CKXU’s fifth annual record fair was a hit, Sept. 12 All day long there was a diverse line up of entertainment going on at Galt Gardens including First Nations , lots of local talent, comedy, indie rock, rockabilly, folk and everything in between including a Mongolian throat singer performing in between acts.
The day opened with First Nations group The Soul Sister as local musician Steve Foord played in between sets. Local surf rock the Atomicos were on the bill followed by one of Steve Foord’s band dark country band The Dearly Departed.
I caught one of the loudest acts of the day— Calgary synth pop band 36? who put on a tight set of addictively catchy’80s influenced pop music.
After that another Calgary band, Divepool entertained the good sized crowd with ambient, indie rock and psyche rock. I was helping out in the CKXU volunteer kitchen so had to run back and forth in between that and bands after that.
I was pleased to catch some of local country band Hurtin’ featuring The Pezderic brothers, Shael and Keenan plus Taylor Ackerman, steel guitarist Ryan Dyck, Dustin Gergel holding down the beat on drums played a solid set of mostly original country music.
I was glad to see one one of my favourites on a big stage next.
Calgary rockabilly trio Peter and The Wolves, dressed in sharp suits and ties, played a wicked show at the Owl Acoustic Lounge earlier this year, and put on a great show on a bigger stage with addictively catchy ’50s style.
Children’s entertainer Fred Penner was the hit of the day, entertaining the biggest crowd of the festival with a set that transcended generations.
He raised his arms and conducted a crowd full of the very young to young at heart adults in rousing singalongs of favourites like the “Sandwich Song” and, of course, “The Cat Came Back,” which he turned into a medley of “Hit the Road Jack (Cat)’ , K-Os’ “Crabuckit” and for the ’60s generation “ Happy Together,” which pretty well summed up his set and Love & Records in general — a whole lot of cheery, folk infused happiness and plenty of good vibes and records to go around.
Most of the audience left after his set, which was a shame as they missed an extraordinary set of up tempo countrified folk rock from Scenic Route to Alaska.
The crowd came back to dance to the tour ending show from Fernie stoke folk band Shred Kelly as they grinned, smiled and jumped and they blasted through crowd favourites like “I Hate Work,” “Cabin Fever,” “Jewel of the North” and lots from their latest CD “Sing to the Night.”
Calgary rock band Cowpuncher finished off the night at Galt Gardens with a lot of energetic crowd favourites like “Acetaminophen,” “Hooscow” and lots from their upcoming album “Hustle.”
The fun wasn’t over yet as there were a couple of after parties happening at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, The Slice and Plum.
The Owl Acoustic Lounge featured laid back blues influenced rock with Crystal Beach based 
psychedelic free folk trio Supernatural Buffalo powered by a pair of acoustic guitars and drums. Over at the Slice, things were hopping with Calgary rock band Flowshine.
The bass playing stood out adding a whole lot of funk and groove. The keyboard added more of a vintage feel to their energetic sound.
They played a tight set as they usually do. They added a cover of the Beatles’ “Saw Her Standing There,” which emphasized to retro feel of their set. They also showed off their musical chops with a touch of harmonized guitar playing.
