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Saturday, August 28 - 2:30 pm
The Scarlet Union is fronted by Greg "Milka" Crowe, who has been a contributing member of the Winnipeg independent music scene since 1992. After playing guitar in upstart local hardcore outfit XchoplogicX, Crowe turned to the ska idiom and hasn't looked back since. From 1993-2000, Crowe fronted local ska outfit Whole Lotta Milka. During those seven years, Milka released two full length albums, Got Milka? and Al's Diner, for Montreal-based Stomp Records. After Whole Lotta Milka's departure from the Canadian ska scene in 2000, Crowe established The Wedgewoods, a ska-rock group that released a self-titled record in 2002 on Bacteria Buffet Records. Also in 2000, Crowe began to play solo gigs, emphasizing the more traditional side of the ska genre. After submitting three solo tracks (with full instrumentation – all played by Crowe himself) to Bacteria Buffet Records’ first compilation ‘Peg City Skank, Crowe formed a small band around his solo act to incorporate the full sound of the recordings to his live show. Greg Milka Crowe released his debut full length solo album, Bhakta Basics, on Bacteria Buffet Records in 2004 while continuing to perform and tour with The Greg Milka Crowe Band. Crowe has since reformed the band to include not only ska and reggae, but also soul and rockabilly to present a truly diverse performance under the name of The Scarlet Union. Today, in addition to teaching high school Music and History at Nelson McIntyre Collegiate in Winnipeg, Crowe currently performs, tours, and records with The Scarlet Union.
