Pikes, Prism and Tom, rock music in Taber, Alberta.

We started out with a visit to the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale. They have a sizable collection of eagles, hawks and falcons, plus geese and ducks that you are encouraged to feed.

There is something moody about the music of The Northern Pikes, originally from Saskatoon. They put out a great set.

They were followed by a venerable Canadian band from Kitchener, Helix. Brian Vollmer has pulled and guided this band through a slew of members and continues to sound great.

Then it was time for another great western band that has been a favourite for many years. Al Harlow and Prism had the crowd singing along with almost every song. We never get tired of Al asking everyone to stand as they play "the national anthem" which is of course is Space Ship Superstar.

The evening (and the whole festival) ended with Tom Cochrane and Red Rider. Tom is an ardent Canadian and makes no bones about it. We have seen Tom and Red Rider a few times over the years.

Tom is a great guitarist and songwriter. They performed one of his pieces, a cover of Leonard Cohen's Bird on a Wire. He mentioned that he first played and recorded it during the Symphony Sessions. Yes, we were there at that recording, Tom Cochrane and Red Rider in Concert with the Edmonton Symphony in the Jubilee Auditorium on March 17, 1989. And with Streetheart's Spider Sinnaeve on bass that night. Wonderful. We bought the LP from that concert and played it many times in the house on 189 Street.