Lethbridge community radio station CKXU turns 40 this year, so they are celebrating the big 4-0 by sharing their first love — records and music, Sept. 15 in Galt Gardens.
“Love and Records” is a day long celebration of music, art and of course records in Galt Gardens, Sept. 15.
“We’re celebrating our fortieth anniversary of community radio in Lethbridge,” said CKXU board president Curtis Goodman.
The second annual event, put on by Lethbridge community radio station CKXU (88.3 FM) will be even bigger and better than last year.
“ There will be art, music , live music and records,” enthused Goodman.
There will also be the Taiko Drummers, raffles, lots of prizes and a 50-50 raffle.
“This event is specifically designed for music lovers,” he continued.
This year there will be 20 vendors selling records, CDs, cassettes, 8-Tracks — anything related to music. There will also be a beer gardens and live music to be announced including bands from Lethbridge, Edmonton and Calgary, though word has spread across the country.
“We had about 30 bands from as far away as Vancouver and Toronto contact us about playing this event,” Goodman said adding they wanted to focus on Alberta music this year.
In addition to all of the music, Lethbridge artist collective Trap\Door will be on hand displaying their works. Plus Lethbridge improv group the Drama Nutz will be performing as well. DJs will be performing in between all of the excitement.
They have received a lot of help from grants as well as companies like Big Rock and Wavetech Sound and Lighting as well as other university/ community radio stations like CJSW in Calgary who donated boxes of records for the sale.
“Our goal is to raise $5,000 this year,” he said adding he hopes to double last year’s total as well as draw twice as many people to the park.
“ We hope it will be bigger and better this year,” he continued. Last year, they had 13 vendors plus CKXU as well as three food vendors. This year they have 20 vendors signed up plus CKXU. This year, eight bands will be performing between 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The performing bands will be recorded and broadcast live on CKXU.
“It’s only our second year so hopefully it will keep on growing,” he said adding in five years they’d like to see vendors and performers from as far away as Vancouver and Toronto. This year through their SonicBids Page, they had requests from 135 bands to play at it including the Pernell Reichert Band.
He observed there is a resurgent interest in vinyl.
“There’s something very interactive to vinyl. With digital music you can have a playlist that goes on for miles. With vinyl you have to force yourself to get up and lift up the record to change the side. Records are completely interactive,” he said.
“We’re hoping for a big turnout. One thousand would be great,” he said adding they had 500 people last year.
“Within five years, we’d like this to be a major event which we start planning as soon as it ends. ” The Love and Records committee started planning this year’s event in January.
There will be an after party at the Slice hosted by Blueprint featuring more bands to be announced, to bring a celebration of music to a fitting close.
The line up of bands plying in Galt Gardens for the event is: 11:10 - Lethbridge community taiko association; 11:55 - clockwork towns; 12:40 - redrum triumph; 1:25 - j.am.ani duo; 2:10 - big jim; 2:55 - bonspiel; 3:40 - brenna lowrie band.
