There is certainly a lot going on during Whoop up Days week.
If you aren’t into cowboys, midway rides and classic rock, perhaps check out a variety of female and non binary LGBQ artists and musicians performing for the second annual FLIPfest all over downtown, Aug. 24-26.
“It isn’t bigger this year. The biggest difference is we have headliners this year including Stephanie Kuze from Saskatoon and Lingua Franqua ( from Athens, Georgia), ” said one of the organizers Kristen Krein, noting there will be art and music in the Dr. Foster Penny Building as well as music at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Slice, Street Legal Records and SAAG.
They are welcoming musicians from all over Western Canada and even an act from Chicago.
Winnipeg visual artist Mahlet Cuff brings her exhibit “The Hair Diaries” to the Dr. Penny Foster building. It will be on display until Sept. 16.
“All of the art is through a lens of feminist, queer and non gender identity,” said co-organizer Mechaela Marr.
“ Flipfest is is the time where we celebrate women and non-binary artists,” Krein continued.
Thanks to support and grants from Heart of the City and LPIRG, and in kind donations from Coulee Brew and CKXU and Amnesty Lethbridge, admission is free to all events, though donations will be accepted.
“So we are able to pay people this year. We went a little over budget on music,” Krein said.
Some of the other highlights will be Kimmortal from Vancouver, metal band Witch Prophet from Toronto who will be playing at the Dr. Penny Foster Building and Mulligrub from Winnipeg, plus Hedks from Vancouver who finish a big rock and metal show at the Slice, Aug. 25.
Street Legal Records features brand new acts, Lolly Willowes and Ugly Cry Club.
There will also be plenty of local musicians as well.
“ Ugly Cry Club is from Amanda Bird from W.I.T.S and Mombod who actually formed for Flipfest last year,” said Krein who played FlIpfest with W.I.T.S last year.
“But I’m not doing that again I learned a lot — not to play at a festival you’re organizing because there is always something you forgot, like oh, I forgot to get a case of water,” she said.
“ I’m just excited to see everything,” Krein continued.
Marr noted organizers set the schedule to allow everybody to catch all the acts.“
But we probably won’t and I’ll be sad, but we’ll do our best. We’ll all come together at the beginning of the event and all come together at the end of the event for the headliners,” Marr said, adding the venues feature similar styles of music.
“The Owl is mostly a folk and country show, the Slice is more punk and metal, the SAAG will have mostly dream pop and electronic music. Even the artists have a performance aspect,” Marr summarized.
“Bobby Dove is coming to play country. Soft Curve are more pastel wave,” she continued, adding it is important for female and nn-binary artists have their own forum to perform.
“The music scene is still dominated by white males. Female artists don’t get the respect they should, she said.
“The best part is running into friends along the way to the other venues,” Krein said.
“The line up is just sick,” she said.
Calgary country/roots singer Amy Nelson winds up the event on Sunday at the SAAG for the FLIPFest market.
Friday, August 24
Street Legal Records:
7 PM - Lolly Willowes
8 PM - Ugly Cry Club
Owl Acoustic Lounge:
10 PM - HARSH
11 PM - MomBod
12 PM - Mulligrub
Saturday, August 25
The Slice:
9 PM - Chunder Buffet
10 PM - Slut Prophet
11 PM - Feminal Fluids
12 AM - HEDKS
Owl Acoustic Lounge:
8 PM - Riel
9 PM - Ground Sloth Orchestra
10 PM - Janette King
11 PM - Bobby Dove
Dr. James Foster Penny Building Art Gallery:
10 PM - Lingua Franqa
11 PM - Cartel Madras
12 AM - Kimmortal
1 AM - Witch Prophet
The Southern Alberta Art Gallery:
7 PM - Pollydactic
8 PM - Kellarissa
9 PM - soft cure
Sunday, August 26
FLIP Fest Maker Market at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (from 1-5 PM):
2 PM - Amy Nelson
