A lot of new bands are tapping into the spirit of guitar driven classic rock. Lethbridge features some of the best of them this week.
Kelowna’s the Wild and Vancouver’s One Bad Son return to Lethbridge to rock Bo Diddly’s, March 27. If you like classic rock along the lines of AC DC, you will love The Wild and One Bad Son are one solid rock band with plenty of big guitar and sing along choruses.
If you like progressive rock and experimental rock and organ along the lines of Deep Purple, Bend Sinister is right up your alley. They were a hit at the South Country Fair last year and sold out the Slice last year when they visited on a Wednesday. This time, they play a Thursday night at the Slice, March 26.
There is also a lot of comedy this week.
The Slice features the I’s the Bye Musical comedy tour, March 25. Tickets are $10. The Owl Acoustic Lounge features their always popular comedy open mic on March 25. Comedians of all stripes and styles are welcome to perform on their open mics on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. And Average Joes features stand up comedian Simon King with Noor Kidal, March 27.
The Lethbridge Folk Club welcomes the Ben Sures Trio to the Cave at Lethbridge College, April 28. The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for Folk Club members or $25 for non-members. Folk/ roots duo Joel Bryant and Pete Watson return to the Owl Acoustic Lounge, March 27 as well.
The Owl Acoustic Lounge features Brandon, Manitoba groovy rock band Until Red and Riley McKinnon, March 28. The Slice features Edmonton based husband and wife alternative rock duo I Am Machi featuring Jileane (Drums ) and Nathan (guitar) performing, March 28.
There is also jazz music with regular local gigs from HBO3 at Plum on Thursday, March 26, the Herb Hicks Jazz Quartet at the Mocha Cabana this weekend.
The Lethbridge Community Silver Band performs their annual Spring Concert, March 28 at CASA. The concert, called Conductor’s Choice, begins at 7:30 p.m.. Tickets are $15 for adults, Children 4 and under get in for free.
The other big jazz show is Friday at the University of Lethbridge Theatre where the U of L Jazz ensemble will be releasing a CD and performing their favourite big band classics.
They have just returned from New Orleans, the birthplace of Jazz.
"I guarantee this concert will satisfy your craving for the best of the best that Big Band jazz has to offer," said Dr. Josh Davies, Director in a press release.
"The group performs charts from greats that include Minnie Goodman, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Chick Corea, Stan Kenton, Dizzie Gillespie, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald."
"The group recently traveled to New Orleans to perform and work with seasoned jazz musicians and now we are eager to perform for our local audience," says Davies. The evening also mark the release of the ensemble's first CD entitled Critical Mass, which features repertoire from the 2014-2015 season. The CD will be available for purchase at the performance.
The U of L Jazz Ensemble performs an eclectic mix of repertoire of contemporary and vintage big band jazz music. The band consists primarily of music majors as well as other interested students from a variety of disciplines. Each year the band performs several times, both on and off campus and performs for school audiences and conducting workshops with school groups whenever and wherever possible.
Tickets for the Best of the Best Big Band Jazz Classics are available at the University Box Office or by calling (403) 329-2616. Tickets are $20 regular, $15
senior/alumni, $12 students. Tickets are also available online at ulethbridge.ca/tickets.
And University of Lethbridge based community radio station CKXU winds up their annual FUNdrive on Friday night, March 27 with a show featuring numerous local musicians tackling Prince covers. The last FUNdrive event of the season costs $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
A little further down the line, on Monday, March 30, if you like surf music with a touch of punk and some intergalactic killer robot influence, don’t miss Winnipeg surf punk trio the Thrashers who stop by the Owl Acoustic Lounge to support their brand new CD “ Robot Invaders From the Death Galaxy.” The Ruby Plumes are also on the bill.
