Edmonton & the joy of record shops

And so to Edmonton.

Not many mountains here - there are few straighter lines than the prairie horizon I'm tracking from my hotel window - but the downtown skyline still gives a dramatic backdrop to the festival site in Gallagher Park.

The music starts in earnest this evening, with the first batch of workshop sessions spread over six small stages. More on that later.

For now, let's celebrate the eternally welcoming sight of a decent record store, wherever in the world you happen to find it.

I've spent a pleasant couple of hours with the vinyl racks at Freecloud followed by a nice chat with owner Richard Liukko and visiting CKUA disc jockey Tom Coxworth, fresh from his emceeing duties in Canmore and now following up here. I got some good recommendations from Tom for the Folk Fest and, in return, encouraged him to make the acquaintance of Hiss Golden Messenger...

A nice chat and a very nice copy of an old Alice Coltrane record I haven't heard before. Result.

Now for the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Dave Swarbrick and many more...