Over the next 10 days, Capital Ex will be courting visitors with top-notch concerts, adrenalin pumping midway rides, stunning fireworks and tempting carnival food loaded with all the good stuff no one should be eating.
Northlands is command central where several hundred thousand visitors will jockey for many action-packed events such as Freestyle Motocross and BMX bike riders doing back flips 60 feet in the air.
Or check out the unpredictable and ever-popular President’s Choice SuperDogs for an afternoon of furry athleticism and gut-busting chuckles before stopping at Spirit of the Butterfly, an enclosure filled with 25,000 fluttering winged beauties from 15 countries.
Centre Stage plays host to the incredible Shangri-la Chinese Acrobats, the Royal Canadian Artillery Band and fantasy children’s artist Michel Lauziere. And then there are the rockin’ Telus Stage concerts with Colin James, George Canyon, April Wine, Hedley and of course Stereos with St. Albert vocalist Pat Kordyback.
Or chill out with good food and a few libations of premium tequila, Aussie Shiraz, Single Malt Scotch or microbrewery beer.
Capital Ex runs until Sunday, Aug. 1. Admission is $12 and ride-all-day passes are $45. Gates are open noon ‘til midnight. For detailed information log on to www.capitalex.ca.
For those who favour a more sedate pace, check out Taste of Edmonton running parallel to Capital Ex at Edmonton’s Winston Churchill Square.
More than 40 Edmonton restaurants are settling into the open-air square, cooking up a mosaic of dishes ranging from bison burgers, pork souvlaki and chicken tika to cheese empanadas, pad Thai and calamari. Not to mention the mouth-watering Leprechaun pie, coconut ice cream, strawberry cheesecake and chocolate slathered crepes.
For ticket costs and a complete menu that includes vegetarian, seafood, nuts and celiac approved dishes, go online to: www.eventsedmonton.ca.
Two vintage blues artists share the bill at Ammar’s Open Stage this coming Tuesday at LB’s Pub.
Barry Campbell, a disciple of the blues/reggae meld, has released his new album Ballad of a Ne’er Do Well and the word is it’s smokin’ hot. Recorded at Homestead Studios, the album draws on diverse influences such as Toots and the Maytalls, Freddy King, Bob Marley, Gov’t Mule, Peter Tosh and Magic Sam.
“I first caught Barry at the Castlerock Pub where he became a regular invite with his band. He plays a very soulful blues guitar style with a catchy bluesy-funk-reggae sound,” says host Mark Ammar.
Also on the bill is international recording artist Steve Withrow. Originally from Vancouver, the bass player, who works in the oil patch, has made northern Alberta home. In between long shifts and raising a family, the multi-instrumentalist has worked on several recording projects.
The open jam starts at 9 p.m. LB’s is at 23 Akins Drive. No cover charge.
