Last week, Mother Nature was in the middle of another one of her many hissy fits this year, which mades the the South Country Fair something for Lethbridge area music lovers to forward to even more than usual.
So the big event this week is the finals for the South Country Fair Songwriting Competition, May 3 at the Slice, where the official line up for the July 18-20 music lovers Mecca in Fort Macleod.
So far confirmed performers include Blackberry Wood, Little Miss Higgins and the F- Holes, Australian songwriter Kim Churchill, Montreal songwriter Ryan McNally, The Young Benjamins, Edmonton jazz/ folk singer Jenie Thai Nolan and the Crooked Brothers.
The songwriting competition is especially special about the fair.
There are two categories of finalists — emerging artists who have never released a professional CD and old pros who have. The winner of each category will play their song on the South stage on Friday and Saturday night of the this year’s fair.
This year’s emerging artists are Noel Bowman (Where the Water Runs Deep); Nathan Kunkel (Older); Caroline Freeman &; Murray Nelson (On the Rise); Emily Guthrie (Gentle Stranger); Sarah C. Louise (If I'm Unkind); Dan Prairie (Crowsnest Highway); Jenn Pellerin (The Good Songs Never Die) and Jayson Hood (Live Every Breath).
This year’s old pros are Leanne Copithorne (A Loving Heart); Chris Gheran (Marching Orders); Bryson Waind (The Way the Crow Flies); Jon Martin (Can't Go Back); Andrew Scott (The Median)
Curtis Glas (Sink or Swim); Gaven Moore (Tattered Old Blanket) and Michael Dunn, Kevin Simpson (Daisy - Small Town Dreamers)
The finals begin at 7 p.m. sharp so don’t be late. There is no cover to attend.
The Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra finishes their season this week as well.
The last Chamber Series concert of the season, featuring violist Ronelle Schaufele, is May 2 at the Southminster United Church.
The pieces feature Mark O’ Connor’s String Quartet No. 3 “ Old Time,” Aaron Copland’s Saturday night waltz, Ernest MacMillan’ “ Two Sketches for String Quartet” and Antonin Dvorak’s “String Quartet in E-flat major, Op.97. It is designed to showcase Canadian and American influences. tickets cost between $20 and $40
The last Lethbridge Symphony Masters Series IV concert, features violinist Eleanor Yu and takes place, Monday, May 5 at the Southminster United Church at 8 p.m.
Eleanor Yu is the 2013 Young Artist Competition winner. Eleanor Yu, along with the Lethbridge Suzuki Strings are the final concert of this season. They will be performing Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1, which is arguably his most famous composition. Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony finishes the program. The performance also features the Lethbridge Suzuki Strings.
Tickets cost between $20-$55.
There are a couple of local jazz shows this week as well.
James Oldenburg has his regular Thursday evening gig at the Cotton Blossom Lounge on My 1, and will be celebrating First Friday at the Slice, May 2 with HBO3 beginning at 5 p.m.
The Herb Hicks Jazz Quartet featuring Sheena Lawson returns to the Mocha Cabana May 2 and 3 as well. The Mocha Cabana has a special Cinquo De Mayo celebration, May 5 featuring Colin McGuiness and Murray Nelson.
The Owl Acoustic Lounge has a couple of interesting mid week events including a drink and draw for local artists on April 29.
The Owl also has their end of week comedy open mic on April 30 instead of the L.A. Beat open mic. This week they feature the talents of Randy Webb and Jeff Gundarson.
On the weekend they bring in Warspite, Alberta based songwriter Jake Ian and Wooden Horsemen on May 2 and a special Shelter Me In The Park Fundraiser featuring Wintercourt on May 3.
Wednesday has become the day for open mics with Bo Diddly’s moving theirs to Wednesday along with the Soundgarden’s open mic and, most weeks, the L.A. Beat open mic.
The Slice goes back to the ’50, May 2, after First Friday with a sock hop featuring Shaela Miller, The Palmers and the Ruby Plumes who will all be putting their own “twist” on ’50s classics.
And, last, but definitely not the least, of you are in the mood for some punk music, you should be at the Vent in Coaldale where Calgary punk veterans the Motherfuckers will be playing with local punks the Scallywags and the Dregs. They are touring in support of their latest CD “Relentless.”
