It was a busy time at CKUA headquarters in Edmonton in October 2025, the final Sunday of the Fall Fundraiser. Staff, guests, volunteers, and musicians were in the Beresh Arts Den during the bluegrass hootenanny event.
Then host Tom Coxworth sent the word that Vic Close was on his way to the building with a special delivery. Close, who runs Fish Creek Concerts in Calgary, had passed the hat at the Kobo Town concert two days before, and collected more than $1000 for CKUA.
He arrived at the door and presented the donation (converted from a tip jar full of bills and coins into one cheque) to CKUA’s Senior Development Officer, David Fraser.
Close says the “pass the hat” moment was funny. “I mentioned from the stage that we were taking donations for CKUA, and that Fish Creek Concerts would match those donations. Well, it was like someone flipped a switch in the room. People were putting cash into the jar while they were looking straight at me. They were having fun with it. Everyone knew it was going to a good cause.”
It’s a remarkable moment of generosity in a music landscape that has a strong tradition of supporting CKUA. It goes beyond running ads on the CKUA airwaves—which many of the clubs do.
Coxworth says, “These clubs are connected to CKUA. We make sure the people know about the music and come out for the shows. And they put on these great seasons of live music. We all support each other.”
Coxworth knows that the musicians benefit, too. “It’s good for the artists to go to all these locations. CKUA has a lot to do with that. The folk clubs have done well in Alberta because of the great festival scene, but also because of having radio hosts who share that music. An artist can plan dates in the province in places like Drumheller and Grande Prairie and Fort Macleod. They get hundreds of people.”
The power of the folk club community can also be seen in an “all’s well that ends well” story that unfolded this past February. Old Man Luedecke, AKA Chris Luedecke, was in Edmonton for a performance at the New Moon Folk Club. Word came through just before sound check that the windows of his car had been smashed by a thief who took his gear, including his musical instruments.
Almost immediately, other instruments were found for his use. Coxworth laughs that by the time the concert happened, people were throwing banjos onto the stage.
Eventually the original instruments were found, but in the meantime, the crowd at the New Moon Folk Club had passed the hat to cover his expenses and support him in a difficult situation. Later, Luedecke asked whether he could come on the CKUA airwaves, during Folk Routes, to thank the community.
One of the people who helped arrange substitute instruments for Luedecke was Bill Werthmann, who, along with his wife Betty jo, runs Edmonton’s Northern Lights Folk Club. What started as a house concert series 28 years ago has grown into a vibrant folk club that hosts a full season of concerts at the Parkview Community Hall. Even through COVID and other challenges, says Werthmann, “We have found ways to keep going.”
Like Coxworth, Werthmann uses the word “gathering” to describe what is at the core of the folk club scene, and he sees that way that audiences appreciate CKUA’s role in sharing and promoting the artists and the music that will be heard.
“We start the second set, after intermission, with announcements and thank yous,” he says. “When we thank our funders, people applaud, and then when we thank CKUA, people go crazy. We know our audience listens to CKUA. There’s a spirit of cooperation.”
“That’s what I expect from that club, from all the clubs,” says Coxworth. “They all have the same heart.”
Werthmann mentions all the musical entities that make the folk scene strong in Alberta. “It’s the festivals, the folk clubs, the audience and CKUA,” he says. And he’s quick to add that the Alberta folk scene is unique. “Out-of-province performers always say that no other province has what we have. They are amazed at the coverage they get on CKUA.”
Says Close, “The bottom line is that people can hear the music we present on CKUA. Tom Coxworth and Andy Donnelly are key, but I hear this music from many of the announcers on CKUA. As long as it’s interesting music, they’ll play it.”
Folk Routes on Sunday, December 21 will include a special hour of programming for Vic Close and Fish Creek Concerts. Tune in from 11am to 1pm, or catch the show later OnDemand.
Thank you to all the folk clubs in Alberta. We appreciate your support of CKUA, and we know you deliver great live music, all around the province.
Park Power
