Today is Friday and to my luck, Sarah and Charlotte, The Command Sisters are on stage to kick off the BBRF. I have worked with the Commands before. They were the inaugural act in Season One of Summer Sessions in Stony. More about that later. Backed by local band Carter and the Capitals, they seem like they have been together for ever. They play a medley of their favorites, as well as their new single, Low Profile. As I said earlier, the event is comprised of fifty percent female performers this year and Friday is completely for the girls. See what I did there? The set is energetic and up tempo. The Commands are Spruce Grove originals, now based in Toronto but have been working the music scene from coast to coast, both on the north and south side of the 49th. The remainder of the main stage is very eclectic for the night with the unique sounds of Terra Lightfoot, Hannah Georgas and Serena Ryder.
Lightfoot is a very energetic show. She has lots of hair too and it flies around the stage as much as she does. She has a very busy summer playing across Canada and through the U.S. mid west with everyone from The Posies to Willie Nelson. Her latest disc is New Mistakes and the best of the tracks, complete with a video is Ruthless.
Georgas stands behind her keyboard, mostly with her head down but bopping along to her beat. The set is a mix of energy and reflection with music from what is a top-notch CD, For Evelyn named for her grandmother. For me the highlight here doesn’t happen on stage. I was behind stage later, talking with a gentleman I met in 2007 at another show. He represents a major label and as Georgas walks by, he excuses himself to go and meet up with her. I never asked later if something was up, but I wouldn’t be surprised. If so, you heard it here fist.
Ryder closes out the day on the main stage. The stage is packed with musicians but still a ton of room for Ryder to jump from side to side, wanting to connect with everyone in the audience. By now there are lights and dancing and people everywhere with an estimated 1700 in the park. The musician’s new EP, Electric Love, contains six songs that reveal this sentiment. Written and recorded over the course of three years in Nashville, Los Angeles, Toronto and London, the songs were culled from nearly 100 that Ryder has created since Harmony’s release. After she’d finished touring on that last effort, the singer left Toronto for Los Angeles, where she spent time riding her bicycle near the ocean and wandering through Venice. She was dealing with a bad breakup and wasn’t sure what to do next. Judging by what I saw, people love it.
The community stage or Jef Gibbs Stage (named after a now passed on, mega supporter or the BBRF) filled in the spots between sets. Artists on that stage included; singer/songwriter Keltie, Aurora Lenihan and Celeigh Cardinal. As a singer/songwriter, Keltie was alone on stage and it was early on. That didn’t stop those gathered form enjoying her unique tone. My favorite of the set was 4AM.
Lenihan is Edmonton based but her tour schedule might have you thinking she is a gypsy. She has played everywhere form the Far East to Australia, through Europe and even in Canada! Playing with a large band, she had selections form her debut album One Cold Foot and the soon to be released Sunday Girl. I apologize as I was not able to find any links for her music.
Cardinal is a ball of fire, WOW! This is a show that I need to catch more of. She was a great choice to close out the stage, but I bet if you watch close, she may soon be on the big stage here at BBRF. My favorite is Would You Be My Dog of her album Everything and Nothing At All. This is right up my alley.
My first day at BBRF did not have me singing the blues. That may be where the event started but to quote their website, they have been “presenting the Alberta capital region with the best in live Canadian blues, roots, folk, rockabilly and country music”.
Saturday was another day. Late out and early up. I apologize to Peter Puffin who I missed but heard great things. Puffin is entertaining for everyone, including the kidlets.