If you want live music, then you’ve got it this week. In addition to venues re-opening, The Lethbridge Shakespeare Performance Society opens their season of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, July 9 at Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens and there are also three different music festivals happening this weekend.
But before that there are open mics every day of the week to check out.
The Coco Vanilla Galactic Cantina, who have one of the festivals this weekend, have started a new Monday night open mic, which begins tonight, Monday, July 5 at 8 p.m.
Gabe Thaine’s monthly High Level Variety show returns to the Slice, Tuesday, July 6.
The Owl Acoustic Lounge’s Tuesday night open mic returns this week.
The Slice has claimed Thursday nights for their open mics, While Honker’s Pub stakes claim to Friday night and Saturday afternoon beginning at 4 p.m..
The Coco Vanilla Galactic Cantina has a Sunday afternoon Family jam beginning at 4 p.m. as well
The Owl Acoustic Lounge has a couple excellent shows. They feature a a songwriter’s showcase with Richard Inman, Marcus Sommer and Malcolm McLean from 8-10 p.m. on Thursday, July 8.
The Owl Acoustic Lounge is taking full advantage of nice weather and their spacious patio by adding live music.
Makiisma and Corduruoy Brown aka Megan Brown and James Swinney are on deck, Friday, July 9. at 6:30 p.m.. Things get a little funky inside as Adequate hold their CD release party beginning around 9:30 p.m. Admission is by donation.
The Owl Acoustic Lounge goes punk on Saturday, July 10 with Calgary punks The Moröns’ CD release party for their CD “ Today’s Special” The show begins at 9 p.m. with Amor Fati followed by local punk pop band Session at 10 p.m. , Total Wolf at 11 and Calgary punk band the Moröns winding things up at midnight. Admission is by donation.
The Slice rocks for the weekend with The Suit Jacket Society and Red Deer alt pop musician Rebecca Raabis playing at 9 p.m.
Lethbridge rock band Green Mind and Emily Rose take the Slice stage on Saturday, July 10 beginning at 9 p.m. There is a $10 cover for that show.
Down the street, local classic rock favourites the Chevelles break in the new stage at arcade bar the Place in the old Average Joes location on both July 9 and 10. Admission is free for that show.
Mike Dambra returns to Good Times for two shows, July 9 and 10 for 7 p.m.shows if you are in the mood to laugh.Tickets are $20.
The Owl Acoustic lounge also brings back their monthly comedy open mic on Wednesday, July 7.
There are three big mini music festivals happening as well.
Summer concert series Arts in the Park kicks off at Civic Park downtown.New West Theatres Kathy Zaborsky opens the afternoon at 1 p.m. followed by North Stone at 1 p.m. The Junkman’s Quire will be playing some jazz tinged folk and Celtic music at 2 p.m. The Little Lethbridge Opera Club sing at 3 p.m and bluesman Eric Braun closes the show at 3:15 p.m. Admission is free.
Blues fans will also want to check out the Lethbridge Folk Club presentation of Keith Catfish Woodrow and Winnipeg blues icon Big Dave McLean in Pavan park (110-62 Ave. North), Sunday, July 11 beginning at 1 p.m. admission is $40 for non-members, $35 members and $10 for seniors.
Street Wheelers Weekend begins on Friday with an informal cruise, a poker run beginning at Casino Lethbridge at 10 a.m., July 10, and a show and shine in Galt Gardens with the live music featuring Good Time Charlie at 11:30 a.m.
Street Wheeler Weekend also means live music on the main drag. So the Coco Vanilla Galactic Cantina in the old Backstreet South building brings on the Bridge City Brew and Music Festival.
The official line up hasn’t been announced, but there will be live music from 6 p.m.- 2 a.m. on July 9; on July 10 from 11 a.m.-2 a.m. and July 11 from noon - 9 p.m. Admission is by donation.
One of the bands performing is Dream Catcher, who are doing double duty on the weekend as they are also playing Honker’s Pub’s mini-music festival, July 10.
Honker’s Pub is giving back to the local music community who supported them throughout the pandemic,. by holding an outdoor music festival, July 10.
Holy Roller and the Roller Coaster begin the show at 4 p.m., followed by the Trippy Hippys at 4 p.m.; blues musician Steve Keenan at 6 p.m.; Coda lite at 7 p.m.,, Dream Catcher at 8 p.m., Driving while Blind at 9 .m. and The Mark Hall Band closing things off at 10 p.m. before everybody moves inside for an open jam. Admission is $10, which includes an entry into a draw for a Coors Banquet guitar.
— by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
