This weekend Galt Gardens was transformed into a music lover’s dream. People spent the day digging through vinyl while being serenaded by Canadian talent.
“Record shopping outdoors in a beautiful park, hearing live music, getting to discover new music in such a beautiful setting, that’s amazing,” Megan Nash, a performer, said. “I really love the idea.”
The event, which claims to be the largest outdoor record sale in Canada, has something for everybody.
“It’s great, it gets a ton of people out,” Kristin Poch, owner of the Beatnik Record Bus, said. “Different vendors and lots of different music, it gets people flipping through records.”
Love & Records was started six years ago as a record sale and has since grown into a music festival that’s a favourite for many locals. The event showcases both acts from Lethbridge and nationally recognized musicians.
“We draw from all across Canada and typically we try to get stuff that is accessible to everyone but also things they haven’t heard before,” Eric Sharp, stage manager, said.
The annual event is hosted by the campus radio station CKXU and comes from honest roots. It has been propelled by a growing community with a passion for music.
“It was a record fair, and then there were bands and then people decided that they could help out with vendors, and other people said they could help with sound gear,” performer Ryland Moranz, a veteran to the event, said. “It just really organically grew into one of the coolest festivals I’ve ever played.”
Although Lethbridge has recently lost live music venues, the success of Love & Records offers renewed hope for the local music scene.
“The community can come out, it accepts everybody,” performer Tyson Maiko said. “You’re going to see every genre of music represented here.”
For one day Love & Records allows Lethbians to back away from technology and experience firsthand the love of vinyl records and the enjoyment of live music.
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