Lethbridge is getting ready for the second edition of the Prairie Folk Tournament — three days of alt country, roots and blues from all over Canada playing at two different venues — the Slice and the Owl Acoustic Lounge, March 15- 17.
“ There’s no actual competition, though I guess there is some when the venues are split,” noted organizer Taylor Ackerman, who didn’t just want to do another folk festival.

“We’ve gone to two venues this year, the Owl and the Slice and we’ve added a third day. We wanted to start slow and build it up,” he said.

“The name is supposed to be pretty light hearted. It’s anti hippyish but also hippyish at the same time. ”
 A variety of different acts will be performing including Edmonton singer songwriter Alex Vissia, popular Calgary rollicking roots group Cowpuncher, Saskatoon’s Shuyler Jansen to B.A.  Johnston, who isn’t usually categorized as roots.

“His first two records are very rootsy,” Ackerman observed. There are also several popular local roots groups including Leeroy Stagger,  Shaela Miller and Treeline who will be debuting their new project, Red Rum Triumph and Lethbridge blues rock act Church who have since expanded to a trio.
 There are also new up and comers  including Niagara Falls born singer songwriter Bryson Waind and Tin and Toad, who are a Vulcan band featuring the brothers of the Skilletlikkers’ drummer.

It wasn’t difficult choosing the acts to play this year as Steve Foord booked the Owl’s acts as Ackerman said he knows how to handle the no cover events.
 The Owl features the Redhead reunion tour with Southern Saskatchewan born songwriter Megan Nash and Nova Scotian born songwriter Jenny MacDonald on March 15,  the Alex Vissia Band,  March 16 and B. A. Johnson, March 17.
“Having B.A. Johnston here is going to be exciting. His first two albums are pretty rootsy. There’s not as much of a slacker, punk, loser thing like Beck on them,” Ackerman said.
He is looking forward to seeing Leeroy Stagger.

“Matt Robinson is part of the band now and Leeroy just signed that big record deal ( on a new record label formed by  Danny Goldberg who has managed the likes of Warren Zevon, Steve Earle Nirvana and who has worked with  Led Zeppelin and Bruce Springsteen)” he said.
Over at the Slice,  Bryson Waind, Red Rum Triumph and Church play. There is a seven dollar cover in advance, $10 at the door for that show.

“Bryson Waind I met at a jam in Calgary. He just moved here from the Niagara Falls area. He’s a really nice singer-songwriter,” Ackerman said.
 The next day Tin and Toad, Treeline and Shaela Miller play. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
 Leeroy Stagger and his band, Shuyler Jansen and Cowpuncher finish things off at the Slice, March 17. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door for that. Or if you plan on catching several of them, three day passes cost $25 which guarantee you admission to the Slice shows.
“We hope we will get people to come out and hang out for the whole thing,” he continued.