Bif Naked home on Songs and Stories tour

Sherry McKay, CONTRIBUTOR
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Bif Naked on stage in Winnipeg at The Park Theatre holding her new memoir, I, Bificus.THE PROJECTOR/ Sherry Mckay

Bif Naked returned to her home away from home for her Songs and Stories tour. Only this time, she was in town to promote more than just her music.

“I frame all my memories in the book from here [Winnipeg] as positive and happy. I can’t look at it any other way,” said Bif about her memoir I, Bificus, which she read excerpts from during her performance at the Park Theatre on Nov. 9.

She said the memoir shares stories of her life experiences in Winnipeg’s punk scene and how the dark events blossomed a talent she might not have discovered otherwise. Her onstage reading revealed her journeys with adoption, battling cancer and her love for Winnipeg.

Bif, also known as Beth Torbert, grew up in The Pas with her adopted parents before moving to Winnipeg.
Although she was targeted by gangs and faced abusive situations in her youth, she said Winnipeg is like having a history of joy.

The sold out performance was filled with fans of all ages, and the theatre’s ambiance added to the intimacy of Bif’s performance.

The singer sported her signature jet-black hair as she told fans that her stage name, Bif, started from a nickname that a guy in her tenth grade class gave her because he couldn’t pronounce Beth.

Bif said if fans want to know where the second word of her stage name came from they’ll have to read the book.

“Stay positive and don’t get bogged down with negative thinking. It’s not a good place to be,” she encouraged fans.

Bif’s opening act and newest addition to the tour was Jordan Alexander. The two met when Bif launched I, Bificus in May 2016 at the bookstore Alexander worked at. Alexander told Bif that she was an aspiring singer songwriter and after listening to her music, Bif asked her to join the tour.

“The tour is honestly a fairytale. There is so much love and support,” said Alexander.