Love and Records set for Galt Gardens

Music festival set for all day Saturday featuring new attractions

The seventh annual Love & Records Music Festival is ready to roll this Saturday at Galt Gardens.

The free, family-friendly festival is set to take place from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., presented by the CKXU Radio Society, a University of Lethbridge campus and community radio station in Lethbridge. This year’s festival includes many new attractions, as well as some popular ones from years past.

Every year, a dozen hours of live music is performed onstage by a variety of Canadian musicians. This year’s lineup includes two Polaris Prize nominees from Toronto: Cold Specks and Weaves. From Calgary, rockabilly act Peter & The Wolves and classic country artist Carter Felker will also entertain. Local musicians performing include Fox Eyes, J. Blissette and award-winner John Wort Hannam.

Attendees can expect a new central stage layout sponsored by South Country Fair. An All Candidates Forum will also take place at 11:50 a.m. on the main stage.

Love & Records will begin at 11 a.m. with a blessing and acknowledgement of Blackfoot Territory by Elder Connie Crop Eared Wolf.

Throughout the day there will be stilt walkers, roving unicorns, and performances by Kootenay-based acrobats the Circus Acts Insomniacs and local gymnasts from Gymfinity Aerials.

Traditional Cree Hoop dancer Maria Livingston will share the hoop dance along with an interactive demonstration at 5 p.m.

The Community and University Swing Bridge Dance Club will also be on hand to inspire folks to dance to Peter & the Wolves.

Music collectors will revel in the more than 50 vendors from across Western Canada, with vinyl records, CDs, 45s and tapes available to purchase. There will also be a number of artisans marketing their wares, food trucks, and a beer garden featuring product from locallyowned Coulee Brew Co.

The Servus Credit Union Family Fun Zone will feature a Bank Vault Mobile Escape Room, bouncy castle, inflatable balls, bubble blowing and face painting. There will also be an Enmax Moments Photo Booth in the park.

A Canada 150 Outdoor Art Gallery curated by Kristen Krein will explore what Canada means. Guest art installations — Calgary’s Caitlind r.c. Brown & Wayne Garrett of SOLAR FLARE and Saskatoon’s Lindsey Rewuski of GHOST HOUSE — curated by Jane Edmundson and Tyler Stewart as part of the SAAG’s “Into the Streets” public art series, will light up the evening festivities.

At the nearby Owl Acoustic Lounge, a “Tuneful Tangle” will take place from 1-3 p.m. featuring local musicians under the age of 18.

As part of the festival’s environmental initiatives, there will be no plastic water bottles available. Instead, the City of Lethbridge will offer water refill stations for those who bring their own bottle. Recycling and compost containers will be on site. Bike Bridge Cycling Association will offer bike racks throughout the park to encourage attendees to leave their cars at home.

For those that cannot attend the festival in-person at Galt Gardens, they can tune into the live broadcast on CKXU 88.3 FM and at www.ckxu.com featuring CKXU DJ’s starting at 11 a.m.

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