It always seems that South Country Fair is plagued by unpleasant weather on the first day. It is also 
a given that the attendees don't seem to mind at all.
I was able to get to the Fort Macleod Fish and Games Park, Friday, July 19, in good time due to Macbeth being canceled due to weather.
While parking, I heard Ali Stuart belting out “Like it That Way,” her second place entry in the South Country Fair songwriting contest.
I was just in time for a gripping set from Leeroy Stagger and his hot band including Ryland Moranz, keyboardist Michael Ayotte, long time bassist Tyson Maiko and drummer Kyle Harmon.
The started off slow, with some newer songs but including favourites like “ I Want it All,.”
They explored their pop side more on a couple new songs like “Strange Attractor,” the single from their next CD. They also showed their love for punk music on “ Joe Strummer and Joey Ramone.”
I was really looking forward to Edmonton born, Salish B.C. based blues/jazz trio Blue Moon Marquee as it has been a while since I had seen them.
Guitarist/vocalist AW Cardinal, and bassist/drummer/ singer Jasmine Collette had added a keyboardist since I last saw them, which allowed them to further explore the worlds of jazz/ shuffle and gritty traditional blues.
They played a lot of new music from their brand new record “ Bare Knuckles and Brawn.”
A highlight was a song about rats, which i
sn’t on the new CD.
They played sweltering blues warming up a chilly and rainy night. As always, Cardinal growled out a gripping version of blues classic “St. James Infirmary.” While they were playing, aerial artists performed a variety of tricks hanging from a hoop, placed next to the stage.
Peter and the Wolves are always a lot of fun. Now they have expanded their lineup to include three back up singers, one of whom plays saxophone and another playing frontman Peter Cormier’s guitar, they are able to further explore vintage rock and roll sounds and for Cormier to focus on piano.
Cormier also played some rapid fire guitar solos, and playing it behind his head.
They were also in the mood
to try out new material, including highlight “Smoking in the kitchen,” though favourites like “ Hey Hey Veronica,” and “Jailbird Josephine,” were still highlights.
The rain started to fall as the last act of the night, Brooklyn, New York based Revel in Dimes closed off the night/
They looked like they stepped right out of the ’70s with their bassist/ harp player sported a massive afro. The lead singer shimmied and shook as she belted out soul and R and B music , which reminded me of Grace Potter.
they played a tight and funk fuelled set of high energy music that was off the hook.
Today will be pretty amazing as well. If you missed Revel in Dimes, they will be playing a workshop with bad Buddy and Jack Garton at 2:45 p.m..
Calgary songwriter Tom Phillips is sure to be a highlight at 6 p.m.
Curt Young and the Healers will supply some blues from Edmonton he also opens the east stage in a workshop with Tom Phillips, Mark Sadlier Brown and Abigail Lapelle, Jack Garton and Demon Squadron will be playing some rock and roll,. and get ready to move with Celtic rockers Captain Tractor, who close off the South Stage at 12:30 p.m.
The East Stage has a mostly local line up with Calgary’s Tara Warburton.
Rancho Deluxe will play their own brand of southern Alberta roots rock at2:30 followed by Dennis Boumann and Edmonton based rock/ soul surf quartet Bad Buddy closing things off at 5:35 p.m.
Saturday
line up
South stage:
Emcee Leeroy Stagger
11 a.m. Blackfoot Medicine Speaks Noon NLA Workshop with Lise Schultz
1 p.m. Sandra Lamouche Hoop dancing 1:30 p.m. Abigail Lapell
2:45: There’s A party Going on with Jack Garton, Bad Buddy , Revel in Dimes
4 p.m. Volunteer photo
4:30 p.m. Emcee Andrew Scott Ryland Moranz
5:45 : Slammers
6 p.m.: Tom Phillips
7:15: Curt Young and the Healers
8:30 Emcee Ryland Moranz Joshua Bebee first place winner
9:45 p.m.: Jack Garton and Demon Squadron
10:50 p.m. Circus act Insomniacs
12:30 Captain Tractor
East Stage
11 a.m. Emcee mark Sadlier Brown noon
Songs of Sage advice Tom Phillips, Mark Sadlier Brown, Curt Young, Abigail Lapelle
1:05:Tara Warburton
2:30 p.m. Rancho Deluxe
3:24 Dennis Boumann
4:30 emcee Gillian Moranz
Jozy
5:35 Bad Buddy
Lotus Land
9 a.m. Twin hearts Meditation and Super brain yoga with Kurt and Patti
10 a.m. 26 Foundational Yoga poses with Martha Affleck Tibetian bowl meditation
11 a.,m. Conscious Connected Breathwork with Giselle Gillard noon Demo Thai Cooking with Krit Niamjin
1 p.m. Songwriting workshop with Curt Young and the Healers at awareness tipi Ukulele workshop for beginniers with Andrew Scott
2 p.m. intro to hoop Dancing with sandra lamouche awareness tipi 3 p.m. Healing Energies and massage technique Mikka Corbeil
4 p.m. Psychic Sampler with Wendy Aikens 5 p.m. Adult Choir rehearsal with InCahoots 7 p.m. Adrienne Adams 8 p.m David Roberts 9 p.m. mel Vee
10 p.m. Lethbridge Independent Film Society Saturday Summer Spooks
Tickets are :weekend pass $116.94 advance,; Student Senior Weekend pass advance $105.86
General Saturday evening pass $60; Saturday afternoon pass $40; Sunday Afternoon pass $40
Saturday All day pass $75 Student senior Friday evening pass $60, Senior Student Evening pass Saturday $60 Student Senior Saturday afternoon pass $0 Student Senior Sunday afternoon pass $40 and Student Senior all day pass $70
