CKXU News

20Jun2024

CKXU at Sled Island 2024 Blog: Day 1

Sled Island 2024 has officially begun! Okay, really Sled Island kicked off Tuesday night at Commonwealth with the Sled Island kickoff party, featuring performances from DJ Dine and Dash, Malaika Hailey, Völur, Lost Decade, and Beta Boys. But I was not in town for that fabulous kick off show so I my Sled started at Dickens Pub Wednesday night at 8pm.

Walking into Dickens for another Sled was like returning home, if home was filled with 808 breakdown drops and an occasional spin kick. The spin kicks were only occasional, which was slightly disappointing but I assume people were saving their energy for the rest of the weekend. Yes, there were no bloody noses or bruised knees, the most damage I saw was from a spilt beer can that someone very slowly slipped on. However quickly into the show all eyes were drawn to the artists and away from fellow audience members.

Dickens Pub on 19/06/24

Photo by Kort Woycheshin, @flamesgrain on Instagram

9PM- SQUELCH

Squelch unceremoniously took the stage, as all opening acts must do. Squelch quickly showed us why they should have had a ceremony though. Immediately a count in is heard and the band rips into an intense chopped up rhythm played beyond breakneck speed which would continue for the next 20 minutes. The line defining where a song began and ended was purposefully unclear as is the case in many grindcore sets creating a very claustrophobic feeling to the music, where the only way out was back up through the Dickens staircase into the mild evening.

After a few minutes, the band seemed to all collectively take a drink of water then go right back at it again. Their endurance was nearly as menacing as their music. Somewhere along the way in the second half of their set one of their two front people announced that this would be their last set. The audience continued to listen with disappointed ears, but right as the band kicked into their next song one of the front people jumped off stage and grabbed two people by their shirt collars and threw them which caused the largest circle pit of the night so far.

Then came their last song and with it many hugs and looks shared, obviously the band meant a lot to the members of Squelch and this moment at Sled Island was the convergence of a lot of personal emotion. You can still listen to Squelch on their Bandcamp or follow them on instagram, who knows maybe their reunion gig will come sooner than we think, but I don’t think it will come sooner than we need it to.
Instagram @squelch.grind
Bandcamp squelchgrind.bandcamp.com

Squelch at Dickens Pub for Sled Island 2024

Photo by Kort Woycheshin, @flamesgrain on Instagram

10PM- FALSE BODY

After Squelch I needed a glass of water and wanted to debrief with Kort AKA @flamesgrain AKA CKXU’s photographer at Sled Island about the set, during our debrief I couldn’t help but hear a rhythm being frantically tapped/slapped on wa pracrtise pad. I looked behind the curtain for a second to see Justin, the drummer of False Body, just pounding out patterns while gently tapping his feet on the ground all together in harmony. It was then I realized I was not ready for the level of musicianship I was about to witness.

The band got on stage with a jet turbine decibel level of feedback, some seriously ear piercing stuff. They all took a quick glance at each other and without even taking a second to breathe they exploded into their first song, in that flurry of the first note the guitarist’s hat flew off beside his stacked Orange amplifier. He never even bothered to pick it up again probably because he knew better. False Body left me speechless. Moshing or moving at all really didn’t even cross my mind as my eyes danced between watching the drummer, guitarist, and bassist make such technical and emotional music.

The marriage between their technical abilities and emotions is what sets False Body apart, at every shows of theirs I have seen. Their vocalist is able to control a crowd so easily through her actions and commands, it is like a pitcher throwing a perfect game; simply beautiful to watch. However the engine of the band is their drummer, what a dummer. If I was floored by his warm up his performance was unlike anything I had ever seen. Maybe it is because I am in Calgary so the comparison comes easy but last night Justin from False Body was Bret Hart, the absolute excellence of execution behind the kit, wrapping the audience up in his patterns then making them submit with every breakdown.

The last moment I want to capture from their show was somewhere in the last few songs. In typical False Body fashion everyone was sweating out a complex grind-influenced riff where out of nowhere the bassist’s strap slipped off of his bass and nearly sent his gorgeous red burst Rickenbacker to the floor but in an instant he snatched the red body under his elbow. He held his heavy bass against himself as he put the song to bed, it just reinforced all of the supernatural ideas I have about False Body’s talents. Not even a gear malfunction could slow their energy down.

