Once you have had your fill of eggnog, topped off your tummy with turkey, stuffed yourself with stuffing and may even be a little fed up with family over Christmas, you are probably going to be ready to rock to some live music. Because even musicians come home for the holidays. They all come back 
eventually, no matter where they go.
There are a couple of great events this week. Tod Robinson and the Gleu will be playing their typical high energy set of piano and guitar based pop rock at the Slice for Boxing Day. Phillip Saucer is the special guest. There is a $10 cover.
For something slightly different and more ’90s flavoured, the Void celebrate Christmas a couple days late at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Dec. 27. If you want to show off your favourite ugly Christmas sweater, they will be playing again at the Slice of an Ugly Sweater party, Dec. 30 at the Slice with Calgary folk punk band Ghost Factory, local rock band the Mormon Girls and blues/ rock band JJ Thomas. Admission is $5 with ugly sweater and $10 without.
If you want to dance and sweat away those Christmas calories, Hippodrome will bring the funk and bring the noise at their annual late December show at the Slice on Dec. 28. Tickets are $10 .
There are also some pre-New Years folk and country gigs this week with Ben Mahoney playing the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Dec. 28 and Rancho Deluxe playing the Slice, Dec. 27. Also on the mellower side of the spectrum, the Bryant Watson Duo will be at Ric’s Grill.
If you are saving your energy and perhaps your liver for New Year’s Eve, there are a lot of options, Dec. 31, which falls on a Tuesday this week. Undefined will be rocking the blues at Jimmy’s Pub. For more psychedelic, funky rock, check out Cosmic Charley at the Owl Acoustic Lounge. Also in the rock vein, Queen of the Worms, featuring Tyler Bird on guitar and vocals will be at the Slice. There will be a $10 cover for the show.
The Bamboo Guppies will also be playing rock and roll at the The Italian Canadian Club the annual New Years Eve dinner and dance, Dec. 31. Doors open at 7 p.m., Dinner is at 8 p.m. and the Bamboo Guppies will be playing after that. Tickets are $35 each. Contact Vicky at (403) 381-7947 to reserve tickets. Another big dinner and dance night features the Chevelles who play the Coast Hotel. Dinner of rainbow sorbet and Beef tenderloin will begin at 6 p.m. as Cal Toth entertains with dinner music. The Chevelles will bring the house down after that. Tickets are $80. Call 403-320-0072 for more information and to get tickets.
For something with a little jazz, Casino Lethbridge features dinner and the New Year’s Eve Roaring ’20 party featuring the Westside Jazz Messengers. There will be a three course dinner, party favours and even showgirls. It begins at 6:30 p.m. Also for jazz music, Dana Honey plays the Mocha Cabana for New Year’s Eve.
The Mocha Cabana brings back Ian Hepher and D’arcy Kavanagh for the weekend.
The last Blue Ridge Country jam of the year also takes place at the Moose Hall, Dec. 28. It runs from 1-5 p.m.
Have a happy Christmas and a merry new year.
