The Lethbridge Folk Club is excited to be back in action this summer with two big outdoor shows planned.
“It’s been a long time,” said Lethbridge Folk Club president Tom Moffatt, noting the last indoor show the Folk Club hosted was the Small Glories last February.
“But last summer we were doing curb-side concerts. We did that until September and after that the weather got a little iffy. I think there is a real pent up demand for live music,” he said, adding they are excited to bring back Winnipeg bluesman Big Dave McLean, to play the John Martin Recreational area in Pavan park (110-62 Ave North) Local bluesman Keith Catfish Woodrow will be opening the show at 1 p.m.
“ Dave was one of the guys we had to cancel because of Covid, so we’re excited to bring him back,” Moffatt said, adding tickets will be for sale at Casa.
As it is in an enclosed picnic area, tickets for the show are $35 for Lethbridge Folk Club members, $40 for non- members and $10 for students.
“ We weren’t sure about the regulations changing, so we planned two outdoor shows. Hopefully by September we‘ll be able to have indoor shows again.”
The other show will be a free folk festival happening Saturday, Aug. 14 from noon until 7 p.m. at Legacy Park, featuring three local bands and three out of town acts.
The Junkman’s Quire will be playing their unique blend of folk/ jazz/ blues and Scottish music, The Steve Keenan Band will be playing some blues music and Celtic Routes will be playing Celtic and roots music.
“She came highly recommended by people in the Revelstoke area. She plays folk music. She has a song about being drafted into the Vietnam war,” Moffatt said.
Edmonton folk and roots singer Scott Cook will also be performing. He is a familiar face for Folk Club audiences.
And Calgary‘s Travelling Mabels will also be performing.
“ Their music focuses on vocal harmonies like the Good Lovelies,” Moffatt described, adding the festival line up has been finalized unless one of the performers has to cancel.
“ We tried to limit travel distances for the performers just in case things change,” he said.
The festival is free as they aren’t allowed to sell tickets to an event in a public park.
“Luckily the city gave us an events grant which makes up for it,” Moffatt said.
“That’s a great space. It reminds me of the spaces the Calgary and Edmonton Folk Festivals use. So it will be interesting to see what will happen here in a few years,” he said , adding the folk festival will be free to attend.
“We’d have to put up a fence otherwise to control crowds. Big Dave McLean is playing in a picnic area which already has a fence and Outdoor gatherings are still restricted to 150. But we might be in Stage 3 by then which means no restrictions,” he said.
