U of L based community radio station CKXU held another  popular On the Record live stream show at Theoretically  Brewing, Aug. 14 with an impressive variety of music.

 I arrived in time to catch another reliably relaxing set of alt country/ electric folk music from Bailey Kate and her band. As always she showed off her beautifully mellow voice  framed by a bed of chiming, hypnotic electric guitars and subdued drums.

 I haven’t seen Makiisma for a while. They had a busy day, having performed at the Lethbridge Folk Festival before.

 It’s always great to hear her perform her haunting set of doom folk. As always she was backed by James Swinney on guitar.

 She played  a few songs from her CD Lady Misery as well as some new songs.

 I missed performances by Revanchist, Wares and Pope Joan.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor

 The Lethbridge Folk Club took over Legacy Park for a fine festival, Aug. 14.

 I only caught the last part of it.

I caught the last song from local act Celtic Routes. They had pretty vocal harmonies and a fabulous fiddle solo.

 The main act I wanted to catch was Edmonton singer/ songwriter Scott Cook, who sang a  soothing set full of songs of peace, love and understanding and one political number he noted was a tribute to working people,”Say Can You See” from his latest CD “Tangle of Souls.”

 His partner Pam May joined him on upright bass and harmony vocals.

 She donned a banjo to sing lead on one song and her upright again for another.

Cook’s set spanned all of his CDs including  “ Let Love Have Its Way,”another from his new CD “Tangle of Souls.” 

He opened with an older favourite “Pass it Along”

 He painted a word picture of a pastoral scene “Dogs and Kids, which he prefaced by joking all of his “white van driving” friends were getting married and having kids, after taking a “gateway drug” of owning a dog.

I had a couple other gigs to hit, so I only caught the first three songs from the Travling Mabels, who closed off the afternoon.

 The multi-instrumentalists started their set with  country classic “Delta Dawn” as they warmed up their voices and showed off  their vocal harmonization talents.

 The other two songs I caught were upbeat originals, which highlighted each singer and  their vocal harmonies. 

 Lana Floen played the first original, with her husband Keith Floen anchoring all the songs on keyboards. Eva Levseque, and Therry Lawson all got to sing their songs and add fantastic harmonies.

 I had to hit the next gig after “Mama” Mabel’s upbeat number “Con Man.”

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor

 Tyler Vanden Dool added a band for his Aug. 13 show at the Slice, which was full of his fans.

 His band included three keyboardists including TJ Waltho, who was hidden in the dark at the back of the stage .

 Having three keyboardists freed VandenDool up to sing and dance and occasionally strum an acoustic guitar.

 As usual his music had a strong ’80s synth pop feel along the lines of the Pet Shop Boys.

 He played a couple of brand new songs “I haven’t event recorded yet” including ‘Don’t Go.”

He also played several from his  CD “ the View From Here.”

 I missed Fawns and Calgary‘s Khillah Khills.

— By Richard Amery, L.A.Beat Editor

It was punk night at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Friday, Aug. 13.

 While I missed  Pomeranian Fight Club, It was great to see a reinvigorated Hockey Moms again.

 The local punk band played an intense, energetic  tight set of short, fast  original songs. They ended with ‘Day Drunk.’

Later on, Banff oi punk trio Regal Foul took the stage with more energy and plenty of gang vocals, with the drummer singing lead on several songs.

 They were reminiscent of the Offspring in a few places.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor