Fall edition of the Calgary Music Collectors Show set for Oct. 21

By Troy Hasselman, October 15 2018 —

Too North Records’s Calgary Music Collectors Show is set for another edition of their twice-yearly record and memorabilia fair, taking place on Oct. 21 at the Acadia Recreation Complex.

Since its inception in the spring of 2009, the Calgary Music Collectors Show has grown into what Mark Corner, the event’s organizer, calls “the largest collection of vinyl in the Prairies.”

Photo courtesy Jak Revival

Boasting 60 vendors selling both new and vintage records from an eclectic mix of genres — the majority of vinyl comes from the vendors’ personal collections — the Calgary Music Collectors Show is a must-go event for anyone looking to bolster their vinyl collection, stumble upon rare records or discover new music.

“There’s a good chance you’re gonna see some really obscure titles,” Corner says.

The event serves as a good place to find records that are historically difficult to come by in Western Canada. Corner highlighted a vendor who will be selling part of his blues collection.

“The thing about the blues is it’s really hard to find across the Prairies because not much of it was brought in,” he says. “Back in the day, people weren’t really getting into it, so there’s not a lot of it around.”

Local acts are a highlight at the fair, with releases from legendary ‘60s Calgary psych-rock group 49th Parallel, ‘80s punk scenesters Riot .303 and Presence and Edmonton band The Modern Minds. Employees from local shops Recordland and Sloth Records will be on hand with their collections to add to the communal feel of the event.

Beyond records, there will also be memorabilia available at the show. Corner mentioned curiosities, particularly a KISS-themed board game. CDs, cassettes, turntables and band T-shirts will also be available.

Corner said the event is a good place to go for anyone looking to have some of their records appraised or sold.

“You can sell to the vendors or trade to the vendors, that’s totally cool. They really appreciate that,” Corner says. “If [attendees] have a couple of pieces in their collection they’re not sure about and they don’t believe what the internet says, they can bring them down.”

The Acadia Recreation Complex is on 90 Avenue SE, just off of Macleod Trail. It can be reached via a 10-minute walk from either the Heritage or Southland C-Train stations. Early admission for the event costs $10 and runs until 11 a.m. Regular admission costs $5 until 4 p.m. The lobby of the complex will be free to browse through with roughly a dozen vendors.

The Calgary Music Collectors Show begins at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 21. For more information on the show you can check them out out on Facebook or follow them on Instagram @yycmusicshow. Corner will also appear on CJSW at 2 p.m. on Oct. 18 to speak more about the show. For more information, go to Too North Records.