When sidewalks become stages: A musical couple takes their show to the streets

Anne-Marie Williot was weeks away from releasing her new CDCheval Gant when COVID-19 struck and the party her CD release party was over.

So the singer-songwriter, along with her romantic partner and fellow musician Ian Cherry, pivoted. Insteadof indoor music venues, clubs and cafs rocking with live audiences, sidewalks became stages.

As soon as the snow was gone, the duo began performing impromptu concerts on the sidewalks of Winnipeg's West End.

Over spring and into summer, the duo have been spotted with accordian andmarching baritone horn in hands, playing free sidewalk concerts.

"We have been doing these little concerts because when COVID started, everyone was in their houses and all the concerts got cancelled, even our CD release got cancelled," Williot said.

"So we thought we should go play for people at their houses."

"The sting of losing that opportunity [the CD release party], of losingthat show, we needed a balm. This is the balm," Cherry said.

Their pivot to sidewalk minstrels can be seen in this new short film by Winnipeg filmmakers Tyler Funk, Carmen Ponto, Kevin Baconand Ian Bawa for CBC Manitoba's Creator Network.

The Creator Network works with storytellers including filmmakers, writers, artists, photographers, illustrators, animators and other creative types to tell stories through their own lens.

• See more from CBC Manitoba's Creator Network