This week is all about the Lethbridge Jazz and blues festival. There are a cornucopia of events happening for jazz and blues music fans.
The bigger events are ticketed events, but there are also several free events happening throughout the week, but mostly on the weekend, when things really start to cook.
While things officially began last weekend , June 9 with the Young Lions concert and Japanese born, New York based guitarist Nobuki Takamen performing at the Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens, the first big fun and free event is the jazz jam, which happens, June 13e at the Owl Acoustic Lounge.
The next big Lethbridge Jazz and Blues Festival event is the Sweet Inspiration Gospel concert at Southminster United Church featuring Anna McBryan. It begins at 7:30 p.m. on June 14 .
Tickets are $10.
The Festival is taking over the Enmax Centre Lounge, June 15 as the Lethbridge Big Band will lead the audience on a tour of big band music through the past 100 or so years. That show begins at 7:30p.m. Admission is $30.
A variety of Lethbridge Jazz and Blues Festival related shows happen on the weekend.
Several groups will be performing for the Food Truck Frenzy at the Enmax Centre, June 16. Performances from The Rocky Mountain Dixieland band, Calling All Princesses and Superheroes and the Sandwich Quartet will be playing free shows beginning at noon, June 16.
There will be suppertime jazz shows over the dinner hours on Friday at several local restaurants. There is no cover for those either.
And the first major concert of the festival features Alberta trumpet player Al Muirhead, who will be joined by special guests including Laila Biali and Vern Dorge at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre, June 16 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 for the show.
And have some Sandwich for afters at the Owl Acoustic lounge at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.
Saturday will be a big day for the Lethbridge Jazz and Blues Festival, June 17. beginning with the free Jazz At the Park in Galt Gardens at noon. Performers include Mwansa Mwansa, Sandwich, Papa King, Hippodrome and the Rooster Davis Group.
A variety of performers will be at various restaurants downtown for Supper Club jazz after that including Papa King and Darryl Düus playing Coulee Brew and pianist Randy Epp playing the Telegraph Taphouse
And Canadian blues rocker Colin James brings his band to the Enmax Centre, At 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $39.50 and up.
After that there are a couple of choices as well. Edmonton based New Orleans , piano powered jazz combo The Rooster Davis Group plays the Owl Acoustic Lounge at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. That concert will also be broadcasted live on CKXU 88.3 f.m.
Last, but not least, local blues favourite Papa King and his band play the Coyote Joes at 9:30 p.m. There is a $20 cover for that.
If you aren’t a jazz or blues fan, there are plenty of options this week.
The Windy City Opry hosts their regular monthly show at the Slice on Wednesday with Carter Felker and Calgary bluegrass/ folk/country band Rotary Park. that show starts early at 8 p.m. There is a $10 cover for it as usual.
The Owl will be a busy place this week.
On June 16, they are doing double duty. At 7:30 p.m., Kimberley MacGregor returns to Lethbridge with her behind the Grind tour featuring Levi Cuss, John Guliak, who played the Windy City Opry last month and Curtis Phagoo for a free, early show at 7:30, before clearing the stage for the Lethbridge Jazz and Blues festival’s Sandwich show at 9 p.m.
They are also doing double duty on Saturday with the Family Jam at 1:30 p.m. Rooster Davis Group will be on later for the Lethbridge Jazz and Blues Festival.
In the midst of all of that, Ottawa area indie rock band Hollerado return to the Slice for a late announced show, June 16 with pop punk band Little Junior and Everett Bird. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
The Slice continued to rock, June 17 as local alternative rock trio The Supervoid play with Calgary’s Mr. Tuesday. There is a five dollar cover for that show.
Local blues band Coda return to the stage, June 16 to play a free show at Coyote Joes.
Rock band DC Top return to Casino Lethbridge this weekend as well with shows on June 16 and 17 beginning at 8 p.m. each night.
On the more pop end of the spectrum, Club Didi features My Homo Highness: Queer inspirations beginning at 9 p.m. There is a $10 cover for that show.
Even Blueprint Records hosts a show on the weekend with synth pop/ alternative rock acts A Ant and An Atom, Birch Barks and classically trained vocalist and violinist Foonyap. The show is from 7-11 p.m., June 17.
If you just want to bang your head, the Smokehouse hosts another metal show on June 17 with From the Flame, The Phoenix Lights, Permanent Residents, Tank Town and local hard rock band To The Mountains.
The Smokehouse also hosts an early week show on June 12 with indie rock band Greyscale manor Chasing Illusions plus Jane Doe and Blazed Gringo and the Man. Admission is $10 for the show, which begins at 8 p.m.
The fun doesn’t end on the weekend as there are several early week shows happening.
Regina songwriter Jeffrey Straker plays a special pride week show at McKillop United Church in support of his new CD “Dirt Road Confessional”, June 19 at 7:30 p.m. There is a $15 cover for the event.
Both the Slice and Owl have Tuesday shows.
The Slice brings in Edmonton born, Vancouver based pop/ alternative rock band High Love, who were formerly known as Rend. they will be joined by Victoria band the Fortune Killers and local group Makiisma, aka local singer /songwriter/ violinist Megan Brown’s new band..
Down the street, the Owl features some alternative rock as local alternative rock band Wint begin their tour a with Victoria band the Smoke Eaters and Toronto’s Peeling, playing a pride week show.
