To quote East Stage Artistic Director Gillian Moranz, The South Country Fair is “like Christmas, New Years and all of your birthdays rolled into one.”
As a result the two main original live music venues the Slice and Owl Acoustic Lounge close so their staff, owners and most of their regulars can head west to Fort Macleod to take in the South Country Fair July 18-20.
There will be an array of live music ranging from the indie rock / folk of the Young Benjamins to rockabilly courtesy of Cousin Harley, Southern Alberta acts like Tin and the Toad and a lot of singer songwriters and familiar faces like the F Holes, Little Miss Higgins, Geoff Berner and Kris Demeanor, Bend Sinister and a lot more. Bend Sinister will also be playing the Slice on Tuesday, July 22.
You can get weekend camping passes or daily passes this year if you want to commute like I will be doing due to performing with Shakespeare In the Park’s summer production of A Twelfth Night at Galt Gardens, July 17 and 18.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t shows worth checking out around Lethbridge for non-folk fans.
Average Joes takes advantage of the South Country Fair weekend to bring in great classic rock.
This year they bring in the “Metal Queen” herself, Lee Aaron who will rock Average Joes, July 18 with local rock band Unzipped opening the show. She is sure to play her ’80s hits like “Metal Queen” and “What Cha Do To My Body” and maybe even some of the jazz she has been playing over the past few years.
Tickets cost $20. The show runs from 9-11 p.m.
If you like punk music, The Moose Hall pays host to the Hillbilly Punx tour, July 19 featuring Edmonton punk bands MSA , Abuse of Substance plus Taber's The Mangy Mutts and Bob Scallywag.
The show begins at 9 p.m. There is a $10 cover.
If you aren’t going to the fair but still love a little folk and country music, local songwriter Karen Romanchuk returns to the Mocha Cabana, July 18 and 19 from 6-9 p.m., while Hurtin’ plays country music at Casino Lethbridge those same days beginning at 8 p.m.
Jazz fans will be pleased to learn HBO3 (James Oldenburg, Paul Holden and Brad Brouwer) have a new regular weekly gig at Plum at 8:30 p.m., July 17 and every Thursday.
Oldenburg's Thursday night Cotton Blossom Lounge gig has been discontinued.
And don’t forget all of the open mics including the Friday night jam at Jimmy’s Pub and Brasserie, and Steve Keenan's bi-weekly blues jam at Honker’s.
The big summer dramatic productions continue this week.
Shakespeare In The Park‘s production of A Twelfth Night is at 7 p.m. on July 18 and 19 in Galt Gardns. There is no charge to attend.
New West Theatre and the Lethbridge Big Band's July production of The Ritz continues at the yates Theatre and the Drama Nutz bring their beloved take on Whose Line is It Anyway style improv to Inferno this Saturday. July 19. The show begins at 9 p.m. There is a five dollar cover.
