St. Boniface

Fort Garry

Local all-femme indie band Strawberry Punch will make its Festival du Voyageur debut on the evening of Feb. 13 in the festival’s Forest Tent, a day before the release of its second single, Pocket.

The twee pop quartet consists of Gen Z musicians Tuva Bergstrom (bass, vocals), Freja Haight (lead guitar), Brandy Lafond (drums) and Danielle (Danny) McDonald (vocals).

McDonald describes the band as sounding like “the ’90s does ’60s in the future” and “women in women-dominated fields.”

“The vibe, the music, the energy — for us, a lot of what we write about and what inspires us is girls,” she said. “Our shows are full of beautiful women … (It’s a) celebration of women, of girlhood, of femininity and fun.”

“There are quite a few young, queer people who come to our shows,” said Bergstrom, who said she grew up idolizing bands, and yearning to be part of that world, and wants Strawberry Punch’s audience to be inspired. “I’m looking out and see these 12, 13-year-olds … I want them to see me and see them in the future, and see that things are possible.”

“If I had seen a band like us at a local show, it would’ve blown my mind,” McDonald said. “(We’re) creating a space where young queer kids feel seen — and can have fun in a safe environment.”

The band started jamming in 2023. Bergstrom knew Haight from childhood, and McDonald entered the picture through the University of Manitoba. Lafond heard about the band at university and said the first time she actually met the rest of the crew in-person, she was already in one of their basements.

“It’s been so lovely,” Lafond said.

The inaugural Strawberry Punch show came in 2024, at Into the Music record store in the Exchange District. (Memories of that first gig triggered a ripple of mixed emotions around the table.) And it wasn’t long until the group was opening for local indie group Tired Cossack and American surrealist rock band Cheekface at Real Love’s Winterruption festival in January 2025. At this year’s recent Winterruption, they shared the stage with The Shivas and fellow Winnipeggers, Prairie.

“It feels really good,” Bergstrom said, of being booked to play at Festival du Voyageur. “We put in work, and the work paid off.”

“It didn’t even feel like work,” Lafond added.

“We’re super-grateful for all the opportunities we’ve gotten,” Haight said. “It’s been super, super-awesome.”

McDonald said the crowd at FDV will be new for the band, but that they’re always excited to play for new audiences. Concert-goers should be prepared to see the group stray from their primary instruments, with guitars being passed around and a constant air of movement as band-mates swap spots. At the end of the day, what each member plays depends on the song and the show.

As someone who’s only lived in Winnipeg for five years, McDonald, who grew up in Ontario, said she’s looking forward to contributing to local culture.

“I love Winnipeg so much, and Manitoba so much,” she said. “The culture, the people, it fascinates me. From Festival to Salisbury House, it enchants me … the fact that I get to be a part of it is so beautiful to me.”

Lafond’s parents volunteered at Festival du Voyageur while she was growing up, and she described the opportunity as “crazy.” Bergstrom echoed the sentiment, calling it a “beautiful, roundabout moment.”

You can stream Strawberry Punch’s first single, Backyard Prom Party Queen, wherever you get your music. The band’s debut album, which will feature both singles, is planned for this spring.

To get tickets, visit heho.ca/en/tickets-fdv2026