False Body came out with an EP a few months ago and it is amazing. Please check it out and if you’re in their hometown of Edmonton check out one of their gigs! They also play around the province so keep an eye on their socials for when you can catch them next.
Instagram @falsebodyhc
Bandcamp falsebody.bandcamp.com

False Body at Dickens Pub for Sled Island 2024

Photo by Kort Woycheshin, @flamesgrain on Instagram

11PM- Abrupt Decay

I should preface this portion of the blog by saying that this Abrupt Decay set was one of my most anticipated in the entire weekend of Sled Island. For those unaware Abrupt Decay has been a dominant force in Wild Rose Hardcore for over a year now, and with two EPs released and countless stages played (most recently joining Cel Damage on their Canadian Tour leg) it only makes sense for them to be prominently featured at Sled Island.

The hardest part about covering Abrupt Decay in a blog style post is describing their presence. There is such an aura of energy surrounding the band at any moment that it feels like the ceiling could come off of the venue at any point. As if their emotional expressions through their instruments is not enough of an outlet so all that remains is to send a conscious shock straight through the nervous system of each audience member to signal the upcoming Abrupt Decay set.

The set started and Calgary obviously wasn’t ready. Honestly I don’t even think I was ready and I have seen Abrupt Decay play numerous times now. There was a serious buzz in the audience that I could feel, people speculating about the pedals and turntable used by Gill to accompany the onslaught of analogue gear used by everyone, others wondering about what songs they will hear, I even heard someone ask if they should take their glasses off in fear of losing an eye in some mosh related disaster. Thankfully no disasters occurred, instead what people assumed to be a concert turned into an education in what Wild Rose Hardcore has become and what everyone has been missing out on if they have not attended any Abrupt Decay shows over the last two years.

The band played lots of new material which fully utilized their most recent member Gill’s 808s and effect pedals, Gill spent the entire set stressing the Dickens sound system to its breaking point. After each bass drop I fully expected the power to go out. The sheer sound produced on that stage was something to behold because fully understanding what notes were being played or lyrics were said would be futile. There just is not enough capacity in the human mind to fully digest an Abrupt Decay set in the moment. This goes double for when False Body joined Abrupt Decay to do their feature in the song Febrile Seizures, I am not one to pick highlights as the whole night is a highlight really, but that moment was incredibly special. Seeing the two bands join forces on stage to become a two headed monster, an absolute force to be reckoned with. If there was ever a split tape that needed to be made, it would have to be with Abrupt Decay and False Body.

However through the onslaught of an Abrupt Decay set I noticed how tight their drummer and bassist are with each other, it’s like they have been playing these songs for a decade together. I’m sure their recent run of shows has made everyone that much tighter in the band as a whole but for their rhythm section to be so cohesive, it just gives the band that much more of a platform to jump off of musically speaking.

The rest of my notes are just about how killer their new songs are, I am unsure of their song names but they announced a few of them throughout the set as “new ones”. They are so beyond what I expected from the band it was like they wrote the songs while visiting far away galaxies, they are not reinventing the wheel of math/metal/hardcore but rather pushing all of their genre tags to new creative heights. Heights I am not sure Wild Rose Hardcore and Alberta at large are ready for but getting this little taste of what is to come from Abrupt Decay is an amazing treat.

As quickly as it started it ended, such is the beauty of hardcore. What a first night and what a gig. A truly unique and fantastic show as is Sled Island’s trademark. Stay tuned to Abrupt Decay’s instagram as there is too much going in their favour at the moment for big things to not be on the horizon.

Instagram: @abruptdecayab
Bandcamp: abruptdecayab.bandcamp.com/

Abrupt Decay at Dickens Pub for Sled Island 2024

Photo by Kort Woycheshin, @flamesgrain on Instagram

Thank you to all the bands, event volunteers, and staff for putting on an amazing night! There is still more to come from Sled Island and you can read all about it here on CKXU.com!

6Jun2024

International Artists at Shambhala!

CKXU is proud to be apart of many music festivals, community events, and showcases. In this article, Jeremy covers the all-star cast of dancefloor commanders with some hailing from outside the Great White North playing the 2024 Shambhala Music Festival. Check out Jeremy’s previous write-up on the Canadian artists too!

The other week I wrote an article about a few of my favourite Canadian DJ acts playing the 2024 Shambhala Music Festival, and you should really give those artists a listen if you have the chance. It is no surprise that the 2024 Shambhala lineup is an all-star cast of dancefloor commanders with some hailing from the Great White North and many other international acts. Today I will be highlighting a few of my favourite International DJs playing The Farm in 2024, ranging from some ripping dubstep to classic UKG and even a little bit of techno to keep my warehouse dream alive.

El-B

The absolutely LEGENDARY El-B will be gracing us at Shambhala 2024 and if for whatever reason your knowledge of UKG, 2-Step, and DnB is lost somewhere over the Atlantic then please get familiar with El-B and his label Ghost Recordings. To fully contextualise El-B’s appearance at Shambhala we must go back a few decades to the early 2000s where the ground under urban dance music was in constant motion; trying to find its footing between the emerging movement of UKG and the sounds of the 90s rooted in Drum ‘n’ Bass music. It is in such a landscape that El-B and his Ghost Camp found themselves ready to revolutionise the UK dance scene by progressing the UKG sound with chopped RnB samples and live MCing- a tradition started during the DnB raves of the 90s. To have a UK dance floor tastemaker (in the truest sense) performing at Shambhala in 2024 is just as surprising as it is exciting, Shambhala giving El-B and the Ghost Recordings sound a platform is what sets the festival miles clear of any other North American festivals. What should a Shambhala goer expect from El-P’s set? Garage. Full stop. It will be an education in what UK ravers have been digging on for decades and a total blow out in terms of vibes. Due to the scope of these articles there is an importance placed on all highlighted artists but if I were to recommend one set to someone who lives and breathes a more North American bass-centric sound it would be what El-B will cook up at The Grove this year. Check out his Boiler Room set from a few years ago which celebrated 20 years of UKG, and his NTS appearance in 2015 is also phenomenal.

Ben UFO

Hessle Audio founder and dance floor demi-god Ben UFO will be performing at The Grove this year and honestly, I have no idea what to make of it. Ben UFO has been one of my favourite DJs for what feels like an eternity; his sets on The Lot Radio have been replayed by myself so many times that if they were a cassette the tape would resemble chewing gum more than a tape. But since The Grove stage this year is so varied between artists I am not sure what to expect, a techno set for the ages? Deep house cuts designed for mega sound systems? With Ben UFO there seem to be infinite possibilities and that further adds to the allure of whatever is to come of his unique style and placement within Shambhala. I for one hope for lots of love toward his own label Hessle Audio, the recent Olaf Dreijer EP is an absolute dance floor statement that needs to be played to the FARMily. Also released on Hessle Audio is the debut EP “Petals” by Jordan-based producer Toumba, an absolute must listen to project merging Jordanian sonics with amazing dance floor ready drums. While it is unknown if Ben UFO is truly extraterrestrial, his track selections are legitimately far out, from another distant galaxy not seen or heard by any equipment sourced from earth. Which makes it imperative that any Shambz goers this year check out his set for some of the most creative mixing EDM has to offer.

O’Flynn

London based DJ and Producer O’Flynn has been making quiet waves throughout EDM for years now, his most recent LP “Shimmer” was a collaboration with fellow contemporary Frasier Ray which is filled with burning bass drops across crunchy garage rhythms. I am hesitant to call it ‘Progressive Garage’ but it definitely feels like it brings a lot of elements found in Progressive House music and applies them to the current Garage sonic landscape, maybe UK Bass is more apt. The bass is enveloping to say the least. Another notable project O’Flynn has been a part of was Bonobo’s track Otomo which was released on the album Fragments, does this open the door to a potential b2b between Bonobo and O’Flynn as they will both be playing The Grove stage at Shambhala this year? We won’t know until we are at The Farm but the prospect of the joint set is hyping me up more than it maybe should. The final thing I would like to highlight from O’Flynn is his BBC Essential Mix from back in January, his selection is immaculate in the truest sense of the word. The way he is able to bounce from different EDM pallets is equally inspiring and intimidating, only because of the strict order he is able to keep things grooving along while not losing the spontaneity which is a requirement of all banging DJ sets. While the music O’Flynn produces leaves me at a loss for words I am not short on words praise for his work. Please do your homework on O’Flynn, the Essential Mix, his LP “Shimmer” with Fraiser Ray, or any number of the singles he has released in the past few months are all great places to start your dive into his work.

