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One of the plusses of being an urbanite is the easy access I have to a host of activities that happen in downtown Calgary in the spring and summer.

On Sunday I walked to the Lilac Festival, an event that I attend every year and why not, it’s only 4 blocks away!

City life can be dangerous as in the case above. Some common criminal made off with the letter R and caused many a person to raise their brow!

City life can be dangerous as in the case above. Some common criminal made off with the letter R and caused many a person to raise their brow!

Um, I’m not in the market for one of those, but thanks to this sign on the way to the festival, I was totally ‘In The Know’  about its availability.

Yup, that's right. Spring has sprung in the land of ice and snow.

Yup, that’s right. Spring has sprung in the land of ice and snow.

Ahh… that’s more like it – the smell of those blossoms were intoxicating. I haven’t seen any lilacs yet this season, but this tree sufficed. I am ELATED that spring has found its way to Calgary and we’re almost at the festival!

4th Street is closed to traffic making room for all them pedestrians.

4th Street is closed to traffic making room for all them pedestrians.

It was a great day weather-wise for this festival, not too hot, not too cold. (18c degrees or as my American friends would say, 65f).  I was able to get my phone out of my front pocket to take pictures when I reached this opening in the crowd.

Just a moment earlier we were all pressed together like sardines in a can and I think somebody touched my bum!

I decided to keep my phone in my hand after this shot.

An awkward shot, but this is the only way I could get close to Los Morenos.

An awkward shot, but this is the only way I could get close to Los Morenos.

There is something seductive about Latin music. You can’t help but sway to the rhythm.

I was trying to get a candid shot of this space cadet, but he saw me and struck a pose.

I was trying to get a candid shot of this space cadet, but he saw me and struck a pose.

So much for my stealth and discretion. I guess I can cross International Spy off my list of ambitions!

The day before, I had made arrangements with my friend Adele, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, to meet on the corner of 4th Street and 23rd Ave at 4:30. Her nephew’s friends, members of the band Static Shift, were scheduled to play.

Brady Mitchell, Isaiah Stonehouse and Keone Friesen make up Static Shift.

Brady Mitchell, Isaiah Stonehouse and Keone Friesen make up Static Shift.

Adele’s sister, Ellen told me that they recently opened for Collin James – what a privilege that must have been for them.

And what a wickedly cool band.

They sound like Led Zeppelin with a twist of Blues. 


Their music took me back to when I was 16 and listening to records very much like the original music Static Shift played on Sunday.

Static Shift closed their set with a hauntingly beautiful tune which they dedicated to their previous drummer who tragically died in a horse-related accident. It was very moving and a great way to close The 2014 Lilac Festival.

One thing that I’m sure of is that these guys are gonna make it big!

You must check out their website here! 

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

So what did you do on the weekend?