I didn’t get to a lot of local shows this week owing to illness, but couldn’t pass up a chance to hear Elise Epp at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, April 3, who I’d heard on CKUA just that day. The Edmonton born , Toronto based pop/ folk singer/ pianist and an  autoharp player and percussionist entertained a good sized audience with pleasant melodies and catchy piano playing. Epp is cut from the same cloth as  Sarah Slean and Fiona Apple with just a touch of Chantal Kreviazuk.

Her  autoharp played sang beautiful vocal harmonies.

 They started off slowly, but picked up the tempo very quickly. They  played a short, but very sweet, set of  about 20 minutes before making way for the open stage.

Who are the Moose? You will find them nestled just off of 13 street- north at 1401 5 ave north across from where the Giant Tiger used to be.
At any given time during the week you will find everything from all ages metal shows, play rehearsals, improv comedy, country jams and luncheons.

The hall, an older 1930’s building is multi-purpose room has quickly become a  cultural hub of the north side. It is something members of the Loyal Order of the Moose, one of Lethbridge's longest standing community organizations whose roots go back a hundred years, are very proud of.

 “ We have private functions and a lot of community events from kids shows to seniors shows,” said Marty Pepin, Lethbridge Moose administrator.
 While the group has been in Lethbridge for about 100 years, they have made their home in the Moose Hall since the 70s.
 In addition to hosting community events and renting out their hall for an affordable price for $250 a day or $30 an hour, they also give back to the community with donations to the Streets Alive program, and this year, the Alzheimer’s Society.

“ When Lethbridge got their first MRI scanner, we donated $8,000 for it,” Pepin said.
“We’d like to be able to do that sort of thing again,” he said.

The Blue Ridge Mountain Country  Society holds an open country jam on the last  Sunday of every month. The Moose also hold sober dances as well as ordinary dances with live music.  Pepin said the Lethbridge Folk Club will be renting the hall for shows in their next season as well.
 So the community is starting to give back by holding fundraisers for the group, which has had a few lean years.

Improv group the Drama Nutz held a successful fundraiser for them on March 20.

 And this past weekend, Sheena Lawson got her old band back together, Sheena and the Bandshees, to play a show for them. Lethbridge country band Treeline will be  doing a fundraiser for them on May 25 as well.
“ We’re a non profit group so everyone  volunteers their time,” he continued adding, like with most non profit  groups, they have to face the challenge of four or five members doing all of the work. They have approximately 45 members, plus a Junior Moose club of members under the age of 21 which has over 20 members and an auxiliary chapter of 25-35 people They have also just restarted their lady Moose chapter.
“We think we’re heading in the right direction,” he said.
 Arts groups like Hatrix Theatre love the Moose Hall.

“It’s our home said Hatrix Theatre co-founder Karolyn Harker,  before a rehearsal for their May 7-11 production of the Foreigner at the Moose Hall..

On Friday, April 12 The U of L Surf Club, Art Society and the ULSU present the Club Carnival and Ocean Party, from 4 p.m.-1 a.m.

The Club Carnival will run in The Zoo and Students Union Ballrooms from 4 - 8 p.m. During this event there will be live music and entertainment, BBQ, clothing vendors, artistic creations, club tables and a clothing swap.  Local vendors and clubs will have tables to showcase the Lethbridge community and expose students to the great variety Lethbridge has to offer.

Other campus organizations such as Kappa Sigma , Kappa Pi Chi, DJSAL, Headbanger Society, CKXU, Board and Ski Club, OMC, CSSDP and more will be participating to make this a great event.To further celebrate the importance of community we are organizing a clothing swap and sale, so please bring gently used clothing to participate.

We will also be accepting food bank donations for the ULSU Food Bank. And that is just the beginning.

To get the party started at 8 p.m. DJSAL and local bands will kick off the infamous Ocean Party that goes until close. Free entry to both of these events allows for you to return to The Zoo in your Ocean themed costumes (prizes awarded).

Penny Fortune and Small Town DJ's will rocking your socks off all night.

The Board and Ski Club have over $1,600 in apparel and gear to be raffled off and given away throughout the entire event!
Come out celebrate community, collaboration and artistic expression at this free event.

For information on booking a vendor table, contact Claire: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

There are several interesting events happening in Southern Alberta this week.
 Tonight, April 9, there are two big shows happening.
 Bluesman Jim Byrnes returns to the Geomatic Attic  beginning at 8 p.m.  Tickets cost $32.50. If you want to rock,  don’t miss the big rock show with the Zolas and the Dudes at  Bo Diddly’s.  The show begins at 9 p.m.. Tickets cost $20 in advance.
 There is an excellent metal show this week, a whole lot of excellent roots music and even a Michael Jackson tribute hitting the stage.

 On April 12, University of Lethbridge clubs will be partying at the Zoo in the SU, April 20  with the Club Carnival and Ocean party. The event is a  joint effort between the  U of l Surf Club, Art Society and ULSU, who have organized an afternoon of excitement from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. which will give the community a chance to check out all that is offered on campus. They are also organizing a food and clothing drive so bring donations of food and gently used clothing for  the ULSU Food Bank.
 There will be live music from Penny Fortune and The Smalltown DJS.

On April 12, the Moja Kwa Moja concert takes place at the Trinity United Reform Church ( 1100 40th Ave North). Organist Mary Lee  Voort will be  performing with the Aeris Brass Quintet as well as the Immanuel Christian  High School choir and Global Drums to raise money for Compassion  Canada Child Survival project to support children in Mombassa, Kenya. There is no charge though a freewill offering will be taken to support 50 moms and their babies from the time their mothers are pregnant until they are born. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m.

 For laid back country roots music, Lethbridge’s own Dave McCann returns to the Slice, April  12.
For something that rocks a little harder, there is an all ages metal show at the Moose Hall, April 11 featuring Without Mercy Lethbridge’s own The Avulsion, Bite Down, DIRT and Coaldale based Trancide. The  show begins at 7 p.m.

 For something  that rocks, but not quite as loudly, local rock band Dead Eye Strobe return to The Owl Acoustic Lounge, April 12.
But best of all, one of my favourite blues rock bands, the Perpetrators return to Lethbridge to play the Slice, April 11.