It seems too early to be thinking about Christmas, but with snow on the ground and election craziness and Covid all around, anything positive deserves to be highlighted.
 Christmas at Casa is a great way for local artisans to get their work out in the community and for people to get Christmas shopping out of the way.

 Unfortunately with Covid, the popular annual event is forced to go online. This year Christmas at Casa will begin at noon Nov. 21 and run until Dec. 1 at midnight  at www.ChristmasatCasa.ca.
 “With over 3,000 people visiting Casa in two days in 2019, there was just not a safe way to proceed,” explains Tara Gillanders, Allied Arts Council Projects Manager in a press release.

 “By going on-line, we keep artists and customers safe in our community. While we will miss gathering in person there are some definite benefits to being virtual.”

The online market and extended run will allow vendors to restock products online and add new products over the next couple weeks.

“Covid has been hard on artists, really hard, so the Allied Arts Council has worked hard to give artists options, safe options,” said Kelaine Devine, Allied Arts Council Communications Co-ordinator, noting Christmas at Casa has been a Christmas mainstay over the past  eight years.

“But having between 3-5,000 people going through Casa  over a day and a half was never going to be an option,” she said.

“It‘s not like having an event at Exhibition Park where everybody is spread out. Casa is several tiny rooms,” she said, adding there are  more options for patrons as well as artisans.
“Check back often because artists will be adding more stuff. It will be 24-7 for 12 days. I, for one, love pyjama shopping. So if you feel the need for a ceramic cup at three in the morning, you can get one,” she chuckled.
“This has never been about making a buck for the Allied Arts Council, it is about supporting  artists in a safe and secure way,” she said.

With new AHS restrictions in place for the next two week, the local music scene is being forced to adapt to bars closing early.
 It is a great week for rock and roll. But with Covid  raging, use your common sense if you go out and stay home if you’re not feeling well as I did this past weekend, wearing a mask, sanitizing your hands and properly social distancing.

Former Chevelle and Def Leppard Tribute  Stage Fright lead singer Dave Chomiak breaks in his new Whitesnake Tribute “Snake Bite” at Club Lime, Friday, Nov. 20. They are on stage at 8:15 sharp. They will be  followed by Metallica Tribute Damage Incorporated  at 9:15. Like all other bars, Club lime is following Covid restrictions, so last call is at 10 and closing time is 11.  Face masks are required and  there is a maximum of six people per table. The $30 tickets are going fast.

 The Slice welcomes back Citizen Rage return to the stage with fellow Calgarians Black Pestilence and local band Green Mind.Doors open at 6 p.m. with  Bob Scallywag kicking things off at 6:30 p.m. followed by Green Mind at 7:15, Black Pestilence at  8:15 and Citizen Rage rocking the night to a close at 9:15Tickets are $15 in advance and $10 at the door..

 The next night, Nov. 21, the Slice welcomes back local progressive rock band Waterfront and local Volbeat tribute Rebel Angels.
 Doors open at 7 p.m. The bands begin at 8 p.m.. Tickets are going fast at $10.

The Slice began fifteenth anniversary celebrations with a celebratory Thursday night  jam session, Thursday, Nov. 5.

A jam was the ideal way to kick off the Slice’s  celebration of 15 years of  being a cornerstone of the Lethbridge music scene.  A lot of local bands  got their start on the Slice stage. Numberous bands have formed through jam sessions like those at the Slice, so they had a decent crowd eager to celebrate and catch up with each other.

Hosts Aaron Trozzo, Paul Holden and Brad Brouwer welcomed a familiar cast of faces onto the stage to play some of their favourite songs.

 A masked Trozzo sang a quick set of obscure ’70s style heavy rock, from behind the usual plexiglass panes.He belted out impassioned lead vocals and supplied plenty of big, loud riffs before opening up the stage to a variety of other performers..

 They welcomed  T J Waltho to the stage to add keyboards for a couple of songs.

 Devin Gergel, a familiar fave at local open mics, was up next  to add more of an ambient, more country vibe.

 He backed Waltho on a song before taking over on lead vocals for a couple of songs before ending his part of the show with a Dave Matthews cover.

Peter and the Wolves roared back into Lethbridge to help the Slice celebrate their fifteenth anniversary, Friday, Nov. 6.

Peter Cormier and his bandmates were well into a set of piano powered boogie woogie, blues and rock and roll by the time I arrived.

 They had quite a few people dancing in masks. it‘s hard not to want to at least tp  your toes when Peter and the Wolves take over.

 Sidney Zadravec was handling lead guitar duties and adding  superb background vocals while Cormier’s fingers flew over the keys on a set of  ’40s,’50s styled rock and roll and boogie woogie.

She gave him his guitar as he kept the ’50s feel going on a newer song “ I’m so Lonesome Everyday.” He followed that up with a song about winter driving which was all about trading his car for a snowmobile.

She added subtle, yet compelling background vocals  throughout a set which  tapped into the spirits of Buddy holly and the Everly Brothers.

 He pulled out all the stops, playing guitar behind his head and  really getting into the spirit of the music.

Drummer Willy Angelo sang lead on a song “ If I Lose˘”
Zadravec unleashed her powerful pipes on a cover of Bob Seger’s“Travelin’ Band” and Cormier wound up his set with a hot cover of Louis Jordan’s “Keep -a -Knocking.”

— by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor