Upside Downtown concert series to activate Rotary Square every Thursday

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The Alllied Arts Council is excited to “activate” downtown with a new after work Thursday concert series.

Shaela Miller opens the Upside Downtown  Concert Series at Rotary Sqaure, Thursday, July 29. Photo by Richard Amery

Every Thursday through to September, Upside Downtown features local musicians playing on Rotary Square from 5-7 p.m. next to Casa, beginning this Thursday with Shaela Miller.

 

“I’m excited to help activate downtown,” said Allied Arts Council  communications director Kelaine Devine.

 

“ Musicians haven’t been able to play live for the past year. And these are some of my favourite musicians performing. Not only are they  great performers, but they give back to the community,” she continued, adding the Allied Arts Councils is working with the City of Lethbridge and received a grant to help fund this concert series.

 

“We’ve been planning this series for a long time. We were waiting for health restrictions to be lifted and to get a grant,” she said.

 

Up and coming funk band Lemba, who usually go by Lemba and the New Testaments performs next Thursday, Aug. 5, Dave McCann plays a solo show Aug. 12, Biloxi Parish is on the square, Aug. 19.

Singer songwriters Wendy Colby and Karen Romanchuk are on deck, Aug. 26, Bailey Kate plays Sept. 2 and Fawns and the Owl Acoustic Lounge owner Steven Foord  wind things down, Sept. 9.

 

Devine hopes  people will stop by Casa after work for the concerts and perhaps check out some of the art inside, and maybe stay downtown after the show to visit with friends.

 

“As an introvert, I know when I go home, I really  don’t have the energy to come back downtown later for a show. This way, people can come to the show after work then maybe stay and meet some friends downtown,” she said.

 

 Admission to the shows is free, there will be limited seating available and there will be a cash bar on hand if people want to whet their whistles.

She is especially excited the shows will be outside.

 

 She noted by 5 p.m. the sun will be behind Casa, so the temperature will be very comfortable. 

 

 I’ve lived in Europe and outdoor shows like this are quite common over there,” she observed, noting they will be outside as long as the weather holds. They will be moved inside Casa in case of rain.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor

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