The Slice was packed as expected May 3 for this year’s South Country Fair
South Country Fair Songwriting Contest. The judges had their work cut out for th
em trying to choose the best songs to be performed on the South Stage during this year’s fair.
I only caught the emerging artists finalists who opened the show at 7 p.m.
There were a variety of different styles of music being played including straight ahead folk, acoustic funk from Nathan Kunkel, some bluegrass from Karen Amies Freeman, featuring Murray Nelson playing banjo, and accordionist Sarah Louise who played the winning song — the very catchy “ If I’m Unkind.”
Noel Bowman played ukulele on her song “Where the Water Runs Deep,” which placed second.
Dan Prairie’s catchy country tune “Crowsnest Highway” received and honourable mention as did Jenn Pellerin”s song “The Good Songs Never Die” which featured a tasteful solo form Paul Kype, which drew applause.
Emily Guthrie’s song “Gentle Stranger“ had minimal musical accompaniment from guitarist Evan Uschenko which let her voice take centre stage
There were a lot of people shushing the talkers during the show, which I found more distracting than the talkers themselves.
Unfortunately I missed the old pros category, however Curtis Glas’ “ Sink or Swim” won the category with Jon 
Martin’s “Can’t Go back” placing second.
Honourable mentions went to Chris Gheran’s “Marching Orders” and Michael Dunn and Kevin Simpson’s “Daisy— Small Town Dreamers” .
The line up for this year’s South Country Fair in Fort Macleod, July 18-20 includes a lot of familiar aces including Little Miss Higgins and the Winnipeg Five, plus the F-Holes, Vancouver jazz/ folk band High Society” who were a highlight last year weird jazz folk outfit Blackberry Wood, plus rockabilly trio Cousin Harley.
The fair will also feature accordion punk Geoff Berner, bluesman Declan O’ Donnovan, the Crooked Brothers, Calgary poet laureate Kris Demeanor, Edmonton jazz musician Jennie Thai Nolan, Linda McRae and many more including Tin and the Toad, who wound up the South Country Fair songwriting contest finals.
Most of the people stuck around for Tin and the Toad’s energetic set of heartfelt Southern Alberta inspired folk and roots music.
Their set was mostly music from their debut CD “Roots to Ramble On.”
The slower number “ Don't Borrow Trouble,” was an immediate highlight and got a couple two steppers on the floor. They picked up the pace on the always outstanding “Crossing Place.”
Throughout they displayed superb multi-part vocal harmonies and excellent musicianship.
