L.A. Beat

December is a time  for visiting old friends who come back for the Christmas holidays but it is also a time to think of new beginnings as the new year approaches and the old year ends.
 If you do have old friends or family coming to visit, there is plenty to do this week.

The week begins on a country/ roots note as the first Windy City Opry takes place at the Slice, Dec. 14.
 Shaela Miller will be organizing this regular showcase of touring  roots and folk artists, beginning with Eliza Doyle, formerly of the the Cracker Cats, and who was just in Lethbridge with the Dead South. She is now touring with her own band in support of her solo CD “It Ain’t What it Seems.”

The Windy City Opry also features Calgary musician Amy Nelson plus Saskatoon’s Rugged Little Thing beginning at 8 p.m., Dec. 14.
 Tickets will be on sale at the door for $10.

 Get ready to rock with One Bad Son, who return to Average Joes, Dec. 15.  They spent this year writing new material and are preparing to release a new single. One Bad Son have have had several big radio hits over the past few years including “Scarecrows,” “It Ain’t Right” “Retribution Blues” and most recently , a wild cover of the Talking Heads’ “ Psycho Killer.”
Advance tickets cost $20 or $25 on the day of the show. The show begins at 8 p.m.

 Enjoy a mellow night, Dec. 16 with Nanaimo singer songwriter Myc Sharratt and violinist/ bassist Anatol McGinnis, who play their first Lethbridge gig at the Slice. If you like the likes of John Mayer and Dave Matthews, you are sure to enjoy Sharratt. Local songwriter Kyle Bob is also playing that night.

 
If the Christmas season stresses you out, then get ready to burn off some of that anger with An Angry Christmas with local metal/ alternative rock bands the Supervoid, Trismegistus and No Devil Lived On. There is a $10 cover for the show.

If you want to laugh, former Lethbridge resident Mark McCue returns home to perform stand up comedy at  Casino Lethbridge, Dec. 15. The laughs begin at 9 p.m. with doors opening at 8 p.m.
 Casino Lethbridge features Calgary based  country rock band El Camino, Dec. 16 and 17.

And brush up on your Shakespeare and your Dickens  for Friday night, Dec. 16 as Dickens Meets Shakespeare at Casa.
 Beginning at 7 p.m, there will be a reading of a Christmas Carol folllowed by Shakesperean readings , sonnets and songs.There will also be Tudor and Victorian food.
“Shakespeare meets Dickens runs in the ATB Community Room at Casa at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 or $25 for two . They are available at Casa.