In The Wee Hours Of CMW With Cam Carpenter

By Cam Carpenter

The night started early at The Dakota Tavern.

After a nice chat with local musician Del Cowsill at the bar, we saw Benjamin Dakota Rogers take the stage accompanied by a bowed upright bass. It was an intense and intimate set that had the audience totally engaged in the performance. 

He was followed by Slim Paul from France who started a cappella and then strapped on his electric and kicked into his swampy southern rock accompanied by drums and bass. Manager Emilie Delchambre was on hand and quick with the media kits.

Across the street, at The Painted Lady, I caught up with Tony Tarleton from Acronym Records. We were both there to see Compassion Machine, a the two-piece rock band from Victoria that is currently working with former Headstones drummer Dale Harrison.

Next up was The Rivoli for youngsters Moscow Apartment who are now working with Jeff Rogers as well as new agent Stefanie Purificati from APA. The set was over-the-top charming, which Yvonne Matsell said was like "being on the set of the movie Juno". Seen in the audience were Ralph James, Slammin Media's Bruce Bradley, the legendary Richard Flohil and The Launch's Fraser Hill.

The last stop of the evening was The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern where Montreal's Wolves At Midnight were tearing it up at, yes, midnight. 

No festival day is complete without street sightings, and earlier in the day I ran into Edmonton's Letters From Pluto who are performing Thursday at The Supermarket and caught up with Kyle Sullivan from Jerry Leger & The Situation who was showing German band Blackberries.