Music always plays a big part in Canada Day celebrations. This year as residents flock downtown to celebrate their national pride, programmers have added a few new twists.
Headlining the day’s events are metal band All Else Fails at the new Youth Music Showcase and Top 40 rock band 5AM at the evening Family Street Dance.
The biggest change is the Youth Showcase replacing the traditional Battle of the Bands says Nicole Deering, City of St. Albert community recreation coordinator.
“Youth didn’t necessarily want to battle each other. Through a meeting with Innovations Music, we took that to heart and tried to put the best product out there. After all, this is for youth and we want youth to come out,” Deering says.
In addition to All Else Fails, four bands will perform at St. Albert Place Plaza from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Booked through Innovations, Celery and Sidewalks is a St. Albert based teen band with a folk-pop flavour. Also on the bill is DRT, a classic rock local band. The Northmen swing toward a lighter indie rock, while Negation produces a heavier rock with crossover indie-punk-metal influences.
“All Else Fails is probably the only heavy band. They’re pure metal with very edgy guitars and screaming vocals,” says Stan Livingstone, Innovations booking agent.
At 7 p.m. 5AM takes over the scene with a five-piece band fronted by lead vocalist Martha Livingstone. Joining her on stage is Curtis LaBelle (piano-singer), Lauren Blench (percussion-singer), John Semple (drums) and Daniel Sedmack (bass).
“Curtis and I wanted to put something together for two years – something that makes people get up and dance,” Martha Livingstone says.
And throughout the day starting at 11 a.m. a family stage will be set up at Lions Park highlighting an eclectic array of entertainment.
One of the most popular acts is When Lovers Collide, the new moniker for the city’s favourite homegrown talent – the indie-rock-pop-fusion duo Jessy Mossop and Stephen Lecky. The duo finished recording a CD and plans to release it in the fall.
Also on the bill is folk artist Rebecca Lappa, winner of the Calgary Folk Festival songwriting competition, and country singer Olivia Wik, winner of Global Country Star Search.
The Vissia Sisters, who have made music for more than a decade from their Stony Plain base, will also be on hand along with Just So, an older traditional country band that sticks to singing covers from the biggies such as Johnny Cash.
In closing Deering adds, “Last year the front plaza was full and people brought their lawn chairs. People were dancing and bopping and having a great time.”
