SOS Music Fest July 10th

On Sunday my friend Hurl and I went to the second annual SOS Music Festival (Sounds Of Old Strathcona) in Edmonton. This years festival was scaled back to just one day. Last year they had a bunch of bars on Whyte Avenue involved with bands playing all for three days, but this year just the one day street fest. They shut down Whyte Avenue (2 blocks off of it,anyways), which is the main strip in Edmonton from noon til 7pm.

Most of the bands playing this year I had never heard of, but for free, hell I'll check them out. The first band of the afternoon playing the main stage on 103 street was local band Scenic Route To Alaska. They are a three piece band that play a folk rock type of music. I thought they were quite good. The Fest was off to a good start, not a lot of people out to see them, but then the weather here has really sucked as of late, with lots of rain and overcast. So, I think people were tentative to come out. Overall, they were good.





On the quick run home to have a cold beer, we stopped to see Luke & Tess Pretty play on the smaller stage on 105th street. That didn't last long, as they were a couple of kids playing. Didn't really even give them a chance, damn we were thirsty after all. Who knows, maybe they will be the new White Stripes.



After a couple quick beers, it was back to the main stage to catch Vancouver duo The Pack A.D. This was my second time seeing them play live. Not really a fan of them, but they were probably the most recognizable name on the bill. For a duo, they sure are loud and rock out pretty good too. Still can't say I am a fan of them though. I will say though, that drummer Maya Miller can play the drums quite well and is entertaining with her between song banter.







Next stop was The Commie for a pint of beer before heading down to the 105th street stage to see Toronto band The Heartbroken. Again, a band I had never heard before but will be looking in to picking up some of their music real soon. They play a country/folk style of music, lead singer Damhnait Doyle has a very nice voice and easy on the eyes. Also some great song writing. I enjoyed their set. Watch for them as an up and coming Canadian band. Good stuff.







A quick jaunt home for another beer and off to see local rock band Wool On Wolves. They are a talented band of musicians that also put on a great show. Another band well worth looking in to.









After a few highballs at Hudsons, it was time to see Calgary band The Dudes play the main stage. I'm surprised I have never heard this band before as they have been around since 2006 from what I understand. They came out rocking reminding me a bit of an edgier Modest Mouse with a bit of Change Of Heart in them when they let it all rock out. I was really impressed with them. Probably my favorite band of the afternoon. Or maybe I was just getting a good buzz on. Don't matter, they rocked!!! By the time The Dudes hit the stage the sun was starting to come out finally and the street was starting to get busy.









We didn't hang around to catch the last act of the day who was a band called Wobble Wobble. That was enough for us. All and all a fun day of music and drinks, the weather cooperated, a decent turn out for the festival and good times!!! here is hoping they continue this festival. It is a great way to get introduced to a bunch of new bands.

SOS Fest 07/11/10

Sunday my friend Hurl and I checked out the all day free music on Whyte Ave. As this was the last day of the inaugural SOS Fest here in Edmonton. The SOS Fest (Sounds of Old Strathcona Music Festival) The festival ran from Friday July 9th to Sunday July 11th with over 120 mostly local bands playing 25 venues in the Whyte Avenue area. While I didn't get an all weekend pass, I wasn't going to miss the free music all day Sunday. Whyte Avenue was closed to traffic (103st to 105st) with bands playing from noon til 9pm. They had 2 stages going one on 103st and one on 105st which is right outside my doors, so no excuse not to go check it out.

The first band we caught of the day was The Swiftys who play a rocking country style of music, they were excellent and even did a Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash covers that were well done too. This is a band well worth looking into. I got a kick out of watching little kids, probably around 3 or 4 years of age dancing away right in front of the stage, quite cute.





The next band we saw were a blues band called Boogie Patrol who also were quite good. They had a great guitar player (Yuji Ihara) and the guy on vocals and harp (Rotten Dan The Bluesman) was excellent, a good up and coming blues band I am sure.



We then caught a bit of a band from Vancouver called The Fugitives. The played an interesting style of folk music, and I really liked the lady (Barbara Adler) who played the squeeze box, the whole band was good.





Next up was the Whitsundays who are from Edmonton and play a weird kind of psychedelic pop style of music. I thought they were quite good as well.







After Whitsundays it was time to head home and BBQ and have some beers. Now that we had a belly full of food and some drinks it was off to see headliners, Edmonton's psychedelic,electronic,dance rock/punk band Shout Out Out Out Out. This was my third time seeing them play live and once again they blew me away. This is a band you have to see live to really get it. Their albums are good, but nothing like seeing them play in concert, high energy, fucked up vocals, four bass players,two drummers, ahh such beautiful noise. By then the crowd had swelled and had the avenue full of people dancing and rocking out.











What an awesome way to spend a Sunday, live music all day,great bands,great weather, good people,close to home, well run. It's about time that Edmonton put on a festival like this promoting some of the great bands and musicians in this city. It was also nice to see them shout Whyte Avenue down for a day, wish they would do that for the Fringe Festival too. One small complaint I have is there was no merchandise booth selling CD's and t-shirts and such, I wanted to pick up a few albums by the bands I heard but wasn't able to. I guess I will have to check the record shops, small complaint, but I am sure there were a few people that would have bought some merch at the show after hearing a band they liked. All and all an really fun day. Here is hoping they do it again next summer. One more festival for the city of fests. Good job to everyone involved.

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