SICARIA

Continuing our London spotlight is up and coming Dubstep DJ and producer SICARIA. She graced the decks last year at Bass Coast and it is no wonder how she ended up invited to Shambhala as that set is equally eclectic and electric! From what I gather SICARIA has really started to find her footing in Dubstep and the greater EDM landscape over the last year or so, but her arrival has been closer to an explosion than a slow burn, and not just because of her nuclear track selections. Through her appearances at the aforementioned Bass Coast 2023 festival, a set for HOR Berlin in April 2023, and even a monster set with Skrillex, Flowdan (catch him at The Amp in 2024) among numerous others at Kindred Record Shop in London, she has put herself on the Bass map for 2024. She also released her first EP under the SICARIA name in 2023, with the remix tape coming up just this past March, both releases featuring incredibly forward thinking dubstep to be played without borders this summer. I am very excited to see her sound mesh with other Bass heavy DJs at Shambhala this year. I am far from knowledgeable about the intricacies of Dubstep as a whole and even more lost when trying to notice differences between the UK style and North American style, but just from the listening I have done for these articles I am thrilled to hear the Bass clash between SICARIA and say MYTHM or Excision. While those three artists are not even on the same stage during SMF 2024 the inclusion of those three distinct sounds totally lights my fire when planning who I will see at The Farm in 2024. Catch her at The Grove!

P Money X Whiney

This article would be a complete failure if I did not highlight anyone performing at The Village in 2024. DnB is sometimes lost on me but at The Village in 2022, when I last visited The Farm, I found myself in the half moshpit, half dancefloor vibe of The Village. I ate up every sample, every drop, every backspin, it was like being everywhere all at once at the same time; a vortex of high energy sounds burrowing deep in my ear canals only to be unlocked again upon returning to that same stage in the future. I think the act that will hold the key to my DnB heart this year at Shambhala will be P Money’s collaboration with Whiney. Appearing in the last 12 months as an item they have proceeded to burn down every set they have arrived at, and it is no surprise. Who would’ve known that putting an iron clad MC like P Money with a DnB monster, in this case Whiney, would create a DnB experience like no other. Check out this Shogun Sessions featuring the two of them performing mad tunes both old and new. Outside the club the duo released their first full-length project together at the tail end of 2023 titled “Streets, Love & Other Stuff” on Hospital Records. The title of the project is a perfect reflection of what P Money has been about for his entire career, a career which started on London’s infamous pirate radio stations and eventually grew to be a undeniable talent in Grime within the UK notably being on “Lord of the Mics 6” in the infamous clash with Big H. Utterly legendary. Do not sleep on this duo and do not sleep on The Village at Shambhala in 2024.

9May2024

Canadian Artists at Shambhala!

CKXU is proud to be apart of many music festivals, community events, and showcases. There is a great line-up of Canadian talent at Shambhala Music Festival this year. Check out Jeremy’s write-up on the Canadian artists at Shambhala to get yourself prepped for a good time!

Who to catch at Shambhala 2024: Canadian-artists only edition!

July is a wonderful month, and it’s not just because it’s the month in which World UFO Day is celebrated (July 2nd, mark your calendars). No, it’s because thousands of people flock to The Farm in the Salmo River Valley to take in the most extraordinary electronic music festival in Canada, Shambhala! Starting in 1998, the Shambhala Music Festival has grown into one of the most recognized and celebrated festivals in all of EDM music and in 2019 DJ Mag even named it the best festival in North America. In 2024, Shambhala is showing no signs of losing their crown, boasting a star-studded lineup featuring EDM favourites such as Chromeo, Excision, Dillion Francis, and Chris Lorenzo among many, many others. However with this blog post I will be focusing on a few of the many Canadian talents that are being showcased at The Farm this July. I don’t think you need me to explain how bodacious the Canadian headliners like the aforementioned Chromeo, and Excision are, so instead I will focus on the ‘third tier’ acts playing Shambhala. The artists and DJ’s that you may not notice after a glance at the poster before you arrive at The Farm but will be in constant rotation for the weeks after you leave. Here’s five Canadian artists you absolutely must check out when at The Farm this July 25th to 28th.

MYTHM

Hot off the release of his debut album “Mind of Madness”, Vancouver’s MYTHM offers up an experimental take on bass music. His songs feature off-kilter drums emphasising the unique bass drops and vibrant vocal samples that characterise “Mind of Madness” the young producer’s latest release. Incorporating influences from grime, garage, and trap, MYTHM proves to his audience that his ear supersedes any sort of genre tropes one would expect when unravelling a new bass album. There is no better example of this genre-bending than the track “Death Wish” featuring UK emcee Slowie, in which Slowie effortlessly flows overtop of some very crunchy percussion and an enveloping bass line. The music is aggressive and dirty, creating a breeding ground for what can only be one of the nastiest sets to grace The Amp stage this Shambhala. Check out this set MYTHM did for DEF. It’s a few years old now but you’re kidding yourself if the Skepta drop at ~11 minutes does not melt your face.

