On November 21, Winnipeggers packed the Park Theatre for Rent Party 6, a celebration of dig! magazine’s eleventh birthday! The lobby was alive with people getting their pictures taken, making strategic efforts to win prizes at the rainbow auction table, watching images from eleven years of dig! magazine on the big screen, and enjoying music performed by Marc Tugby, Connor Derraugh, Max Osawa, and friends.

This year, the Big dig! Band took to the stage to share their special blend of old-fashioned sass and contemporary edge. Led by Derrick Gardner and Steve Kirby, the Big dig! Band showcases the talents of some of the city’s finest players, all of whom were in top form that night. Special guest saxophonist Kirk MacDonald, based in Toronto, brought his own mix of fire and sweetness—one of the highlights of the evening was his extended three-way trading session with saxophonists Shannon Kristjanson and Reginald Lewis. Our very own expat, Curtis Nowosad, took over the drum kit for a few tunes, and the band performed a stunning version of a Nowosad original. Our thanks to these two featured guests, and to all of the talented musicians who make up the Big dig! Band. (A reminder: the BdB performs monthly at the Park Theatre—details on their Facebook page.)

For generosity beyond measure, we offer big thanks to: Erick Casselman, sound tech Matt Mayor, and the staff of the Park Theatre; the Tugby-Derraugh-Osawa Trio and their guests; photographers Ken Tugby and Matt Duboff; volunteers Flavia Fernandez Fabio, Candice Black, and Lori O’Brennan; and especially the hardworking Rent Party organizing committee: Lori Derraugh, Donna Tugby, Kelley Fry, Anna-Lisa Kirby, Mike Diehl, and Lynne Stefanchuk.

We are so grateful to our generous rainbow auction donors: 5 Small Rooms, Barbara&Cecile, Boston Pizza, Le Cercle Molière, Colors Beauty & Wellness, David’s Tea, Jeff Derraugh, Dry Cold Productions, Fairmont Winnipeg, Frame of Mind Art Gallery, imaginet, Integra Credit Union, Jazz Winnipeg, Steve & Anna-Lisa Kirby, Walle Larsson, Long & McQuade, Ma Vie en Vin, Made For Skin, Manitoba Opera, McNally Robinson Booksellers, Mona Lisa Restaurant, Myers Norris Penny, Niccolino’s, Curtis Nowosad, Rady Jewish Community Centre, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Rosemarie Todaschuk, Simon Imports Ltd, the witty knitty, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Winnipeg International Writers Festival, Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Your contributions generated valuable resources for us, and great delight for our audience!

Finally, a huge thanks to all of you who came to the party, and who continue to read dig! magazine. We’re here because you care about this community. It was a great night—happy people, shiny prizes, stellar music, and the exhilaration of banding together in a big shout-out to the Jazz Capital of Canada!