There is a lot as usual going on in Lethbridge this week.
Tonight Toques and Beards host the open jam at the Slice. Plus, Salem Abraha from the Ben Brown Trio hosts the open mic tonight at Cudos 
Lounge, it will be the last time he will be on stage for a while as he is undergoing surgery.
Calgary based, Lethbridge born pop rockers the Nix Dicksons are back in Lethbridge to play the Owl, April 8.
There is also an excellent rockabilly/ psychobilly show this week as the Hellbound Hepcats come to the Slice, April 6 with the Phantom Creeps.
If you like country music, Breanne Urban and Southern Flyer, one of the finalists for the Canadian Country Weekend auditons finalists on this past Thursday, play Casino Lethbridge this weekend as well.
Hey Romeo along with another finalist Alyssa McQuaid, play Average Joes, April 9.
Lethbridge/ Elkford pop-rockers Sleeping With Tuesday also have a rare local gig, April 9 at the Slice. Autumn Portrait are also on the bill.
Fernie’s Shred Kelly also return for what is sure to be a fantastic show at the Tongue n Groove with Feast or Famine.
That is only a few of the great things happening this week.
Cindy Doire will be a highlight at the Slice this week, April 10 and the Magnificent 7s return to Lethbridge to rock the city bluegrass style, April 7 at the Slice.
Several battle of the bands wound down this week.
Several local acts move on to the finals of the Canadian Country Music Weekend after playing on Thursday, March 31.
The Smokin Pistols, Jessica Halvorsen, Breanne Urban & Southern Flyer and Charles Shade all move on to compete against Alyssa McQuaid, Karen Romanchuk and Shalisa Leisch during the finals on April 14. There is one slot open during the Canadian Country Music Weekend for the Lethbridge winners.
The first round of the Average Joes Open For The Bands contest ended March 31 with Dirt Road Dust, Indagruv and Seven Shades went head to head for a big prize package including an opening slot for a June 23 show at Average Joes featuring Dr. Hook.
The three bands made it tough on the judges including yours truly to come up with a decision. I’d love to have all three of them open for the show. But an outstanding set by Dirt Road Dust includiing outstanding covers of Kansas’ Dust In the Wind,’ one of their originals and a piano powered cover of the Rolling Stones’ ‘Sympathy For The Devil,” clinched it.
They stacked the audience with their enthusiastic fans who drowned out the band’s beautiful harmonies and an excellent harp solo on their original. The lead singer broke a string during the original but didn’t miss a beat or a note.
The crowd screamed for an encore but were denied. I’d rather they and the other competitors played all originals, but it was not the case. Throughout the competition they showed some superb variety.
An outstanding set by Seven Shades made it a tough race. They added a new drummer for this show, as oposed to the three members playing acoustically and singing excellent Byrds’ like vocal harmonies in their previous performances. The drummer brought everything together. They all plugged in and did a great job of, I think, all originals including a very cool, funky bass line during their last song.
Indagruv did another fantastic job. The charismatic frontman belted out Muddy Waters’ “Got my Mojo Working,’ like Muddy himself was on stage in spirit. The band played superbly tight thoughout their brief set which finished with an outstanding original ‘Up To Something Good.’ I was impressed, very impressed, but there can only be one and the judges chose Dirt Road Dust .
