Thanks to Youth Central and Kids Up Front, I had the wonderful opportunity of attending X-Fest Calgary with two complementary tickets for myself and a friend. X-Fest was AMAZING! Although it was my first time at the event and that most of the bands were totally new to me, I had a great time. It started at 11:30 a.m. and went all the way to 11 p.m. at night. However, there was also an afterparty held at The Back Alley which was included in the ticket.
There were several factors that contributed to the overall experience.
1. The Lineup
My friends and I all agreed that the lineup for X-Fest this year was awesome. This year, the bands set to rock the stage included Incubus, Silversun Pickups, Young the Giant, FUN., The Joy Formidable, Mutemath, The Pack AD, LP, and everyone’s favorite – LINKIN PARK. Unfortunately, Incubus wasn’t able to show up due to the lead singer having a throat infection but the band’s members still came on to rock out with the other bands.
I was especially astounded by the vocal range of the lead singer of LP, who held notes with a unique and powerful voice. I had never heard of this band before and it was easy to tell that several bands present at X-Fest had harnessed many new fans.
The musical tastes and styles at X-Fest were stellar and show a promising outlook for the future of our music industry, that much was easy to tell.
2. The Venue
The Venue for X-Fest at Fort Calgary was an awesome selection. It is extremely easy to get to from the C-Train station considering the ideal location. Not only that, it was close to a lot of downtown parkades which made parking and carpooling a simple situation.
3. Merchandise – Food, Apparel, and More!
If you brought money to the festival, you definitely would not have brought any of it back home. There were lots of things for sale; the main being food. The food trucks of Calgary did not disappoint and about 20 or so of them showed up to feed some hungry music lovers. Fries and Dolls, Fiasco Gelato, The Naaco Truck, The Noodle Bus, you name it, they were there! Not only was there food, but there were many shirts for sale, all featuring your favorite brands. My friend Seline got herself a white Linkin Park tee that boasted the band’s picture and tour dates on the back. I especially liked the Incubus shirts along with the other ones that featured unique colors and logos.
4. Security
The security aspect of the X-Fest was definitely something to applaud. There were more than enough security guards patrolling the grounds and making sure that people were following the rules and having a safe time. Since there were separate smoking and drinking areas at the festival, the security guards were essential in making sure that people did not smoke in unauthorized areas. It was extremely easy to find someone in a bright and yellow security t-shirt and ask them questions.
Some Points for Improvement?
The security checking at the entry of the gates was a bit too invasive… Considering that this is an outdoor festival and there are many people who like to limit their sun exposure, it sure was not convenient that all umbrellas were confiscated… Especially since it started hailing the size of golf balls later on in the day.
There was also a rule at X-Fest that there was to be no re-entry into the venue after you got in. I understand the reasons for making this rule but it definitely caused a lot of trouble in people’s schedules. Some just wanted to be there to see their favorite bands! Making this rule created the atmosphere for a lot of people that they were forced to stay in once they got in… It restricted some freedoms, especially for people who had an otherwise busy day.
In conclusion,
X-Fest is definitely a festival that the music lover in you will not want to miss in future years! The energy of the bands, the excitement of the crowd, the dancing, the jumping, the screaming, the mosh pit – it all makes for one memorable experience! And who knows? Maybe like my friend Andrea, you’ll also be that one person who jumps up and grabs the drumstick thrown into the crowd by the drummer of Silversun Pickups.
