University of Lethbridge based community radio station CKXU shares their love for records and music with you during their fourth annual CKXU Love and Records event in Galt Gardens, all day long, Sept. 13.
“First and foremost CKXU is all about celebrating the community and is it about the love of records and music,” said CKXU Love and Records project manager Curtis Goodman.
The day long event features a lot of Lethbridge based musicians including jazz trio HBO3, Young Medicine, alternative country bands Leeroy Stagger, Dave McCann and the Firehearts as well as Treeline and Shaela Miller, the Utilities and the Global Steel Drums performing in the Gardens.
There will also be a beer gardens and a variety of other attractions and records, did I mention lots of records.
“We have two extra hours this year so it starts at 11 a.m. and goes until 9 p.m.,” he said.
There are also outstanding Canadian acts like Edmonton's Shout Out Out Out Out who close off the evening at 9 p.m., heavier bands from Vancouver like The Invasives and War Baby, hip hop from Skratch Bastid from Toronto and Biblical from Toronto as well.
There are also bands like the Wet Secrets from Edmonton and two members of the Dudes – High Kicks and medieval themed metal band Outlaws of Ravenhurst from Calgary.
There will also be a rock after party at the Slice, a folk after party at the Owl Acoustic Lounge featuring Ben Everyman and Savk and an electronica after party at Studio 54.
“The goal is to have all of the after parties within walking distance,” Goodman said.
A blues after party at a venue to be announced will feature Lethbridge act Paul Kype and Texas Flood and the Marshall Lawrence Band from Edmonton.
Of course there will be lots and lots of record vendors coming from as far away as Kelowna and Vancouver.
Thanks to a $30,000 CRFC (Community Radio Fund of Canada) grant, Love and Records will be releasing a compilation CD of the mainstage acts which will be sent to NCRA community radio stations and possibly sold in stores.
The mainstage will also be simulcasted on CKXU and at least six and hopefully 10 community radio stations across Canada from Vancouver to St. John, New Brunswick.
“ It’s meant to present Lethbridge as a cultural hub of Alberta. Because we really have a lot of great live entertainment, music shops and music,” he said.
“It’s about celebrating love of music and records and people coming together over that. And of course it will increase CKXU's exposure,” Goodman said adding the Lethbridge arts scene creates a lot of economic benefits for the community.
“Look at Sled Island in Calgary. There's a lot of economic benefits from that,” he said adding one of the vendors from the 2012 Love and Records moved here the next year.
“ I’m just excited about everything,” Goodman said adding if this event goes well including the compilation and the live broadcast, CKXU would be eligible for a $100,000 grant to help them celebrate the fifth anniversary of Love and Records next year.
“We have a core of 20-25 volunteers. The planning starts right after the last festival ends. We meet every month and every week beginning in August, It’s so exciting to see people present every little achievement,” he said adding more volunteers will be needed for the event itself.
“We had 86 volunteers last year and will have at least that many this year,” he continued.
There is no cover for any of the events.
