It was a hot time in Fort Macleod July 17-19 for the South Country Fair in more ways than one. Not only was the music top notch, but the weather itself was sweltering.
Some of Saturday’s highlights included an excellent afternoon set in the East Stage of blues/rock/ reggae from local trio Treeline which had the crowd dancing in between dips in the river despite the heat. They were competing with an excellent set of almost operatic country from Calgary’s Woodpigeon.
Another East Stage highlight were the Screaming Jimmys who added a little rock n’ roll to a boiling afternoon.
Things got exciting at night.
Jenny Whiteley kicked things off with a hot band which played all of her country tinged songs off of her CDs “Hopetown” and “Dear” including my favourite song “Banjo Girl” off the latter.
Whiteley also dressed up in a nun’s habit and black wig to sing back up for one of the weirdest shows of the weekend— the Hank and Lily Show. Hank Pine, dressed like a cowboy from hell — metal masked and goggled like a character from the movie “the Road Warrior.”
Meanwhile Lily Faun, dressed like a deer replete with a pair of antlers in her blond hair, made her saw shriek and pounded out eerie rhythms on the drums which had the crowd chanting along as candies were pitched to them from the stage.
The B.C. based duo (plus a choir including Jenny Whiteley and the Secretaries) had the crowd cheering to their catchy country rock meets goth rock sound, which was related to their graphic novels.
The Shaela Miller Threesome, with a little help from Twilight Hotel’s David Quanbury got some of the biggest cheers of Saturday night with her songwriting contest winning song “Loving Me.”
Another unique act, Saturday night was Jah Youssouf and the Woodchoppers Association, who combined traditional African instruments with a modern, jazz/rock/ danceable beat which had the crowd on their feet.
The ethnic feel carried through to Sunday Afternoon, where Bomba— an amalgamation of Albertan based musicians joined together to lay down a Carribean/Latin beat which also had the crowd dancing.
Edmonton’s Secretaries were a huge highlight on Sunday. Their afternoon set of catchy garage rock and gorgeous three part harmonies immediately appealed to the crowd. They even had the “Brassholes” a trio of guys who supplied a horn section as well as some entertaining Supremes’ -style dance moves. And just as I was leaving Cam Penner (Also a highlight of an early morning workshop featuring Jenny Whiteley, Gordie Tentrees and host John Wort Hannam) was rocking the afternoon to a close with some energetic blues-infused roots rock.
And Sunday afternoon the Darby and Joan Club played a strong set of original pop/ folk music on the East Stage.
Some of the poets were really enjoyable on the main stage including “ Gina Dragpiper,”aka Brent Schaus who had the crowd dancing for an “11-second dance party” to his piping interspersed with his poetry. Other poets who were highlights included Lori D. Roadhouse and Mary Pinkoski.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
