May ends and June begins with a lot of fun ranging from blues to comedy and a touch of metal.

 Garrett Mason, son of blues legend Dutch Mason stops by the Slice tonight. There is a $10 cover.

The Owl Acoustic Lounge’s usual open mic is also tonight (Tuesday,  May 30).

 It’s a good week for jazz and blues music.

James Oldenburg and Paul Holden return to  the Watertower Grill to play some jazz music on Wednesday, May 31 to send May away from 6-10 p.m. They also return to Streatside Eatery, Saturday, June 3  from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The other big event this week is also Wednesday, May 31 as the Lethbridge Jazz and blues society brings back the Sweet Inspiration Gospel Choir to Southminster United Church at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20.

Celtic Routes return to Theoretically Brewing’s patio to host a Celtic jam at 7 p.m. as they do most Thursdays.

 The rest of the week is a blend of country music and metal.

 The Red Hot Hayseeds out of May, May 31 at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, playing their  unique brand of western swing music.

 To help get you there, alternative rock band the Nix Dicksons  featuring  Taber born film maker  and  multi-instrumentalist Taner Jame Holthe return to Lethbridge to play Theoretically Brewing , Friday, June 2 at 7 p.m.  Admission is pay what you can. Ol Ben is also on the bill. The Lethbridge stop is part of a quick Alberta tour for the long standing alternative rock band.

Local favourite folk/ roots musician Tyson Ray Borsboom returns to the Duke on Friday, June 2.

DanAlie take the stage at a new venue, Blowers and Grafton on  June 2.

Starpainter decided to DIY when they decided to make their second full length album.

“ Rattlesnake Dream,” which is officially released Friday, June 2, just in time for an album release party, June 3 at the Owl Acoustic Lounge with Amy Nelson.

 The album is the local alt country folk rock band’s  first for Edmonton based record label Neon Moon Records.

“ They’ve been extremely beneficial for us for supporting us and for PR. They have a project management, which has been extremely helpful,” said Starpainter frontman Joel Stretch, noting he produced the album himself and recorded it at his home with bandmates— lead guitarist Joel Gray, bassist Colby Stolson and drummer Mickey Hayward.

 When they start playing live again, they will welcome new bassist Dylan Wagner to the fold as Stolson has been driving in from Edmonton to play with them.

 They are also joined by Bailey Kate and Tyler Stewart playing organ when they play live.

 Stretch played all the keyboard parts on the album himself as well as rhythm guitar and vocals.

 They had the luxury of taking more time to write and develop the songs because of Covid.

“ We recorded it at my home, and  we were able to meet in the same room because it was a little bit looser. We weren’t locked down,” he said.

“It was challenging. But we did lots of pre-production. We chipped away at them on weekends,” he said.

“Usually we like to road test the songs before we record them but weren’t able to do that this time, he said.

“ We did less road testing for this album but we took more time to work on areas of improvement . This album captures a more homey sound,” he continued, adding live he translates all the piano parts to guitar.

“ I like it when I go to a show and the band has a different sound than on the Cd,” he said.

Singer songwriter Matt Epp has  had a tough  couple years even before Covid, his marriage broke up, he lost his house and is living in a van, living the life of a modern day troubadour. He just released his latest album “Rolling Wave,” which he recorded with collaborators from afar. 

 He makes a long awaited return to Lethbridge to play the Owl Acoustic Lounge, May 26 with Jesse Northey and up and coming singer Nora Kotkas.

 In spite of all the tribulations he has faced, he accepted them and wrote the new album “ Rolling Waves” from a more optimistic point of view.

  Bassist Joel Couture sent Epp his bass parts from Winnipeg,  Kyle Crane contributed  drums from Los Angeles and jazz pianist Chris Andrew added piano from Edmonton.

“I really worked on layering guitars and vocals,” Epp said.

 It has been many years since he played Lethbridge, though he was in Lethbridge to visit family over Easter .

“ I got to check out the new Owl,” he said.

 He has released quite a few albums since he last played here. He released a collaboration with Ojibway artist Isaac Murdoch, “You Were Chosen to Be Here” in 2021, an album with Joel Couture,  “River of Tears” in 2019 and  “Shadowlands” in 2018.

“This album was a lot more fun to record. I felt the pressure was really lifted somehow after I had accepted all of the challenges that happened to me, with losing my house and my marriage and taking care of my daughter during during the pandemic, I took time for reflection ,” he said, adding he has been living and travelling in a Mercedes Sprinter van.

“‘I can stand up in it. It’s pretty comfortable,” he said.

 He recorded the new CD in a variety of places including in an old church on the shores of Lake Huron, one of his friends suggested and at Isaac Murdoch’s retreat centre.

 He said the new album reflects a more positive perspective, and all the tribulations  in his life didn’t inspire it.

“ The last three albums were about that,” he said.

The songs “Rolling ” are really  cheerful and upbeat.