Afterdark provides soundtrack to Nuit Blanche Winnipeg
Taron Cochrane | CBC News | Posted: October 9, 2025 6:00 PM | Last Updated: Just now
Exchange District came alive with sights, sounds & a live recording for broadcast
It was more than just a homecoming for Odario Williams. On Saturday, September 27 he returned to Winnipeg, the city he grew up in, to DJ a live recording for broadcast of Afterdark on CBC Music – the show he has hosted for the past 8 years.
As an estimated crowd of 35,000 made their way to nearly 100s of events throughout the city, Odario kept many of them dancing all night long as he played 4 hours of music familiar to fans of the show and as a taste of what new listeners could expect to hear weeknights at 9 p.m.
CBC enlisted the help of several talented local artists who all helped make this event stand out visually.
- During Odario’s break, the crowd was entertained in the round by young breakers from the Manitoba Breaking Aliiance. A memorable moment emceed by CBC’s Jim Agapito.
- Scott Fitzpatrick of Artspace projected colourful images on the wall of the building (by hand) from a projector across the street.
- The students of Art City Inc. created a giant, vintage ON AIR sign that lit up at the front of the stage.
- From the very start of the event, to the very end graffiti artist Pat Lazo created a tribute to Winnipeg’s hip hop scene on a canvas beside the stage.
Thank-you to everyone who joined us at Nuit Blanche Winnipeg. Whether you were dancing up a storm to Odario’s beats, cheering loudly for the breakers or just admiring the art of Pat & Scott we appreciate you supporting your local CBC. Always happy to be with you, where you are!
