Harpdog Brown may as well get a house here  as he plays here often enough.

Our music scene would be the richer for it. As it is, we’re blessed to have had Harpdog Brown and a top notch tier of talent playing Lethbridge for the third time in almost as as many months.

He played the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Friday, Nov. 12 with Charlie Jacobson supplying steady rhythm on drums while simultaneously playing tasteful guitar solos.

 During the set breaks, Harpdog Brown happily greeted  all of his old friends and fans by name  even remembering where he met most of them, even fans from years ago.

 The duo were as warmed up as the audience by the time they started their second set with a hot cover of “Big Boss Man,” during which  Harpdog Brown poured himself a drink and downed it without missing a note.

 The duo worked their way through a bundle of blues classics by the likes of Jimmy Reed, Willie Dixon, Elmore James and Howlin’ Wolf and a few Harpdog Brown originals.

The duo’s cover of John Lee Hooker’s “Boom Boom” was a highlight.

 Harpdog Browns original “Reefer Loving Woman,” was an original highlight, which featured a hit harp solo from Harpdog Brown and a tasteful guitar solo from Jacobson.

 The dancers were delighted to show off their best moves.

 And Harpdog was happy to provide the sound track as well as a few stories and a whole lot of blues.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor

Manitoba troubadour is looking forward to returning to Lethbridge to play the Geomatic Attic, Nov. 28.

 There was no dust on Barber during Covid 19 as in addition to having a baby boy four months ago and mourning the passing of his father and often co-writer,  he recorded and released  a new CD “Stray Dogs” and already has another one loaded and ready to go.

“I recorded ‘Stray Dogs’ over five days in my cabin north of Winnipeg with my touring band,” said Barber, looking at the first big snowfall of this winter.

He hired Edmonton producer Scott Franchuk to come to the cabin to produce the mostly acoustic project.

“I had 20 songs and whittled them down to the nine on the Cd,” he said, adding he made the most of not being able to tour.

“ I’ve got a five year old and just had a son four months ago, so this gave me the opportunity to stay home and go through  all of my notebooks and song ideas,” he said, adding he didn’t get to road test the songs like he usually does.

“Not really. I don’t usually write about myself. I write about other people’s stories. I was able to play the songs off  my other five records first,” he said, adding these sings are more introspective.

Actors finally are able to take the stage. Due to Covid, live performances have been far and few between over the past two years, but they make up for it this week with three  productions opening this week.

The University of Lethbridge is first out of the gate with their production of Noel Coward’s comedy of manners “Design for Living.” It runs at University Theatre from Nov. 16-20 at 7:30 p.m. each night.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 seniors and alumni and $12 for students.

Next up, Playgoers of Lethbridge features “an Evening of Three-atre” in the Sterndale  Bennett Theatre, Nov. 18-20 at 7:30 p.m.

 The production features  Elaine Jagielski’s original work “ Love’s Best By.”

 Rita Peterson directs a reader’s theatre of “the Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” And Rob Berezay directs John Carroll’s  “Oh What A Tangled Web” Admission is by donation at the door.

And, last but not least, Fran Rude brings back Peter Rothstein penned  “A Christmas Truce” Erick Lichte and Timothy  C Takach composed the a capella musical arrangements, Nov. 19-21 next door at the Yates Theatre. It will be a fundraiser for the LSCO.

Tickets are $44 for the performances, which are at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 19 and 20 and a matinee on Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. They are available at the Yates Theatre and Enmax Centre  Box Office.

As with all indoor productions, due to Covid,  all attendees must have proof of double vaccination and be masked throughout the 80 minute production.

Didi’s Playhaus hosts Gommorahwood III , Impromptu’s improvised western themed soap opera, on Saturday, Nov. 20. Tickets are $15 for the show that begins at 8 p.m.

If you want to laugh, So You Think You Can Comic returns to the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Wednesday, Nov. 17 with several local comedians performing beginning at 8 p.m.

There’s a whole lot of blues and jazz this week.

 Keith Woodrow hosts  the blues jam at the Slice on Tuesday. And there will be jazz at the Watertower on Wednesdays. James Oldenburg and Paul Holden will be performing from 6-8 p.m. this Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, Shaye Zadravec and guitarist Tim Leacock with special guests Bailey Kate and Joel Stretch perform at the Geomatic Attic’s downtown venue beginning at 8 p.m.

 Zadravec just released her new album “Now and Then.”

Tickets are $45 including appetizers, wine and beverages. 

Scott Davidson and friends return to the Slice on Wednesday with  the Scott Davidson band, John Matthews and North Cold performing beginning at 8 p.m..

Bluesman Harpdog Brown returns to the Owl Acoustic lounge this week. The Quadaphonic Duo featuring Harpdog Brown and Charlie Jacobson will be performing at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Nov. 12. Jacobson  will be playing drums with his feet and adding killer guitar playing to Harpdog Brown’s big vocals and harp. Admission is $15. The show begins at 8 p.m.

Also on Friday, Greg Gomola’s blues rock band Zojo Black are releasing their third CD at the Slice.