The local music scene takes off for summer . With The Dragon Boat festival over in Henderson Lake Park, it is onto Canada Day.
there is a full day of fun, live music and dance scheduled for Monday, July 1 beginning at 11 a.m. with the Lethbridge Community Band. The afternoon features the Good Timers at noon, followed by Mexicanos Sin Fronteras, Coda blues band at 1 p.m. the Thai Culture group after that, new classic rock band Lawless Murphy at 2 p.m., followed by Champion Tae Kwan Do, Kavanagh and Hepher at 3 p.m.m the Troyanda Ukrainian Dancers at 3:40 and LCI Dance Academy closing off the afternoon at 4:30 p.m. local blues rock band the Steve Keenan band takes you to supper time, beginning at 5 p.m.
Up and coming country singer Chris Strei gets the evening underway at 6 p.m. with his brand of country music inspired by Johnny Cash and Chris Stapleton. The Desert Wind Belly dancers perform at 7:10 followed by Allyssa McQuaid playing country and pop music at 7:40 p.m. They will be followed by the Lethbridge Swing Dancers and Hibikaya Drummers who take you to 9 p.m. when the headliners The Matchstick Skeletons begin. They are a new soul and funk infused band band formed by Head of the Herd veterans Neu Mannas and Matty Carolei. They have just released a new Ep, hot on the heels of a successful tour with the Headstones. They will take you to the fireworks display at 11 p.m.
But the fun begins early this week, with a whole lot of rock and roll happening this week.
Tuesday, June , June 25 has a couple big shows with Big Little Lions bringing the folk and pop back to the Owl acoustic lounge. And Vancouver funk rock juggernaut Five Alarm Funk make a long awaited return to the Slice,June 25 as well. Tickets for Five Alarm Funk cost $20 in advance and $25 at the door.
Things get hard at the Slice, June 26 with New Brunswick punk/ crust rock band Hard Chargers topping by in support of their new CD Vol. 4 Take The Guff and Suffer, Hermosillo, Mexico alternative/progressive metal band Lost Nebula and local new metal band Drearius. Admission is $10 with bands starting at 9 p.m.
And, it being the end of the month, that means the Owl Acoustic lounge has their monthly comedy open mic on Wednesday, June 26.
James Swinney’s country alias Corduroy Brown, hosts the slices weekly open mic on Thursday as well.
Swinney has a busy week as his progressive rock, band the Decadent Phase plays the Slice on Friday, June 28.
The Owl Acoustic Lounge features Kelowna based bluegrass band Under the Rocks on Friday, June 28.
One of my favourite roots rock acts Dave McCann and the Firehearts return to Casino Lethbridge this weekend to play music from their new cd Westbound Til’ Light and much more Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.
Saturday should be interesting. Jon Vornbrock’s rap project Bomb Hugg plays the Owl Acoustic Lounge, June 29.
Down the road, the Slice has a big rock show featuring Saskatoon funk tinged rock band Harlot and the Tramp, local pop punk band the Youngbloods and Calgary songwriter Mark Andrew Spencer.
And it’s starting to feel like summer, so what better time to celebrate Caribbean culture? A Taste of the Caribbean featuring Trinidad and Tobogo is happening, Friday, June 28 at the Multicultural Centre (421 6th Ave South),. There will be a lot of food and live music. Doors open at5;30 P.M., Tickets are $20 for adults, $12 for children.
The Lethbridge Latin American Association presents Festival Latino, the next day, June 29 in Pioneer Park (3401 Parkside Drive South) There will be plenty of dance, three live bands, a hip hop show, two solo singers including a mariachi singer and a beer gardens/ Cantina bar from noon to 9 p.m. There will also be piñatas for the kids and a mini-parade
Theoretically Brewing hosts a Panache Summer Party, Sunday, June 309 with Caribbean barbecue, live music and , of course, craft beer. Admission is five dollars including food, chicken, rice, beans and vegetables., the event takes place from 5-11 p.m..
Then take a breather on Sunday and psych up for a stellar Canada Day celebration in Henderson Lake Park.
And that ’s just the start, of an outstanding July.
Toronto synth pop group Zinnia share the stage at the Alice with local alternative rock trio Mombod, ,July 3. A little later, Adrian Chalifour, who was on the TV show the Launch, but played with his indie folk/pop band Towers and Trees, plays a new venue, Dwell Urban (Jonny Bean’s Coffee 418 13th St North), July 5.