RUMPUS

Half producer, half drummer Rumpus is bringing his phenomenal style to Shambhala’s Fractal Forest stage this summer. When exploring Rumpus’s music for this write up I found myself thinking of his tunes separately from what I have watched happen at his live sets. So far in 2024, Rumpus has released 3 singles with a tech house flavour to them but all are bangers in their own right, specifically the collaborative track with Cazztek “Need Your Love”. The vocal samples chosen for these three releases in 2024 keep the energy very high, feeling hyper focused on making the dance floor, or in Shambhala’s case forest floor, combust with wiggling hips. Though the real beauty of Rumpus’s artistic vision comes into focus when watching a live set of his. Specifically his Sunday night set at Bass Coast 2023, Rumpus sets the vibe with some shimmering tech house cuts and slowly brings the energy higher and higher with each move from the DJ decks to his drum set. The percussive layers Rumpus is able to bring to each track with his added drumming is palpable and at points feels a little obvious, and makes you wonder aren’t more people doing this? Because Rumpus is one of a kind, that’s why! Be sure to catch him jump back and forth between his instruments at The Farm this year.

OAKK

Vancouver’s Oakk is a bass music producer and DJ who seems more interested in telling stories through his sets than playing you the flavour-of-the-month tracks you may be used to hearing at main festival stages. Oakk’s latest EP “Moving On” features a pensiveness to the music, a sort of understated, meditative quality that draws your ear to the melodies crafted instead of any raucous bass drop or bombastic feature. “True” is an absolute heater but even still is quite chilled out when compared to say MYTHM, this dynamic range is why Shambhala is such a captivating festival. I cannot think of many other festivals that would be able to showcase so many different artists playing so many different genres. It’s no wonder Oakk will be playing The Grove stage, which features so many different artists and styles in 2024 such as Ben UFO, Sicaria, and dBridge. Check out Oakk’s latest single “Sleep” where he teams up with the gorgeous voice of Dalilah to produce a fantastic melodic bass vibe to take us into summer!

Joanna Magik

Joanna Magik is a premiere tech house DJ from Calgary focusing on bringing a vibrant and empowering energy to her audience at all of her sets. Just last year in 2023 she was featured by 1001tracklists as the ‘future of dance’ and with her certified banger “Maneater” it’s no wonder she’s building so much steam in the press. Her recent collab with Techno Tupac, and fellow Calgary based producers Smalltown DJs has generated some deep dance floor vibes within the world of tech house. Joanna is also no stranger to Shambhala and the Salmo River Valley, she will be performing at the Fractal Forest for the third year in a row now. The one time TV presenter knows how to bring the vibe to Shambhala and her set this year is definitely not one to miss as she will set the vibe for all of the late night heavy hitters to try to exceed. This mix she did for DirtyBird Radio is definitely one to listen to in full, she brings a spooky, dark vibe to the house tunes on this one again showing her artistic diversity she’s able to bring to each set.

The Librarian

The Librarian AKA Andrea Graham is a co-founder of Bass Coast Music Festival hosted annually in Merritt, British Columbia and like Shambhala has become one of the great electronic music festivals in Canada hosted in a fantastic landscape of the Rocky Mountains. When not coordinating Bass Coast, The Librarian is busy playing nothing but total groovers on the decks for whoever is in her audience. In her sets nothing is off limits, quickly transitioning from exclusive remixes of mainstream favourites to muddy techno chopped with spastik drum breaks. Again she’s another DJ that seems to have found herself on a very diverse lineup for The Grove in 2024, I can only imagine what she has lined up for a stage that is hosting both James Blake and Nia Archives in the same weekend. If her 2023 Bass Coast set is anything to go by expect to dance yourself clean to anything from bassy rap cuts, 140 garage, and thick techno all flowing perfectly to inspire a dance floor high with motivation to dance.

It is important to keep in mind that there are many more Canadian acts performing at Shambhala this year that I do not have the word count to highlight such as Five Alarm Funk, Goopsteppa, and LUN among many others. For the full 2024 Shambhala lineup click here and keep an eye out for my other article coming soon on ckxu.com detailing the international artists I am most excited for at Shambhala this year!

