Winnipeg Pop Diva 'Begonia' at the Cleland Community Theatre

Event Dates:
  • Mon • November 21, 2022 • 6:45 PM
  • Event Cost: $25.00
  • Event PDF: Download

Pegged as Canada’s breakout alt-diva, Begonia launched into the Canadian music scene on the strength of her critically acclaimed 2017 EP Lady In Mind. The indie pop singer has received media praise and numerous awards, and had two #1 songs on Canada’s CBC national radio chart. As Begonia, Alexa Dirks has blossomed into a glittery supernova who feels like music’s best-kept secret to her fans.

“The woman has, you would say, presence to spare. When she opens her mouth to sing it’s like, ‘What just happened?’” – Exclaim!

Begonia at the Cleland Community Theatre, November 21st, 2022
Doors: 6:45pm | Show Time: 7:15pm
Get your tickets here.

Begonia went on to release her audacious debut full-length album Fear in September 2019. Fear is a deeply personal album bursting with ruminations on solitude, self-doubt, anxiety, and panic, all bundled up in that serene feeling that comes with an artist fully embracing their past and present self. She wrote and co-produced the record with a close-knit team of collaborators: Matt Schellenberg and Matt Peters of Royal Canoe, along with Marcus Paquin, who has previously worked with The National, Arcade Fire and Local Natives.

Fear was nominated for a JUNO Award for Adult Alternative Album Of The Year and was long listed for The Polaris Music Prize. It was one of Exclaim!’s Most Underrated Albums of the Year, made end of the year lists from CBC Music and Dominionated, and saw both “Beats” and “Hanging On A Line” named as CBC Music Top 20 Fan Favourites of the year. Fear also spent 10 straight weeks as the #1 album in Canada on Earshot’s Top 50 chart. Songs from the album can be heard in numerous productions on Netflix & Oprah Winfrey Network, and NPR named Begonia is one of 10 Artists You Need to Know.

Begonia released a live concert album called The Fear Tour (Live) in February 2020. The album was recorded over five consecutive sold-out shows in her hometown of Winnipeg, Canada. The performances captured the imagination of a whole city, and can be watched in full HD on YouTube.

As Begonia, Alexa Dirks is bold, brazen with her florid, surprising pop that is tempered with sensitivity and wisdom. In her music, Begonia leans hard into a sense of arrival. Whether it’s learning to come into her own or processing a brutal heartbreak, Dirks’ intimate lyrics and audacious sound allows for her audience to relate to the messiness of life with an honesty that is refreshing.