinte!

Related articles

• SCENE: U2 fan on hunt for Bono (cbc.ca)
• U2 gear moves into Burton Cummings Theatre (cbc.ca)

Winnipeg: City of Murals

For anyone who has driven down Portage Avenue or into the North End of Winnipeg can attest that this city is seemingly in love with murals.  Back from the early days when the city was the rail and farming hub of Western Canada businesses would paint the names of the company on the side of the building.

Todays murals tend to be in a more artistic vein sometimes promoting a business, showcasing Winnipeg culture, remembering our war veterans, or simply having fun.  The tone of the art also seems to vary from one part of the city to the next.

Winnipeg does have a very diverse set of neighbourhoods and from the rough and tumble North End to the post war housing of St. James.  The city grows out like rings on a tree every layer having its distinct flavour.

Aside from a little commentary on the photos I am going to let the murals do the bulk of the work in this post.  As they say a picture is worth a thousand words after all.

Downtown Winnipeg and the North End.

The Nutty Club Building.

The Nutty Club Man has been a fixture on the Downtown Winnipeg skyline for decades.  Home to the Nutty Club brand, since the 1930’s.