26Apr2024

AUGH: not all prophecies, i.o

ALBUM U GOTTA HEAR: not all prophecies, i.o

Victoria’s most prolific percussive experimentalist i.o expands past established boundaries and warps grey matter with his ~213th release, “Not All Prophecies”.

i.o is a solo experimental punk project lead by Victoria, BC percussionist and composer Maxwell Patterson, releasing his first audio experience on Bandcamp in 2014. This much we know is true. Following this, the details start becoming hazy as i.o’s pounding percussion rips through the fabric of space and implants themselves directly into each listener’s central nervous system. Through his hours of experimental composition it becomes incredibly hard to describe the level of abstraction presented throughout Not All Prophecies, perhaps the best way to understand the music presented is through personal experience.

My first time catching i.o live was on June 25th, 2022, underneath a tent at about 3pm on the Theoretically Brewing patio on what may have been one of the hottest days of the year in Lethbridge. Loading sandbags and plate weights out of a van to rest against his tambourine/bass drum combo, i.o created a sweaty, cacophonous soundscape for the following 30 minutes. Angular guitars scraping against polyrhythmic blasting beats that sounded completely foreign yet strangely familiar and tribal. Like if i.o had gotten a hold of an anthropologist’s ceremonial field recordings that played traditional rhythms through a solid state amp and a highly tuned snare with no wires. For the crowd that braved the heat on that fine Pride Day they were treated to one of the finest improvised sets of experimental music that you could hear in Alberta. I had never seen anything like it before.

Not All Prophecies continues down the path created on that sauna of a patio in downtown Lethbridge. The album was recorded with zero overdubs, and the guitar passages were extracted from live sets between 2021 and 2023, keeping the live energy vital to punk music composition. The single “Paper Chord” has just enough melody in it to bring a throughline to the constant drum assault, expanding and evolving with each metric change. Providing a sort of harmony to bring the listener on the 38 minute journey of Not All Prophecies. The title track is 17 minutes of pure expression. Pure emotion. In the past i.o has had the potential to feel subhuman, pushing his compositions past what most would describe as experimental; this is not the case on this record. There is a vulnerability here. Sure, it is atonal and left of leftfield but there is a tangibility to the 4 tracks on this release, the tracks want to be chewed on and not merely exist as showcases of extraordinary talent.

Not All Prophecies releases on May 6th and i.o is headed on an extensive tour across Canada with fellow Victoria experimentalists Pet Retina this summer, stopping again in Lethbridge at Theoretically Brewing Co. on June 18th. There are many ‘miss-able’ touring acts playing this summer but i.o and Pet Retina are not such acts. Check out if they’re playing your area (they probably are) and drop out of life through the power of stacked cymbals and tambourine-clad bass drum strokes.

Pre-order “Not All Prophecies” here: https://ioiomusic.bandcamp.com/album/not-all-prophecies

Follow i.o on instagram: @102_i.o

Article written by Jeremy Collier, CKXU Music Director

18Apr2024

Volunteer Opportunity: Highway Cleanup!

Help CKXU fundraise $2,600.00 and volunteer for the annual HIGHWAY CLEANUP!

Every year, the CKXU Crew works together to help clean up the stretch of highway between Warner, AB and Milk River, AB. The Station receives $100.00 for each kilometre cleaned, and we need all the volunteer help possible to clean all 26 of our assigned kilometres to fundraise the total $2,600.00 amount. So grab a friend and sign-up for Highway Cleanup!

WHO: YOU and CKXU! <3
WHAT: Highway Cleanup Fundraiser
WHEN: Saturday May 4, 2024 from 7AM to 3PM
WHERE: Meet in the Canadian Tire SOUTH parking lot at 7AM

Supplies (gloves, high-vis vests, garbage bags, hand sanitizer) and snacks (oranges, granola bars, chips, juice, water, gummies) are provided. All volunteers also receive a free drink and pizza from Vesano Pizza and Theoretically Brewing Co. as a thank you for volunteering after the Cleanup!

PLEASE NOTE: Carpool is available to the Canadian Tire parking lot and out to Warner, AB! Please email Genna at [email protected] to confirm carpool details.

We are looking for two driver volunteers (gas reimbursement available) and at least 16 volunteers. Email Genna at [email protected] to sign-up to volunteer!

20Feb2024

CKXU’s BFF 50/50 Raffle!

Be one of CKXU’s BFFs!

