Manitoba ⁱ/ˌmænəˈtoʊbə/ is a Canadian prairie province. The province, with an area of 649,950 square kilometres (250,900 sq mi), has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other major industries are transportation, manufacturing, mining, forestry, energy, and tourism.

Manitoba's capital and largest city, Winnipeg, is Canada's eighth-largest Census Metropolitan Area, and home to 60 percent of the population of the province. Winnipeg is the seat of government, home to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the highest court in the jurisdiction, the Manitoba Court of Appeal. Four of the province's five universities, all four of its professional sports teams, and most of its cultural activities are located in Winnipeg.

Fur traders first arrived during the late 17th century. Manitoba became a province of Canada in 1870 after the Red River Rebellion. A general strike took place in Winnipeg in 1919, and the province was hit hard by the Great Depression. This led to the creation of what would become the New Democratic Party of Manitoba, one of the province's major political parties and currently in power, led by premier Greg Selinger.

Del Barber is an independent folk, folk rock, Americana, and alt-country singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. Barber was nominated for a 2011 Juno Award for his Love Songs of the Last Twenty in the category of Roots & Traditional Album of the Year. Later in 2011 he won two Western Canadian Music Awards for Independent Album of the Year and Roots Solo Recording of the Year.

Barber was born on October 14, 1983 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He cites some of his influences as Townes Van Zandt,Greg Brown,John Prine,Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Wilco, Bruce Springsteen,Neil Young, Gram Parsons, Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams,Loretta Lynn,Mississippi John Hurt,Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Merle Haggard,The Band. Del is also influenced by authors such as Farley Mowat, Wendell Berry,Jack Kerouac, and Kathleen Norris. He is also influenced by community and food.

Barber began recording music while attending Covenant Bible College. From there he would start playing shows all across North America. During his one year at North Park University, he would continue to write music. After spending a year at North Park studying philosophy, he made his way back to Winnipeg and study philosophy for a year at Canadian Mennonite University.