Participate in our BFF 50/50 Raffle by purchasing a raffle ticket online! Only $10 each, every ticket purchased (includes 1 secret vinyl for your listening pleasure) gets you 1 entry into our 50/50 Raffle draw!

With 100 raffle tickets available, the draw winner could walk away with up to $500!

Please select from the dropdown menu to select your raffle ticket number. Tickets are sold on a first-come-first-serve basis, and are only available for sale online at CKXU.COM

GET YOUR RAFFLE TICKETS!

Raffle Ticket Sales Open: Saturday February 17, 2024 at 9:00AM MST
Raffle Ticket Sales Close: Sunday March 17, 2024 at 11:59PM MST
Raffle Draw Date: Monday March 18, 2024 at 3:00PM MST via an Instagram @ckxu_music

This is a licensed AGLC Raffle (Raffle License #680452) Participants must be 18+ in age and reside in Alberta. Valid photo ID will be required upon pickup to claim any prizes.

Have any questions about the BFF 50/50 Raffle? Please contact the Executive Director at [email protected]

1Feb2024

CKXU LOVES YOU: Hardcore Hearts Edition

CKXU 88.3 FM presents
CKXU LOVES YOU: Hardcore Hearts Edition!

Join the CKXU Crew on Saturday February 17, 2024 at Theoretically Brewing Co. (1263 2nd Ave S, Lethbridge, AB) for a night of hardcore tunes from the heart!

Featuring live performances from 4BPM, Cope, and Ol’ Ben this is a show you won’t want to miss! Doors open at 6PM, with music starting at 7PM.

Come decked in your very best Y2K looks, enjoy great local music, and help the Station raise funds for operational program costs!

PRESALE TICKETS - SOLD OUT!

CKXU manages and runs a variety of local programs and opportunities for local musicians, volunteers from both the campus and community, and listeners. This includes:

Offering services such as our For the Record radio program, local music mailout service or !earshot Digital Distro discount code
Supporting local arts and culture-based events and festivals via sponsorship, donation of services, or on-air advertising
Hosting and providing live performance opportunities for local events and festivals
Providing sound and music support for local markets, events, and conferences
Providing an on-air platform for individuals and organizations to share diverse perspectives, local experiences, and a collective love for local music and arts
Providing free advertising services to campus and student-run organizations and clubs
And so much more!

Every single ticket, merch, and raffle sale directly helps CKXU maintain these beloved campus and community programs, and gives CKXU the ability to continue to expand program impacts and reach. Help us continue to provide these important services and programs by attending CKXU Loves You, participating in our BFF 50/50 Raffle (launching February 17, 2024), and purchasing historic CKXU merch!

3Oct2023

Bubble Wrap-Up Party

Bubble Wrap-Up Party!

Saturday October 21, 2023
Owl Acoustic Lounge (606 3 Ave S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 0H4)
$10 Cover / Doors at 6:30PM / Music at 7:30PM

Featuring live performances from:

Pogboii (Lethbridge, AB)
lounge pop, r&b, synth pop

Midnite Gossip (Calgary, AB)
art-pop, indietronica, alternative

K-Riz & the Family (Calgary, AB)
hip hop, r&b, rap

Come celebrate another great year of FUNdrive with the CKXU Crew! Featuring a stellar lineup of local Albertan musicians, a CKXU Merch Table, 50/50 Raffle Tickets, and MORE this isn’t a night to miss!

Interested in pledging your donation to FUNdrive 2023: Bubblegum Broadcast??

Browse through our online Shop to check out the FIVE different FUNdrive 2023 Pledge Packs available this year! Up-for-grabs merch includes the highly sought after 2023/24 Friends Discount Card + Sticker, cozy embroidered toque, super soft heathered pink t-shirt, and zesty 1/4 zip pullover (also embroidered)!

Don’t forget – pre-pledging is open via CKXU.COM from September 15 onwards! It’s never been easier to get your hands on all that tasty FUNdrive merch!

VIA OUR WEBSITE
Visit CKXU.COM to pick which flavour of pledge pack best suits your taste – from there, you’re just a couple of clicks away from pledging your support to FUNdrive 2023!
VIA PHONE
Call 403-329-5189 from October 13 to 20 to set up your donation w/ our Phone Fairies!
VIA POSTER
Find one of our posters out in #YQL and scan the QR Code to instantly go to our website to pledge!

3Oct2023

Find the Record!

Find the Record!

Saturday October 14, 2023
Partner & Friends Business locations around Lethbridge, AB

Tune in to FIND THE RECORD on CKXU 88.3 FM from 2PM to 6PM on Saturday October 14, 2023 for another pop-up radio day! The CKXU Crew will be stationed at 1 of 4 different locations around town every hour – so tune in and see if you can solve our hints and follow the rhymes to each location, all while enjoying a selection of local DJ sets in-between hints!

Everyone who finds the CKXU Crew gets a limited edition For the Record vinyl sticker AND 1 entry into our FIND THE RECORD grand prize draw! The prize draw will take place on Sunday October 15, 2023 and the winner will be announced via CKXU’s website!

Interested in pledging your donation to FUNdrive 2023: Bubblegum Broadcast??

Don’t forget – pre-pledging is open via CKXU.COM from September 15 onwards! It’s never been easier to get your hands on all that tasty FUNdrive merch!

VIA OUR WEBSITE
Visit CKXU.COM to pick which flavour of pledge pack best suits your taste – from there, you’re just a couple of clicks away from pledging your support to FUNdrive 2023!
VIA PHONE
Call 403-329-5189 from October 13 to 20 to set up your donation w/ our Phone Fairies!
VIA POSTER
Find one of our posters out in #YQL and scan the QR Code to instantly go to our website to pledge!

3Oct2023

Double Bubble 50/50 Raffle

Double Bubble 50/50 Raffle

Raffle Ticket sales open Friday October 6, 2023 @ 9AM on CKXU.COM and close Saturday October 21, 2023 @ 8PM

Draw Date: Saturday October 21, 2023 @ 9PM In-Person at the FUNdrive 2023: Bubble Wrap-Up Party!

CKXU’s FUNdrive 2023: Bubblegum Broadcast is starting off with a pop! Participate in our Double Bubble 50/50 Raffle by purchasing a raffle ticket online! Only $10 each, every ticket purchased gets you 1 entry into our 50/50 Raffle draw AND 1 secret vinyl for your listening pleasure! With 200 raffle tickets available, the draw winner could walk away with up to $1,000!

BUY YOUR 50/50 RAFFLE TICKETS ONLINE NOW!

This is a licensed AGLC Raffle (Raffle License #657595) Participants must be 18+ in age and reside in Alberta. Valid photo ID will be required upon pickup to claim prize money.

Interested in pledging your donation to FUNdrive 2023: Bubblegum Broadcast??

Don’t forget – pre-pledging is open via CKXU.COM from September 15 onwards! It’s never been easier to get your hands on all that tasty FUNdrive merch!

VIA OUR WEBSITE
Visit CKXU.COM to pick which flavour of pledge pack best suits your taste – from there, you’re just a couple of clicks away from pledging your support to FUNdrive 2023!
VIA PHONE
Call 403-329-5189 from October 13 to 20 to set up your donation w/ our Phone Fairies!
VIA POSTER
Find one of our posters out in #YQL and scan the QR Code to instantly go to our website to pledge!

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CKXU News

Dickens Pub on 19/06/24

Squelch at Dickens Pub for Sled Island 2024

False Body at Dickens Pub for Sled Island 2024

Abrupt Decay at Dickens Pub for Sled Island 2024

ALBUM U GOTTA HEAR: not all prophecies, i.o

Victoria’s most prolific percussive experimentalist i.o expands past established boundaries and warps grey matter with his ~213th release, “Not All Prophecies”.

We are looking for two driver volunteers (gas reimbursement available) and at least 16 volunteers. Email Genna at [email protected] to sign-up to volunteer!

Be one of CKXU’s BFFs!

CKXU 88.3 FM presents CKXU LOVES YOU: Hardcore Hearts Edition!

CKXU manages and runs a variety of local programs and opportunities for local musicians, volunteers from both the campus and community, and listeners. This includes:

Bubble Wrap-Up Party!

Interested in pledging your donation to FUNdrive 2023: Bubblegum Broadcast??

Find the Record!

Interested in pledging your donation to FUNdrive 2023: Bubblegum Broadcast??

Double Bubble 50/50 Raffle

This is a licensed AGLC Raffle (Raffle License #657595) Participants must be 18+ in age and reside in Alberta. Valid photo ID will be required upon pickup to claim prize money.

Interested in pledging your donation to FUNdrive 2023: Bubblegum Broadcast??

CKXU 88.3 FM presents
CKXU LOVES YOU: Hardcore Hearts Edition!